Category: Uncategorized (Page 4 of 212)

Like the day before, we immensely enjoyed the hotel breakfast buffet. Then we grabbed our bags and took the metro back to the main train station. This was much easier than arriving, now that we understood the terrain and ticketing.

When we arrived in Narbonne the display was blank where our train’s platform should have been listed. I got a Coke Zero, now ten minutes to the departure time, and the display platform was still empty next to our route number. 8 minutes left, 6 minutes left. Now in a tiny corner the sign flickered “delayed 1h40m”. What?! The station agent was irritated and told us to get on the next train to Toulouse. It sounded like the train we booked was undersold, so they cancelled it? But why no warning or alert? We had reserved first class seats, and now piled onto a regional transit train with open seating. I was pleased we quickly had a solution, and overall only a 30 minute delay to the final destination. Stefani was very upset though! She assured me this would never have happened in this manner if we were in Germany! She notified her family and was confused about how we will get home, because her husband has a meeting and could not pick up at the new time. I assured her that there would be taxis at the train station to get us home. To make matters worse, there was a passenger common to American public transport- the confrontational mentally-ill person who yells in your face. My friend said she had never had an encounter like this. I shrugged it off but it really rattled her. To be honest, I was more impressed that other passengers called security, and within two minutes he was escorted off our car. Even so, my poor friend was beside herself! I reassured her all was well and we continued our pleasant conversation, filling in details of each others lives and how our cultures differ.

Back in Pibrac, Carl-Phillip made us a simple petit-dejeuner and I cracked open my first Orangina of the trip. I tried to lay low the afternoon. Stefanie had so many things she wanted to do together during our “free afternoon” but also needed to attend to house work and pack, both her Paris bag and her children’s things. (Florian is taking the kids on a camping road trip to Paris, meeting us Sunday evening. After I depart their family will continue to explore Paris for the rest of their school vacation time. ) I encouraged my friend to do what she needs to do without worrying about me, but stayed close by so she didn’t feel abandoned We both did laundry and had a cup of chicory – no coffee or caffeine, just chicory root. She said it is a favorite and offered me to try and I liked it a lot! Later she convinced the kids to accompany us to the grocery store. I was curious and she needed to restock anyway. The kids gave me good candy recommendations to bring home! Also I bought some chicory. I looked it up and I think in the US we only a version from New Orleans with coffee also?

After a quick stop home we walked to a restaurant in Pibrac to meet Florian after work. They explained that this bistro is connected to the boucherie next door. They close the shop at 12:30 and walk over to open the bistro for lunch, and back and forth each day. So they assured me the meat is top quality. On their recommendation I ordered the duck with today’s legumes, endives, in place of frites. I was pleased they let me pay for dinner as thanks for their hospitality. Then back home to finish packing. And that was the day! Tomorrow we wake extra early for our 8am train direct to Paris (no finicky connections this time 🤞).

We enjoyed a leisurely breakfast at the hotel including quince jelly, jambon, and more pastries. A quick taxi ride took us to Park Guell. We hiked to the top and admired the views, then spiraled around to the main building area. While interesting and beautiful, we both agreed it was not the style we would want for our own home. But it made for beautiful photos.

With the city downhill, we decided to explore the city by walking back to the hotel and beyond. I found a yarn shop and bought some yarn for socks! I liked a French skein but it’s a brand available in Colorado, and I’m not in France, so I chose a more unique skein from Katia. We needed to rest and met that with some light snacks and an outdoor table. Fortified, we continued on to La Rambla. She helped me pick out a sweater and kerchief from a European chain store “Mango.” We bought chocolates at the shop we sampled last night.

We shopped away the plan to siesta. So we had to speedwalk back to the hotel for a 20 min break and to unload our treasures, then speed walk to Sagrada Familia. We made it perfectly on time – both for the ticket entry window and the afternoon glow through the windows.

