En bord de mer

Gassin

On a hilltop not far from our place was a charming village that made the coveted Les Plus Beaux Villages de France list. I was not equal to the task of capturing it's scope, but I made a record of our time there, nevertheless. 

Remnants of Rome

We took a day to visit the city of Arles, France, which has some wonderfully preserved examples of Roman architecture. We visited the theatre and amphitheatre.

Though only restored to about 60-75% of their original height, they were nevertheless stunning, epic and monumental; in short, everything we'd hoped they would be.

We also squeezed in a visit to the site of Van Gogh's famous painting Cafe Terrace at Night.

La Croix-Valmer

Our place was just a stone's throw from an isolated beach. 

Provence, France

Out of a trio of possibilities, I chose to study French when I was 13 years old. I took to it quickly and kept at it till college where I burned out after freshman year. Later I was called to serve a mission for my church in Bordeaux, France, so I recommitted. Afterwards I returned to college, took a few courses, and called it quits again. But it keeps coming back. Every few seasons I find myself in a situation where I'm using it again, and Tbilisi has been an intense season. 

We chose to enroll our girls in the French school, and I chose to work there for the duration of our time in Georgia. With my children now speaking fluent French as well, I realize: I'm in it for the long haul. No more luxury of burning out or quitting, this French thing will be in my life now. Forever. 

And, with nothing close to resolve, I feel ambivalence toward the language and everything connected to it. 

This, oddly, is what I discovered on our family's long-anticipated trip to France.

In her third year of French education, well nigh time to have a go.

We tried to fit in.

Then settled on the tourist thing, 

which seemed to fit us better.

We rented a dreamy abode, which immediately inspired everyone to wax artistic.

Eldest daughter's rendering of father as artist.

And we settled in to our place,

by the sea.