Vive La France

Bonjour! Writing this from St. Front a la Riviere, in the Aquitaine. SD and I landed in Paris on Wednesday and joined two friends for a fun-filled adventure in France. We spent three nights in Paris and drove to our 17th century manor house in the French countryside yesterday, stopping in Chartres first to see the magnificent cathedral. Our friends rented this house and it's way cool and will serve as our base for the next week. Our little home away from home.

My training plan just blew up, though. I ran 6 miles last Sunday, then didn't run again until Friday morning where I ran 8 miles in the Luxembourg gardens. I had hoped to get more runs in, but between jet lag and sightseeing, it just didn't happen. So I only ran 14 miles last week, but the run in the Luxembourg gardens is another memorable vacation run. :-)

I was able to run this evening (Sunday) for 5 miles. I started late so only had an hour because the sun was setting and I didn't want to be out after dark. This is a very quiet area and it was a little unsettling being out, although I was fine. The roads are almost wide enough for a car, so one got a little too close even though I was on the very edge. I came close to flipping him off, but prudence prevailed. I may bring a stick with me next time and hold it horizontally so that the drivers will either move over or get their car scratched. I'm guessing they'll move over.

But the country is so beautiful! Stone houses, older than the United States, surrounded by woods and fields. Sheep and cattle graze alongside the road. It's all quite bucolic, although the satellite dishes on the side of the buildings are an anomaly.

We're in the Dordogne and plan to explore the area's cave paintings and vineyards. We're near Bordeaux, so of course we have to visit some wineries. We will also be visiting the many restaurants the region has to offer since it is known for its food. Mon Dieu! It's a good thing I'm a runner. :-)