For those of you who have never had an extended stay in a country where the language is unfamiliar (to say the least), the culture is distinct, the cars are small, the streets are small, and the buildings are old - some very old, and where many wars were fought; this may be hard to relate. France is a country with a VERY secular approach to life; yet where traditions based on faith abound. Grenoble is a high technology center with MEMS and IC foundries, research centers, universities, and a 1600 year old baptistry recently unearthed beneath 3 meters of crushed stone and soil. Relics of the stone age are found; and a fort (bastille) built in the 19th century against an invasion from Italy - which never came - overlooks the city with a few remains of a Roman wall at the base of the hill. If you are willing to shop every day, the breads, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, sausages, etc. are wonderful; and you can get no better than to ask the proprietor to pick something out for you. (Just don't try to shop on Monday - the sidewalks are rolled up.) Going out to eat for an evening meal just cannot be done before 19:30 (7:30 PM por Les Americains). Our dinner at a home ended when we pled age and fatigue at nearly midnight. The little International Church of Grenoble where we worship has all of the difficulties of a transient congregation - Nancy and I are the "Seniors" of the group. Three missionary families have been here for years; and they work with both the English speaking assembly and the French assembly. I can hardly describe myself as being conversant in French; but most of the time I can tease out the meaning of written phrases; but can only pick out every third or fourth word (if I am lucky) of the rapidly spoken French.
So, how would I sum up this time? Absolutely wonderful. I am blessed with a wife who is my companion and friend in travel; brave enough to fly 6,000 miles home alone to prep for Christmas; be supportive of the sometimes strange and demanding hours I am working; put up with my sometimes mono-maniacal focus on tasks she does not know of or comprehend; and amuse away a number of hours with reading - since TV is either incomprensible or awful (and that describes the BBC channels) (well, not always :-) ) or in French. Awesome!!!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
TIF - French laundry - not! 20/12/2009
So, it is bad enough that the laundry machines have all of the instructions written in obtuse, abbreviated French - that the directions are not complete - that they only work using tokens that may be purchased only during the work week when the apartment manager is present - that I only had one token for the one load of laundry I would need to do before flying home. What the machine - nor the English instructions back upstairs in the apartment did not indicate was that opening the door to check on the load after it started would forfeit the process and not return you token. So now I have to get home early enough tomorrow to get another token or fly my dirty clothes back to California. ARGHH!
Nancy had an interesting time in Detroit going through customs on Wednesday. For some reason she misread the form and checked the box indicating that she had more than $10,000 in cash with her. That led to some very interesting questions from the customs agent till they got is sorted out that this was just a mistake. She doesn't look like a drug courier or a smuggler - honest she doesn't. :-)
Nancy had an interesting time in Detroit going through customs on Wednesday. For some reason she misread the form and checked the box indicating that she had more than $10,000 in cash with her. That led to some very interesting questions from the customs agent till they got is sorted out that this was just a mistake. She doesn't look like a drug courier or a smuggler - honest she doesn't. :-)
Friday, December 18, 2009
Quelle différence un jour fait! (What a difference a day makes!)
Today it is snowing - I am told the accumulation is to be 5 cm - two inches; but it looks like more than that already; and it is still coming down. I have to drive 19 km to get back to my apartment; and I have to drive with French drivers on the roads - brrrrrr!!!
Y'all pray for me!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Annecy and Lyon
First, a bit about Lyon. Nancy's friend loaned her a book - Search for Eternity - based on a boy from Lyon; and the historical base was absolutely fantastic. It recalled and made alive much of what we saw on our visit in old town Lyon. What happened here during WWII was incredible; and now the vists to the Resistance museums are really alive for me.
Nancy decided she would rather jump in the cold Alpine lake that to spend time in the prison utilized through WWII by the Nazis in Annecy. :-)
Now, about Annecy - an Alpine resort city that literally throbs with history. The prison shown above is located on an island in the middle of the town. We visited a chateau that was abandoned as too cold and dreary first in the early 16th century, but was expanded and occupied as a fort by a French regiment from the 17th century till the middle of the 20th century. The lake holds remains from the stone age. We have decided that visitors who join us over here will get at least a day at each of those sites, if at all possible.
Flat Stanley is shown here operating the miniature construction equipment used in keeping the traffic on our street in a great deal of disarray. He can't wait to get back to the states and tell our grandson all of his adventures here in France.
Now, about Annecy - an Alpine resort city that literally throbs with history. The prison shown above is located on an island in the middle of the town. We visited a chateau that was abandoned as too cold and dreary first in the early 16th century, but was expanded and occupied as a fort by a French regiment from the 17th century till the middle of the 20th century. The lake holds remains from the stone age. We have decided that visitors who join us over here will get at least a day at each of those sites, if at all possible.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Yuk!
