Mont St. Michel

I think I've lost interest in having a blog, but that does not mean I am not doing things of interest.  Recently I took a trip to Lille in northern France, and then Rennes in western France.  These pictures are from Mont St. Michel outside of Rennes, which is one of the 100 wonders of the world.  I guess I am starting to work on that list... 

  

Le Puy

Daytrip to Le Puy-en-Velay: a small city described by Frommer’s guidebook as "one of the most extraordinary sights in France."  Le Puy, originally founded by a cult of the Virgin Mary, is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in France.  When we first arrived, it seemed as though the whole city was gathered around the morning market, with gaggles of children running amuck and parents drinking wine on the sunny morning terraces.  The city was lively and filled with the sound of market hagglers and street musicians.  It was around noon when the market was packed up and the city transformed into an eerie ghost town.  I have no idea where everyone went (maybe there was a cult gathering) but in the span of about 10 minutes the streets became silent and empty.  Empty except for us, the American tourists of course.

crazy French man drinking on the steps

a new take on yard sales

These musicians were being tipped with apples from the market

and then the people disappeared

outside of The Cathedral Notre Dame du Puy

Bronze statue, the Notre-Dame de France, made out of 213 Russian Cannons 

I don't think this is quite how the statue was intended to be appreciated.  That is my head sticking out behind the Virgin Mary's knee

Cathedral of Notre-Dame

Saint Michel d'Aiguilhe Chapel

view of the city as seen from the Sanctuary of Saint Joseph d'Espaly

un peu de vin, un peu de musique

This weekend I went to a wine festival where I was able to sample wine, cheese, sausage, and foie gras.  I didn't learn until after my feasting was complete that foie gras is actually liver of duck, but it was still delicious.  The wine was excellent as well, although anything is going to be good when you are used to drinking the one euro wine from the grocery store.  I tried to appear as experienced a wine drinker as possible, but unfortunately i don't think i was blessed with a fine pallet.  I didn't bring my camera so these pictures are courtesy of Miss Christie George.  

smelling the wine like a professional

The next night I went to Les Festival Des Chants De Mars, or "The festival of songs of march," which is a music festival featuring different French artists in different venues throughout the city.  The opening act was Atch, comprised of two local singer/guitarists from Lyon, and the main artist was some weird guy named K.  I really liked Atch because they had the type of quiet humor only seen in bands that are still working on their sound and trying to make themsevles known.  I thought K was a bit strange, but thats probably because by the time he took the stage I was already exhausted from tying to understand the french songs.  K was really into audience participation, and he sang one song I could only assume was about the hazards of transportation because he had one side of the theatre make car noises and the other side make bike noises.  He also sang a song where he put on a pair of really dark sunglasses and then ripped off his jacket to reveal a tight black t-shirt.  The french audience seemed to love it, but i still have no idea what the song was about. 

Atch

un jour au parc or A Day At The Park

Lyon is finally showing signs of spring

This is a video I took of the crazy roller bladers and their impressive moves