Au revoir la France

Just as France is feeling like home, and I've made some good friends, we are moving again to start a new adventure abroad. R has accepted a great job opportunity in NYC, and for the past few weeks we have been spring cleaning inside and outside the house, as well as finishing up some bricolage. It all feels a bit surreal really.

Au revoir la France—I arrived as a stranger and part as an admirer and friend. Re-bonjour à Boston and New York City where R and I will make our new home come June. So much to do and pack and see and eat before we skip back to the other side of the pond.

Last weekend it was sunshine and rain. Amazing meal in Annecy-le-Vieux under tree-covered terrace. Cleaning and purging stuff. Red Cross Bric & Brac. Antique cars meetup. 1922 Bugatti. Special goodbye BBQ. Champagne. Sausages. Japanese crepe-like thing that was so yummy. Seasoned sushi rice triangles. Homemade blueberry mousse Charlotte.

On Tuesday R and I spent a day hiking up the Parmelan, a steep mountain to climb. It took us 6 hours round trip—we took the Petit Montoir up, and then the Grand Montoir down. The latter was extremely steep in many places, so much so that I had to hold onto rails and chains that were attached to the large rocky surfaces along the route down. While descending our path was blocked at one point by several huge fallen trees. For someone who is a bit afraid of heights, I was grateful for the extra security. One of my favorite days with R and a great memory of France. I was so very sore at the end of the day and a little bit the next day, but the climb was worth it, if only for the stunning views of the Alps, Juras, and Lac Annecy.

One of those days

This weekend started promising on Friday....then became a bit frustrating, but in the end, it worked itself out. Have you ever tried to meet up with someone and because of one thing or another, it just didn't work out? And you had no idea how to contact them?

Friday I was expecting my friend D's new friend KO to come over for lunch. KO, an American currently living in San Francisco, is visiting her French boyfriend this week in my neck of the woods. KO is contemplating a move to France near Geneva this summer so she and her boyfriend can be together. Unlike me who moved here with little to no knowledge of French or France aside from a that vacation in 2000, KO has some working knowledge of French, having studied it abroad in Paris and Angers. But understandably she's still a bit anxious about moving so far away from her friends and family without knowing anyone in this part of France except for her boyfriend.