Le Concorde Aix-en-Provence

... I stammer back
"Meguez?! How do you know Merguez?! Where did you first eat Merguez?"
"Canada"
He's shocked to hear that we've heard of Merguez in Canada. "Maybe the Algerian community is making it there" he guesses.

The places is packed, with a fun atmosphere. There's only the one man behind the counter, though once in a while a customer will go back to help themselves to a pop or more ketchup. There's plenty of banter, though most of it I don't ...

... a tour around the military port and the bay. Saw some very big and scary-lookin’ boats, but apart from them the bay was beautiful, with lots of fishing platforms out in the water, and it was a lovely sunny day. After disembarkment, thanking the pirate-looking guides on our way, we headed to the Stade Mayol, which had a bit of a festival atmosphere, the restaurants cooking outside and selling drinks. At the gates, the steward took the cap of my water bottle from me ...

... in devil ears, 1 batman, 1 Spiderman, a copule dudes in masks, 2 girls with just some random fake blood on their face, 3 poorly represented Village people, and a guy who we think was Peter Pan, but he had cardboard fairy wings so we're not sure. All in all, Halloween ended up being a pretty fun night, but we certainly missed being home for this day! Now we are off to the Rhone Valley for some great wine... in a CAR! Stay tuned.

Over the last months of travel, we’ve met and talked with many people about what we’re doing. As you can imagine, we’re greeted with many responses. Most can’t fathom a trip without end or adgenda. Some say they admire what we’re doing. Setting off onour own, turning our back on convention and creating an adventure. Others think we’re fools. Although the woman who said that ...

... it doesn't matter with the wide range of accents our country has anyway (scowne or scon? It's only scon once you've eaten it...). I'm finding Contemporary French History really interesting, especially as, for once, it's not about the French Revolution. The seminars should really help my written French too, but unfortunately us 'étrangers' stick out like a sore thumb when she calls out the register : Sharrlot Tooowinszend. And I know what you're thinking, a register ...

... year old guy who worked as a safari guide in Kenya...anything is possible. So over the course of 4 days, I am no longer going to Portugal and I have already done something I never planned on doing. This makes me realize that my plans over the next year are likely to change and I should be open to surprises. It's very unlikely that everything will unravel as I expect it, but that makes it all the more fun.

... a parking lot in Aix with the gorgeous mountain, St. Victoire, looming over (think Massanutten mountain times 2.5. More to come on this). They then called us off the bus one by one to meet our waiting hosts. I met up with my WONDERFUL host Camille (Thats pronounced Cuh-ME-uh) Jore! She is a French widow and she speaks only a few words of English but she has been hosting students for over 10 years and is as sweet as they come. We met with the traditional kiss ...

... disappointed) by this "exhibit" that he couldn't even translate the frog's story....not that I really wanted him to anyway. The Malaysia Pavilion: We walked along a path lined with pictures of Caucasian tourists really really really enjoying themselves in Malaysia. We were also "lucky" enough to see some "Malaysian" animals (plastic sloth with rotating head, plastic otters, plastic birds, etc). Next, we were astounded by a slew of Japanese tourists ...

... tar roof outside of my apartment, too odorous for any human habitation. So when I return to our little apartment here in Aix, to be greeted by an odor from Jack's shoes that is very much like running painfully into a physical wall, I am reminded of a scene from Chariots of Fire, the great movie about British runners at the 1924 Olympics. At the climax of the movie, running coach Sam Musebini, played by Ian Holm, is waiting in his hotel room ...

... to live and where I took classes. All felt so familiar, but definitely a different time. Was reminded of how there is dogshit everywhere in the city. You have to be careful where you walk, not only for that but for the uneven cobblestone streets/sidewalks. Now there are cyber cafes and students sitting in squares on mobile phones and working on laptops. And there are a lot more Asian students there. I don't recall any Asians when I was there in ...