Stefani wanted paella before we left, so I looked up a well reviewed restaurant not far from the cathedral. We also ate tomato bread, peppers prepared similar to blistered shishitos, fried artichoke, and chicken paella. Another delectable dinner! It was only 8:30, early for Barcelona citizens, but we chose to walk back to the hotel to rest and prepare for the return trip tomorrow morning. It was a great day!

We woke up to a wet, rainy morning. Stefanie made crepe batter and then handed the work to Carl-Phillipe, who provided a hearty breakfast! In a flurry of extra whipped corner driving (“with this Monday bank traffic”) we were delivered to the train station for our 4 hour journey to Spain. I enjoyed watching the scenery change. We had nice seats for the first trains but had to connect to a different train and lower class in Narbonne for the remainder of the journey. But it was still fairly pleasant. Also at Narbonne we popped out to grab snacks at a corner market. The landscape became more and more “California” to me, and the sun came out! At Barcelona Sants station we got fairly lost, but kind strangers helped us fumble to the right train to our hotel.

After unloading and refreshing we immediately walked to tapas! We went to Babula as the concierge recommended. Delicious, every single bite!

satisfied, we hit La Rambla (with all the other tourists) and admired the architecture while popping in stores. Along the way I spotted the Josep Bouquer market and Stefani clapped her hands in joy because it was closed every time she tried to go in her last visit. We shared some more small bites and she almost bought some jambon to take home.

Our final destination this day was la mer, and we found her! Perhaps darker and colder than is ideal. Nevertheless we doffed our shoes and chased the waves, then walked down the shore. It was delightfully childlike. Afterward we washed our feet and walked all way back to the hotel. Our legs are tired but it was as reading to eat and walk so much after a morning train ride, and the water was nice too! Time to sleep again.

Today was a cozy Sunday mostly at home with the family. I slept in very late and that helped my jet lag a great deal. We had an assortment of pastries from the bakery, along with German bread and muesli cereal. I made the mistake of calling a pastry “pain au chocolat” and was taught the three mistakes one can make in Toulouse: 1) call it pain au chocolat instead of the Southern term “chocolatine” 2) say that you like football better than rugby 3) say the word “Boeing.”

We drove to the Canal du Midi for a leisurely walk. Their labrador Valentine got too excited with another dog and slipped into the canal, but he can’t swim! So Florian slid down to retrieve him. Stefanie gave a hand to help bring them ashore and I almost thought she would need me to help pull them out too! I didn’t want to take pics to not appear mean or unhelpful, but Florian was laughing and said “did not one capture my heroics?” The rest of the walk was uneventful, but full of beautiful trees and large boats with names such as “La Boheme” and Le Present.”

Back to the house for the father and the dog to shower! Carl-Phillip and Vincent are in the table tennis club and were keen to play with me. They were very kind and let me fumble through volleys, eventually teaching me the proper serve and even some tricks with adding a spin. I didn’t completely humiliate myself! Vincent was just happy to have someone play with him longer, he is always the last to want to stop playing. Meanwhile Stef prepared a feast of Sunday lunch! Goulash with bread, potatoes, buttered leeks, zucchini, and green salad. We all went from hungry to stuffed!

Stef and I pulled out our itinerary and ticket printouts to discuss our travel plans, and she started packing for the trip. To walk off lunch they showed me the “little forest” in their neighborhood.

Stefanie had made a special German cheesecake for the weekend. It was delicious! Light and lemony, made with quark! They often discuss my lactose intolerance and what it is and how I deal with it, and then smack their forehead and apologize when they serve me dairy again and again 😅. She was over the moon to learn that I DO drink herbal tea and roobis. Apparently it was distressing that I said I didn’t drink any warm drinks like coffee or tea. By the time for dinner we were still full, so she made “a very easy simple dinner” of apples and cheese toast (another forehead snack). It was so flavorful, with creme fraiche, emmenthal, and ham. While she prepared I had a fun discussion with her kids about movies and shows they like. Sophie is a big fan of Gossip Girl and the Vampire Diaries. She said the popular shows at school right now are Culpa Nuestra and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Stef also recommended Machos Alfa. After dinner the kids were excited to watch an American movie (no subtitles so they can practice listening). They chose the Thursday Murder Club on Netflix (ok, so British 😉). Florian and I have read the book and Stefanie has started the book. We were surprised it had a different ending! Everyone liked it, it was better than I expected based on the trailer!

