My Favourite French Word

I took this picture of Lily and Grace in a park in Nîmes for two reasons.  One, the girls look lovely:  two, this is just what my dream flower meadow would look like on the hill up beside our house back home.  My imagined wild flower fields always include poppies.  I have tried to start small with various combinations of wild flower seed packets, but am afraid that to viably compete with the thick tangle of blackberry bushes and horse tails would mean a dedication and investment beyond the sprinkling of seeds and the crossing of fingers.  

However, this spring in France has renewed my resolve to get some poppies growing in our clay packed, rain soaked soil.  Wild poppies are everywhere and they look beautiful.  What's more, I couldn't have invented a better French word for them if I tried: les coquelicots, les coquelicots, les coquelicots.  It's perfect.

Uzès

     Yet again, I have a new favourite town here in Southern France:  Uzès!  It is located in the Languedoc-Rousillon region and during Roman times was the site of the source of water that travelled over the Pont du Gard on its journey to Nîmes.  

     First of all, I was impressed that its tourist office had a public washroom.  Sure, there are always cafés close by, but clean and free toilets at the information office just makes life so much more easier for tourists young and old.  However, the enchantment didn't end there.  Beyond the convenient public facilities, we found the town of 8,500, even with the Saturday morning market crowds, clean and quaint and surrounded by green.  It was a real pleasure spend the day there. 

     No doubt, we will miss stocking up for mid-day picnics at French markets: dried, ready-to-eat saucisson {current family favourite flavours are oignon (onion), ail (garlic) and champignon (mushroom)}, cheese {brebis made from ewe's milk is Grace's go-to cheese at the moment}, bread, olives and fresh produce {the cherries and apricots are in season}.  

     We ended our day at an outdoor children's play area and a visit to the Haribo candy museum and, more importantly, it's boutique.  Not surprisingly, Uzès scored pretty highly with Grace and Lily also. 

Barcelona

Just before Christmas, we were at a get together with four families from Grace's class and asked them about the city of Barcelona that we were considering visiting.  By the end of the conversation we had set a date in May for visiting the city as a group.  Barry and I weren't certain about the seriousness of everyone's commitment, but sure enough come spring time apartments were rented and train tickets bought and Grace ended up visiting the Spanish city with four of her classmates.   Having some travel companions that were fluent in Spanish certainly helped us get settled and make our way around and we really enjoyed the city.  In fact, the only downside was five minutes after Barry announced on the metro platform how much more safe he felt in Barcelona's underground than Rome's, some crafty Spanish thief took my I-Touch from a zippered pocket on my purse.  Ah well, we came back with everyone safe and sound and with some awesome memories that are guaranteed pick-pocket safe and that's what counts!    

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia that he started in 1882 and won't be finished for another 30 to 80 years.  We did get a peak inside, but as it was during Mass we weren't allowed to take pictures.  The inside was very impressive and different from any building interior I have ever seen.  I really felt as though I was entering a different world.

We visited this park numerous times during our stay - not a bad backdrop.

 We also visited the beach several times where the girls had a great time playing in the waves.  The water was warm enough for even me to get in - no problem.

A family shot in downtown Barcelona just up from the beach.

The 6 girls having fun walking to Barcelona's aquarium.

The girls at Barcelona's Olympic village.

Fun at the zoo.

View of the city from Park Güell designed by Gaudi.

During the trip it was as though Lily had 5 big sisters - all the girls were very good to her!