I did not feel like updating this blog. I don't know how, via text, to stick my tongue out and blow a bronx cheer. (At myself.) Monday was not a very nice day. It was raining; the view down the stree was blocked by a van and a car parked illegally at the corner, and the nice frenchman driving my way came very fast out from behind the van just as I pulled in to the street. We bent a fair amount of metal, but no one was hurt. Then my phone would not ring the rental car road service number. Monsieur's phone had a nearly dead battery. The French police did not come because no one was hurt. The car accident report that was supposed to be in the car was not there. No one would answer the phone at the rental car service desk until after 9:00. They did not fax the report and instructions to the local car rental office as they said they would.......................I finally did get to work around noon. I wll not post a picture of the car - it was driveable to the rental agency, and the replacement seems to be behaving well.
O.K. It is still a beautiful area and we are still enjoying it.
O.K. It is still a beautiful area and we are still enjoying it.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Turkey Day and Lyon
Lyon – Turkey day without turkey.
I did have most of the day off on Thanksgiving Day – that is, after spending the morning e-mailing out responses to Medica, then driving to Lyon. Nancy and I stayed in a wonderful hotel that was built into the shell of four 16th century houses in old town Lyon. We managed a walking tour on our own for much of the afternoon, visiting a church started in the 12th century, on the site of a church from the 6th century, and where early Christian missionaries had been arrested. (The amphitheater where they were pitted against wild beasts was only recently discovered under the houses in the silk district of the town.) The church has an astronomical clock that was started in the 13th century and finished in 1598. The striking of the clock begins with the crowing of a rooster, marching of a Swiss guard, an angel greeting Mary and a dove descending upon her, while an angel beats a drum to the sounding of a hymn with bells. Very impressive! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyon_Cathedral ) We saw two Roman theaters built in 15 BC that were excavated after WWII.
Walking back to our hotel, we came upon a steep long staircase – which Nancy joking asked if I could climb up in 2 minutes. I looked again, accepted the challenge, and started a jaunt up the steps – only to find there was a turn, and we could only see half of the staircase. Undaunted, I continued – although I did pause for breath a couple of times. After climbing back down, I noticed my legs signaling a bit of overload, so we stopped for coffee before going back to the hotel. (I knew I would pay for the 250 step jaunt later, but was still glad to have done it – I needed the exercise.)
I dressed and joined the Tronics execs and board for dinner at 8:00, and we took off for the restaurant, which appeared to be around the block behind the hotel. It was – up another set of stairs going up the same hill!!!!. I did not jog up this time. A week later, my calves have recovered from the abuse of running up 250 steps and then climbing a similar climb a couple of hours later.
We had a guided walk the next day that gave us much more insight into this truly ancient city – continually inhabited since well before Christ.
I did have most of the day off on Thanksgiving Day – that is, after spending the morning e-mailing out responses to Medica, then driving to Lyon. Nancy and I stayed in a wonderful hotel that was built into the shell of four 16th century houses in old town Lyon. We managed a walking tour on our own for much of the afternoon, visiting a church started in the 12th century, on the site of a church from the 6th century, and where early Christian missionaries had been arrested. (The amphitheater where they were pitted against wild beasts was only recently discovered under the houses in the silk district of the town.) The church has an astronomical clock that was started in the 13th century and finished in 1598. The striking of the clock begins with the crowing of a rooster, marching of a Swiss guard, an angel greeting Mary and a dove descending upon her, while an angel beats a drum to the sounding of a hymn with bells. Very impressive! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyon_Cathedral ) We saw two Roman theaters built in 15 BC that were excavated after WWII.
Walking back to our hotel, we came upon a steep long staircase – which Nancy joking asked if I could climb up in 2 minutes. I looked again, accepted the challenge, and started a jaunt up the steps – only to find there was a turn, and we could only see half of the staircase. Undaunted, I continued – although I did pause for breath a couple of times. After climbing back down, I noticed my legs signaling a bit of overload, so we stopped for coffee before going back to the hotel. (I knew I would pay for the 250 step jaunt later, but was still glad to have done it – I needed the exercise.)
I dressed and joined the Tronics execs and board for dinner at 8:00, and we took off for the restaurant, which appeared to be around the block behind the hotel. It was – up another set of stairs going up the same hill!!!!. I did not jog up this time. A week later, my calves have recovered from the abuse of running up 250 steps and then climbing a similar climb a couple of hours later.