I planned to go to be an hour my ago but we got sidetracked by more memory sharing (the Christmas videos in 2019) and the boys wanted to know more about 3D printing. Now I really need to get to sleep for tomorrow Stefanie and I are going to Spain! 🇪🇸 Gute Nacht! Bonne nuit! Buenas noches!

What a day it has been! As you can see in the video below (thank you to the family for documenting!) we were giddy and emotionally overwhelmed to finally meet. We piled into their vans and sped through the winding streets to their nearby village. Here we exchanged gifts and I freshened up.

Back in the car, this time squeezing in a mini cooper, with some jokes about Florian living up to the German driver stereotype, we headed for the heart of Toulouse. We walked along the canal, window shopped, and talked and talked.

Then we all met up again at Le Bibet, a “very much typically French” restaurant where “all the Americans want to go.” It was, indeed, very French and very delicious. I managed to keep up with conversation and cream.

Afterward a night walk back to the car, with the city lit up for night. They told me there are a couple universities here and the later crowds skewed young. There was music playing and casual dance parties by the canal and the bars were packed. But none of that could compare with the thought of a hot shower and soft bed, where I find myself now. I hope I sleep deeply tonight.

and then we hugged and cried longer, and several more times throughout the day. 💜

Stefanie and I have been pen pals since 1991. We wrote letters as kids, continuing as teens and young adults (but not as often). With email, and then remote friendships during the pandemic, we’ve gotten a lot closer over the last decade. We’ve often wished to meet in person. Today I’m making that dream come true! Stefanie is German and currently living in Pibrac, near Toulouse. We’re meeting today, and then embarking on a tour to Barcelona and Paris over the next ten days. I’m so nervous! Walking through the airports I keep catching myself think “what am I doing here? This is crazy!” So far the journey has been smooth. I’m writing this while waiting to board my connecting flight from Frankfurt to Toulouse. Pics of the journey:

Germany looks just like I remember from the window. The Frankfort airport is crowded. Wow, I have such poor German language comprehension! I assumed I could read a little but I’m totally relying on the English signs. I knit in the Lufthansa lounge with small snacks, then went out for a pretzel. Proud that I cobbled together my order “eine brezel mit butter, bitte” without using a translation app. Although now that I checked the app for spelling, I see my pronunciation was terrible! I wonder if I’ll pick up any more while visiting this German family?

They are boarding my last flight now, byee!

PS: TSA won’t let you take a can of pumpkin puree through. Darn it! Worth a shot.

Our first concert of the school year was for Jack’s high school orchestra. He’s become such a strong player – he auditioned into the highest level class! I’m afraid I don’t remember the names of these pieces, and I lost the program QR code. So just enjoy the vibes 🙂

It’s been a busy fall! I need to share some stories and pictures before my next big adventure (spoilers: I’m flying to France tomorrow! Eeeep!)

Lots of garden and baking this season – I love to see it! Some date nights too, and some small celebrations and some big hurdles! I’ll add captions below.

Sam has turned 12 years old!!! He had a super fun party with his closest friends. Ben GM’d a role-playing game. I 3D-printed dice towers for everyone. They ate mac and cheese bread bowls and chicken drumsticks. Sam was pleased I turned his chocolate cake into a Portal Cake as a surprise (served with raspberry coulis made from my garden). The sleepover portion included the boys watching “nostalgic shows from our youth” on Netflix, hah! They are so old 😉

Happy happy birthday, Sam! We’re so proud of your growth every year! You’re such a kind, cool guy.