Wish I knew. Wouldn´t be entirely surprised though. You make do with what you´ve got for entertainment here.

Loved reading your stuff, learning a few words, and esp seeing the pics!

A little synopsis of the France trip:
Paris week 1 - jam packed from 6am to midnight or later every day. Got to do some new things like climb the Arc de Triomphe, visit Marie Antoinette’s final prison, la Concierge, visit Rouen (Joan of Arc’s stake), explore the Opera house. Did all the regular stuff, too: Eiffel, boats on Seine, NDame, St. Chapelle (Crown of Thorns reliquary), train trips to Chartres to visit Cathedral, and to Giverny to visit Monet’s gardens, visit big stores like Galleries la Fayette, visit Latin Quarter.

South week 2 - TGV to Marseilles where we visited Count of Monte Christo’s Chateau D’If. Rented 2 vans to drive to Mme Chauchat’s house in La Cadiere. Those vans were PILED up with luggage. There were many near death experiences and lots of angry Frenchmen blowing their horns at the crazy American drivers. My Citroyen ended up with a scraped sideview mirror and a scaped door handle. (Oops)

Swimming in the Med was wonnerful, as were the following adventures: boat rides to visit the tall cliffs called the Calanques, trips to visit Van Gogh’s hangouts, riding horses in the swampy Carmargue (my horse was old and slow, but gentle), seeing a French movie on a rainy day, getting a private tour of an incredible olive grove with the owner who explained so many things for us about the industry, homecooked meals by Mme Chauchats including a spectacular crepe making feast one night, seeing Roman ruins in Aix-en-Provence….

Kids were good. They couldn’t have behaved better and were respectful to the Chauchats. They absolutely love Ashley, and she them. Having said this, I think this will be my last trip with students for a while. I realized that I’ve lost my edge when I headed for the airport at 4am and realized that we were missing two students who had overslept. Good thing Ashley noticed.

Enjoyed having Katie here since I have returned. She’s so excited about the interviewing process and has some big decisions to make. We did a google earth tonight on your area. What is the name of the little area you are in?

Are you warm enough (esp at night)? Is it too cold to eat on the patio dining facilities?

Am headed for the lake this weekend and then to Maine the weekend before your bday. Can’t wait to see Bill’s Kayac.

For your bday, I have just a couple of little things to send. Did you get the thing I shipped for your internet usage? for your bday, I’d like to wire some $$$ so you can spend more time on the internet. Can you get me the name of the closest establishment that can receive a Western Union wire?

Mary Kennon, I’m thinking of you every day and hope you are ok. What’s been the hardest thing so far?

love,
m