We had a guided walk the next day that gave us much more insight into this truly ancient city – continually inhabited since well before Christ.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Pre-non-turkey day :-(
A week ago Nance and I flew to Dusseldorf where I attended Medica - the world's largest medical device trade show. 17 exhibit halls and who knows how many visitors. Some of the larger exhibitors had reception desks with 3 (or more) receptionists, 3 story exhibit booths, private meeting rooms in the booth, and reception lounges on the second or third floor. We stayed on a first class hotel ship in the harbor as there were no hotel rooms available in the city. Nance took in Weinachtsmarkt - the Christmas market and took Flat Stanley along to enjoy the day. I got to spend some time with her there as well. Back home Saturday we went to a Thanksgiving Dinner put on by local missionaries for Chinese students of the university. Nance made traditional dressing after I located dinde (turkey) at a local market. (Whole turkeys must be special ordered - they are not commonly served here.)
Tomorrow - Thursday the 26th is a work day, but I was graciously given the day off. I am taking Nance to Lyon for the day; but instead of a dinner together I have to go to a business board meeting in the evening and then early to a board meeting on Friday. We will still get to enjoy old town Lyon and a beautiful hotel furnished in antiques. We are back home on Saturday to participate in a local food bank drive.
Nancy found a museum with archeological discoveries including a first century baptistry that I want to go see!
Monday, November 16, 2009
What is that little building and what is THAT MAN DOING?
O.K. A little bit of culture shock here. There is a university nearby on Rue Gambetta that I drive by each morning; and there is a little building out front that looks a bit like a kiosk or a tiny bus stop. However; as we drove by the other morning, we became apprised of its true nature - a 3 foot privacy screen about 18 inches off the ground, with a man facing the wall behind - obviously leaving a liquid deposit in said edifice. Hm, TIF - we are not in Kansas, folks.
Lundi, Soixante Novembre, 2009
Nance and I had our first dinner at a French home Saturday night after a pleasant day at the farmer's market and charades at the hardware store. Unfortunately, the proprietress did not spek English, and I had forgotten the words for lubricating oil for our squeaky bathroom door and cleaner for the tile in the shower that would kill a trace of mildew that was creeping out of the silicone sealant. (huile de graissage, appareil de nettoyage pour la moisissure) A bit of pantomime managed to get the points across, and we left with WD40 and some spray cleaner that Nance sacrificed her lungs to use - but at least they worked.
We showed up for dinner at Jean-Sebastien's at the appointed hour of 7:00, had appetizers at 8:00, fondue at 9:00, salad at 10:00, and lemon tart at 11:00. At that point Nance and I decined coffee, pled senior citizen's status and departed for the evening, knowing we had an early wake-up for church in the morning.
We took "Flat Stanley" along and photographed him with two French children, French cartoons, and some fondue.
At lunch today I found minde(turkey) and fresh cranberries for Nance to use for preparing for a dinner for Chinese college students this Saturday night.
We showed up for dinner at Jean-Sebastien's at the appointed hour of 7:00, had appetizers at 8:00, fondue at 9:00, salad at 10:00, and lemon tart at 11:00. At that point Nance and I decined coffee, pled senior citizen's status and departed for the evening, knowing we had an early wake-up for church in the morning.
We took "Flat Stanley" along and photographed him with two French children, French cartoons, and some fondue.
At lunch today I found minde(turkey) and fresh cranberries for Nance to use for preparing for a dinner for Chinese college students this Saturday night.
Friday, November 13, 2009
shower brush - lost in translation
O.K. So Nancy is still a little intimidated by computer translation, and her French pronunciation is just beginning to come around. Our apartment needed a shower brush; so off she marched to the hardware store. (Her first visit there is another story; but I will need her direct input to tell that one.) This time, she did not mistake a customer for a clerk; but she tried to make known to the clerk that she needed a shower brush - even to the point of getting down and pretending to scrub the floor. After several confused replies, monsieur brightend and shouted "ahhh, brosse de douche!" and led her over to the appropriate area of the store. We now have a wonderful "brosse de douche"; and she is now aware that that phrase has nothing to do with "hygiène de femme". :-)
fermé dans le château
Around 12:30 we decided to leave, and arrived at the entrance to find it locked - madame who had been at the ticket desk walking away down the drive. She did not hear our call; so we started looking for another exit and even anticipating finding a spot to climb over the wall. About that time she returned to another gate, heading toward le chien to release him back to guarding the grounds, and seemed quite surprised that we were still inside. She seemed very apologetic, having forgotten we were there before taking her two hour lunch break. Ah well, all is well that ends well.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Samedi après-midi, sept Novembre
For Jack's assurance.
A small calzone lunch.
Our apartment building. The 3 windows are next to our dining table. The building is an old chateau circa 1900 made over into apartments.
Our little dining table.
Les chambres.
A great shot Nancy took in Provence village.
Nancy's petite cuisin.
Our colorful couch.Samedi, 7 Novembre, 2009, Mon chapeau!!!!
Now for some food news. Last Saturday as we drove to Provence, we had lunch in a restaurant in Apt. (Not that is not an abbreviation for apartment.) We ordered le menu, and enjoyed a wonderful plate with a salad and a "porc joweland spinach" pate, anticipating a small dessert to follow. Much to our surprise, that was indeed just the salad, and the following turrine of tender meat on a bed of potatoes in a wonderful sauce left us stuffed to the gills. The chocolate dessert - a flour-less torte with a soft center - left each of us wondering who would roll whom to the car. We did manage to get back to the car, and headed for our gite. We haad been gone only about 5 minutes when I realized my hat was not on my head. I distinctly remembered placing it on my chair under my coat - so we immediately turned around and went back to the restaurant - which was now closed and locked. AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! Some loud knocking led to the door opening, a search of the table and chair; but no chapeau. There had been only one other group in the restaurant when we left; and , I confess, Nancy and I had some very disappointing thoughts about the morals of someone who would take someone else's new hat instead of turning in the the owner of the restaurant.
Later that afternoon, we parked as I called the gite to get directions, and I stepped out of the car to take off my jacket. As I got back in to the car, I was hailed by a friendly fellow saying "votre chapeau". It had apparently caught on my jacket as I put it on, and had fallen off as I took the jacket off. Just how does one take back accusations one thought of instead of declaring them to the alledgely guilty party? Anyway, I still have mon chapeau - which works very well to keep this bald head warm.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Avez-vous souvant le brouillard en hiver?
Yes, apparently they do. There is no rain today - so far; and the blue sky, sun, and snow on the Dent as I drove on the autoroute to work was terrific view. However, by the time I had arrived at work, the fog had obscured the more distant mountains; and I have to look our the men's room window to see the Dent. Yesterday and today will end up being long days at work; but at least the drive home is not too bad when there is no rain. Apparently French traffic death rates are quite high - of course, that should be no surprise to me having witnessed some of the driving. We plan to stay close to home this weekend due to inclement weather; and are busy making plans to go to Dusseldorf for a couple of days on the 18th. The Weinachtsmarkt (Christmas market) there is world famous; so I can hardly wait to show it to Nancy. Our room reservation ended up being on a cruise boat in the harbor - all of the hotel rooms are long since booked for Medica - the world's largest medical trade show.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Hunting Season in Provence
Actually, that is not really a good name for today's blog. It really should be - Provence! Wow!
Nancy and I drove to Provence Saturday AM, taking th slow, scenic route - which was even more slow and scenic thanks to all of the stops for pictures, the little side trips to visit wonderful little villages, and a confused GPS which had a hard time finding an site with no address. After 3 calls to our hosts and finally geting a name of a village with all of either 2 or 3 houses ( really, I'm not kidding) we found our way to a charming bed and breakfast, then perused one more village for some vin, pain, and olive spread to go with the fabulous apples we had purchased along the way directly from the ferme. (With apologies to my colleague who does not believe in mixing languages - I am not trying to be a pain about pain. :-)) Our room was delightfully decorated with antiques and was in the upper story of a restored farmhouse with fieldstone walls. The shower was much like taking a bath in a cave - only with hot water and clean towels. The sink was a carved stone basin. Our breakfast was served after madame had made a run to the bakery for fresh bread and pastries, and we listend to the sound of French hunters in the surrounding hills. (Either there are a lot of deer and pigs or else they are very bad shots - we heard so many guns going off.) We did not do any hiking in the woods.
We visited castles, towers, villages with streets too narrow to drive - I know, beacuse I had to back uphill out of one - stupid GPS!!! (So it might have been that I did not look at the screen, but the detail of the directions left a great deal to be desired in a few locations.)
After a great lunch in a restaurant in Roussillon in the Luberon, we did a bit more exploring; then headed home on the motorways. (http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/provence-tourism/visit-provence/roussillon-ochre.htm This morning, the rain poured for quite a while - I am not sure if we will see more snow on the peaks or not. They are still shrouded in clouds.
Maybe we can get some pictures up later.
Nancy and I drove to Provence Saturday AM, taking th slow, scenic route - which was even more slow and scenic thanks to all of the stops for pictures, the little side trips to visit wonderful little villages, and a confused GPS which had a hard time finding an site with no address. After 3 calls to our hosts and finally geting a name of a village with all of either 2 or 3 houses ( really, I'm not kidding) we found our way to a charming bed and breakfast, then perused one more village for some vin, pain, and olive spread to go with the fabulous apples we had purchased along the way directly from the ferme. (With apologies to my colleague who does not believe in mixing languages - I am not trying to be a pain about pain. :-)) Our room was delightfully decorated with antiques and was in the upper story of a restored farmhouse with fieldstone walls. The shower was much like taking a bath in a cave - only with hot water and clean towels. The sink was a carved stone basin. Our breakfast was served after madame had made a run to the bakery for fresh bread and pastries, and we listend to the sound of French hunters in the surrounding hills. (Either there are a lot of deer and pigs or else they are very bad shots - we heard so many guns going off.) We did not do any hiking in the woods.
We visited castles, towers, villages with streets too narrow to drive - I know, beacuse I had to back uphill out of one - stupid GPS!!! (So it might have been that I did not look at the screen, but the detail of the directions left a great deal to be desired in a few locations.)
After a great lunch in a restaurant in Roussillon in the Luberon, we did a bit more exploring; then headed home on the motorways. (http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/provence-tourism/visit-provence/roussillon-ochre.htm This morning, the rain poured for quite a while - I am not sure if we will see more snow on the peaks or not. They are still shrouded in clouds.
Maybe we can get some pictures up later.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Provence!!
I just turned over my work on a research proposal and made a reservation at a B&B in Provence for tomorrow night. (Les Petite Barrones - http://www.antiqueluberon.com/lpb/accueil.html) One of my co-workers has made a proposed itenerary for our trip and recommended some great places to see near where "A Year in Provence" was written and filmed. We will drive South through the mountains early tomorrow AM - the slow beautiful route, and return on the motorways on Sunday afternoon.
Nancy is still having to adjust to some impatient check-out clerks at the supermarche, but she is well received at the local shops. She is having some American ex-pats over for lunch today at the apartment.
I am sure we will have some great pictures/adventures to share after we get back.
The drive to work this AM was another breath-taking experience - the view, not the drivers. There is a tendency for a thin ground fog to form in the valley as I get near Crolles. It is great; but it does subdue the colors of the leaves by making the scene appear in soft focus.
Nancy is still having to adjust to some impatient check-out clerks at the supermarche, but she is well received at the local shops. She is having some American ex-pats over for lunch today at the apartment.
I am sure we will have some great pictures/adventures to share after we get back.
The drive to work this AM was another breath-taking experience - the view, not the drivers. There is a tendency for a thin ground fog to form in the valley as I get near Crolles. It is great; but it does subdue the colors of the leaves by making the scene appear in soft focus.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Mardi, 27 Octobre, 2009
The only real excitement for today is the car accident I was nearly in last night just as I was nearing our flat. About half a block ahead of me, a traffic light changed from red to green, and the two cars at the light began left hand turns onto a side street. As I came upon the intersection, the last car of the two decided not to make the turn (after nearly completing it) and turned right back in front of me - very fast in order to avoid the car coming from the opposite direction. The anti-lock brakes on my car worked very well as the culprit raced down the street and turned right at the next alley-way - this time without signalling. (I still did not say any bad words, in either French or English; but I confess my thoughts of his driving skills are probably not appropriate to express. But then, maybe his skills are fine - just no judgment at all.)
The weather is a balmy, sunny 65 F or so, and the leaves are near the color peak. The reds are finally showing their beauty while the yellows are already there. The steep skirts around the mountain cliffs are colored with the full spectrum of leaves.
Did I mention that the Dent de Crolles near my work is a center of European caving and hang gliding? I don't know if Nance and I can come close to exploring all of this in only 6 months.
The weather is a balmy, sunny 65 F or so, and the leaves are near the color peak. The reds are finally showing their beauty while the yellows are already there. The steep skirts around the mountain cliffs are colored with the full spectrum of leaves.
Did I mention that the Dent de Crolles near my work is a center of European caving and hang gliding? I don't know if Nance and I can come close to exploring all of this in only 6 months.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Dimanche, 25 Octobre, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Je suis desole. J'ai fait un ereur. Samedi, 24 Octobre, 2009
Boy, did I ever! I knew that gazole was their name for diesel, and I knew that essence, san plombe was NOT what my Ford Focus needed to go. What I did not note, is that whereas in USA the green nozzle is diesel - that is not the case here. So, les Americain Stupide filled his tank with essence, san plombe. We spent much of the day waiting for a tow-truck and then the draining and cleaning of the fuel system of our car. The little car now goes well, again, my pocket-book is somewhat lighter, and it hurts deeply whenever I laugh - that is, if I can laugh.
Nancy was very patient and very kind; but she assures me that this is a tale worth repeating often. :-(
(So does the French girl who was the receptionist at the garage. She says that this problem is most often seen with men drivers, not women. (Nancy says always. That is my story and I am sticking to it.)
However, we did make it to the street market again this AM and bought our groceries, then to a Bucherie for some roast bouef, then a patisserie for some dessert and a sandwich and some bread.
After waiting for the car to be serviced, we drove to a ski resort village - 12 kilometers from our flat - fabulous views.
Now to relax, Skype, and forget our silly little (expensive) faux pas. (Essence even cost more than gazole, and I lost a whole tank!!!!! adn had to pay for its disposal!!!!)
Nancy was very patient and very kind; but she assures me that this is a tale worth repeating often. :-(
(So does the French girl who was the receptionist at the garage. She says that this problem is most often seen with men drivers, not women. (Nancy says always. That is my story and I am sticking to it.)
However, we did make it to the street market again this AM and bought our groceries, then to a Bucherie for some roast bouef, then a patisserie for some dessert and a sandwich and some bread.
After waiting for the car to be serviced, we drove to a ski resort village - 12 kilometers from our flat - fabulous views.
Now to relax, Skype, and forget our silly little (expensive) faux pas. (Essence even cost more than gazole, and I lost a whole tank!!!!! adn had to pay for its disposal!!!!)
Friday, October 23, 2009
Starting to understand-sort of 23/10/2009 Vendredi
Ils vous taquinaient à propos de votre déjeuner. O.K. so I had to go back to my desk and use an on-line translator to get this right; but I did understand my colleagues were teasing one of the fellow workers over his lunch of bagguette and sardines sandwich. He did not understand when I asked him if they were teasing him - even though his English is better than my French. It took a fourth person coming in before someone understoond "tease", and confirmed what I had somehow grasped. They had been saying to him that if he treated his wife better he would not have to have a sardine sandwich for lunch.
Now I have to grouse a little bit. Nancy took 6 shirts and one blouse to the laundry and picked them up yesterday. The cost was 49 Euros - that is nearly $75. US. (We will not make that mistake again!!!!!) She also paid nearly 3 times what the US cost would be for a manicure. Oh well, TIF. (This Is France.)
By the way, the translation of the first phrase is: They were teasing you about your lunch."
Now I have to grouse a little bit. Nancy took 6 shirts and one blouse to the laundry and picked them up yesterday. The cost was 49 Euros - that is nearly $75. US. (We will not make that mistake again!!!!!) She also paid nearly 3 times what the US cost would be for a manicure. Oh well, TIF. (This Is France.)
View from my car window as I drove home yesterday.
Nancy and I have not yet decided what to do with ourselves this weekend; but I am sure we will find something fun - either a walk around Grenoble or a drive in the mountains if the weather permits. (There is no highway through the mountains to the Northeast, where an expected invasion from Italy called for the building of the bastille in the early 1800's.)By the way, the translation of the first phrase is: They were teasing you about your lunch."
Thursday, October 22, 2009
jeudi, 22 Novembre, 2009
Bon soir!
For those of you who do not know French and who do not care to, je suis desole. I am sorry, but I must practice at every opportunity. Last evening, the rain made my commute quite tiresome - over an hour in stop and go traffic with a stick shift (no, I did not kill the engine even once.) It was almost worth it this morning to see the view of the snow on the surrounding mountain peaks - that is, on the western side. The Dent de Crolles is not high enough to be covered as yet. The leaves are rapidly approaching their best viewing; and the trees grow right up a steeep slope to the base of the cliffs at the side of the Dent.
One of my colleagues laughingly stopped me on my way in to the office this morning and assured me that the only thing I lacked to be looking like a classical Frenchman on his way to work would be a baggette tucked under my arm. (My beret and leather pilot's jacket go over very well.) (Nancy has a high very French hat that she has yet to let me take a photo to show you.)
BBC TV leaves a bit to be desired - the most exciting shows on in the early evening are of a woman exploring hiking trails around Britain or another that has agencies seeking out possible heirs to estates where no will or local realtives can be found. (The woman really gets escited about abandoned rail beds turned into hiking trails.) I have begun reading books on my Kindle after exhausting the novels Nancy and I brought with us. (She is re-reading "My Life in France" by Juliet Childs.)
One more day till the weekend and some more exploring.
For those of you who do not know French and who do not care to, je suis desole. I am sorry, but I must practice at every opportunity. Last evening, the rain made my commute quite tiresome - over an hour in stop and go traffic with a stick shift (no, I did not kill the engine even once.) It was almost worth it this morning to see the view of the snow on the surrounding mountain peaks - that is, on the western side. The Dent de Crolles is not high enough to be covered as yet. The leaves are rapidly approaching their best viewing; and the trees grow right up a steeep slope to the base of the cliffs at the side of the Dent.
One of my colleagues laughingly stopped me on my way in to the office this morning and assured me that the only thing I lacked to be looking like a classical Frenchman on his way to work would be a baggette tucked under my arm. (My beret and leather pilot's jacket go over very well.) (Nancy has a high very French hat that she has yet to let me take a photo to show you.)
BBC TV leaves a bit to be desired - the most exciting shows on in the early evening are of a woman exploring hiking trails around Britain or another that has agencies seeking out possible heirs to estates where no will or local realtives can be found. (The woman really gets escited about abandoned rail beds turned into hiking trails.) I have begun reading books on my Kindle after exhausting the novels Nancy and I brought with us. (She is re-reading "My Life in France" by Juliet Childs.)
One more day till the weekend and some more exploring.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wednesday - mercredi for you Francophiles
It is Wednesday afternoon, and I have begun to aggressively pursue the enhancement of my nearly non-existent French vocabulary. Today is scheduled to memorize the days of the week, the numerals from 11 to 20, and the tens to 100. (For those of you who do not know French, 70 is stated as sixty-10, 80 as 4 twenties, and 90 as 4 twenties and 10 - go figure!) TIF (This is France.)
Nancy had fun learning how to use the washer and dryer - you don't use coins, you use tokens in the machines. I did manage to figure out the microwave ovens at work, and no, the user interface is nothing like those in the USA. (Did you ever have to figure out how to ask for finger-nail clippers when you were not sure of the language. By the way, for some reason left and right get confused by those who say they speak a little bit of English.)
I am not complaining, mind you - just explaining that their are interesting daily challenges.
I have set our car GPS to use French language announcements and metric units, and can actually understand the directions without looking at the screen for the pictorial most of the time.
Not sure what we will do this weekend - depends on the weather which right now is forecast to have a chance of rain. We will certainly do some exploring, however.
Life is good. C'est si Bon!
Nancy had fun learning how to use the washer and dryer - you don't use coins, you use tokens in the machines. I did manage to figure out the microwave ovens at work, and no, the user interface is nothing like those in the USA. (Did you ever have to figure out how to ask for finger-nail clippers when you were not sure of the language. By the way, for some reason left and right get confused by those who say they speak a little bit of English.)
I am not complaining, mind you - just explaining that their are interesting daily challenges.
I have set our car GPS to use French language announcements and metric units, and can actually understand the directions without looking at the screen for the pictorial most of the time.
Not sure what we will do this weekend - depends on the weather which right now is forecast to have a chance of rain. We will certainly do some exploring, however.
Life is good. C'est si Bon!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday evening Oct18
Bon Soir! One week in France.
We had a delightful day yesterday - after going to the farmer's market near our apartment and coming home well stocked with accoutrements of dining, we had rotisserie poulet with marvelous bread for lunch; drove out to Crolles to show Nancy where my office is located, and the view of the mountains along the way -(the drive is only about 20 kilometers.) We stopped at the airport at Le Versoud and checked out two flying clubs so I can decide how best to maintain flying currency during our stay here. We took the slow way home driving through quaint villages and stopping at a patisserie for dessert and espresso. We then drove by the International Church in Corenc where we had decided to attend this morning. Nearby we found a nursery, where Nancy found some herbs to decorate, and to cook with. (We had to return there after church this AM because she found she really needed some sage in addition to what she obtained yesterday.) Then we had fruit, cheese, bread and du vin for dinner and watched two romantic movies on BBC2 - French kiss and You've got Mail. For some reason the blogspot is very slow right now, so will the edit this and publish the pictures later.
We were very pleased with what we found at church - great warmth and mission spirit. Yesterday, they had held a training class for women in service to God, and had several women visiting from California. One of the speakers was a professor of church history from Fuller Theological Seminary, who gave a brief synopsis of his lesson today after the sermon. Nancy hooked up with a women's Bible study group.
After a lunch at our apartment, we read and napped briefly, then walked to a park where a cable car station was located, and took the tram to the bastille overlooking the town - thus some of the pictures. The views were fabulous. We stopped for coffee and crepes on the way home - MMMMMMMM! We found a gourmet coffee shop as we returned to our apartment that features Kenyan coffee that they roast on the premises. Aaahhh!
Tonight is time for blogging, journaling, and chilling.
We had a delightful day yesterday - after going to the farmer's market near our apartment and coming home well stocked with accoutrements of dining, we had rotisserie poulet with marvelous bread for lunch; drove out to Crolles to show Nancy where my office is located, and the view of the mountains along the way -(the drive is only about 20 kilometers.) We stopped at the airport at Le Versoud and checked out two flying clubs so I can decide how best to maintain flying currency during our stay here. We took the slow way home driving through quaint villages and stopping at a patisserie for dessert and espresso. We then drove by the International Church in Corenc where we had decided to attend this morning. Nearby we found a nursery, where Nancy found some herbs to decorate, and to cook with. (We had to return there after church this AM because she found she really needed some sage in addition to what she obtained yesterday.) Then we had fruit, cheese, bread and du vin for dinner and watched two romantic movies on BBC2 - French kiss and You've got Mail. For some reason the blogspot is very slow right now, so will the edit this and publish the pictures later.
We were very pleased with what we found at church - great warmth and mission spirit. Yesterday, they had held a training class for women in service to God, and had several women visiting from California. One of the speakers was a professor of church history from Fuller Theological Seminary, who gave a brief synopsis of his lesson today after the sermon. Nancy hooked up with a women's Bible study group.
After a lunch at our apartment, we read and napped briefly, then walked to a park where a cable car station was located, and took the tram to the bastille overlooking the town - thus some of the pictures. The views were fabulous. We stopped for coffee and crepes on the way home - MMMMMMMM! We found a gourmet coffee shop as we returned to our apartment that features Kenyan coffee that they roast on the premises. Aaahhh!
Tonight is time for blogging, journaling, and chilling.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Saturday morning
My first work week is over, and we have had our first French night out. Last night we went to a very small restaurant just a couple of blocks away. We had a wonderful dinner that began with the tiniest piece of toast, a salmon pate, and a tomato sauce, went on to a salad and jambon, brie, and apple tart, followed by rabbit wrapped in bacon with potatoes (the best Nancy and I had ever tasted), with a zucchini quiche, and finished off with a chocolate cake with a scoop of ice cream. We discussed who would go up the stairs first in order to pull the other up. (This place is definitely on the list of places to go if we have guests from the states.) We did have to spend some time meandering around before we could be seated - they don't start serving dinner until 7:30 around here. It was actually my third restaurant meal - out to lunch on Monday with work colleagues; then again on Wednesday a business luncheon with a potential client.)
It is hard to describe the surroundings, so I will take some pictures today as we finally get to do some exploring - first the farmer's market and then???? The first here is one I took out of the window of the ante-room to the men's toilet at work. The views here are fantastic.
I got a small auto GPS so we can drive wherever and get back without difficulty. I may even set the language to French after a couple of more days.
Nancy and I both bought our French chapeaus - pictures to follow. :-)
I think I will go make a pot of coffee and chill for a few minutes.
Tonight or tomorrow we will add street and apartment pictures
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The mountain in the picture is known as "the tooth" for obvious reasons as it looks like a huge molar from one direction.
Nancy was out and about shopping today, and realized how challenging it can be to buy more than one can conveniently carry home and up the stairs to our flat. While it is on the "first floor" that means the first floor above ground level, not ground level.
I did not need any direction assistance in getting to work or home today (believe me, the streets are very unusual, and you need to memorize vectors and landmarks both to navigate.) I purchased a French Navman today to enable us to drive without fear in much of the rest of the town. (Fear of getting lost - that is. I have not found maps that interact with the gps that communicates with my laptop. :-) )
Packaging, weights, and sizes will be a challenge until metric units are familiar to Nancy, and she is not quite sure that the package she bought is really laundry detergent and not cat litter.
Nancy was out and about shopping today, and realized how challenging it can be to buy more than one can conveniently carry home and up the stairs to our flat. While it is on the "first floor" that means the first floor above ground level, not ground level.
I did not need any direction assistance in getting to work or home today (believe me, the streets are very unusual, and you need to memorize vectors and landmarks both to navigate.) I purchased a French Navman today to enable us to drive without fear in much of the rest of the town. (Fear of getting lost - that is. I have not found maps that interact with the gps that communicates with my laptop. :-) )
Packaging, weights, and sizes will be a challenge until metric units are familiar to Nancy, and she is not quite sure that the package she bought is really laundry detergent and not cat litter.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Day 3
The view of the surrounding mountains was glorious this morning as I drove to work - I will post pictures this evening. The sun on these rugged foothills of the Alps is incredible.
Yesterday, Nancy was out and about exploring close to our flat, and managed to find a fruit and vegatable stand as well as a full market. We had our first home cooked french dinner last night - c'est bon! The smell in our hallway was terrific as I arrived, and I hoped it was coming from our flat - it was.
We are still feeling our way along. I drove to work without any reference to maps or GPS or phone mapping with no difficulty, and hope to get close to that on the way home. (the route is different in the city due to one-way streets, construction, etc.
All of the people we have met have been very helpful. Nancy is trying very hard to learn French pronunciation; and I am sure she will ultimately learn more French than I, since she plans to take lessons.
Must go to my important meeting; so I will post later.
Yesterday, Nancy was out and about exploring close to our flat, and managed to find a fruit and vegatable stand as well as a full market. We had our first home cooked french dinner last night - c'est bon! The smell in our hallway was terrific as I arrived, and I hoped it was coming from our flat - it was.
We are still feeling our way along. I drove to work without any reference to maps or GPS or phone mapping with no difficulty, and hope to get close to that on the way home. (the route is different in the city due to one-way streets, construction, etc.
All of the people we have met have been very helpful. Nancy is trying very hard to learn French pronunciation; and I am sure she will ultimately learn more French than I, since she plans to take lessons.
Must go to my important meeting; so I will post later.
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