Park, Park, Park & Park

C, Grand-Dad and I went just outside of town and up a ridge to take in the vistas of the Haut Languedoc. This is looking south west, with Cessenon in the background. We then drove to Cessenon to practice our French- Duo biere et jus du peshe, s.v.p. And here is a shot from a hike earlier in the week to the same spot.

We drove to Carcassonne- a lovely castle on a hill- today. On the way back, we stopped in Capestang, along the Canal du Midi for something cool to drink. Here are the kids just outside the wall.

On Sunday evening, the Park Family arrived at Janes, just outside Bezier. The Mater Familas (Grandma and Grand-Dad) arrived the next day (after a bit of a struggle with the French roads). The pool is more than sufficent for the the mid-day temperatures. Unfortunetly the Olympic torch just passed by our house in London!

The Americans travelling on UK passports and the Brit found themselves in Vichy for the night.  A random stop turned into a great hotel in the middle of the city, satisfying crepes for dinner for all and a taste of the famous water.  There are dormant volcanos in the area, so the water tastes of minerials. The final leg of the drive to Janes' tomorrow should put us there in time for a swim before tea.

We're sitting on the EuroTunnel car train right now, having left the house at 4:15am. After a long drive from the top to the bottom of France, we'll arrive in Bezier. And then its two weeks with my parents, in the warmth and sun of the Languedoc region. Thanks to the hospitality of Jane and Merv.

C, D and I went up for our paseo Sunday eve.  Sponteneously we brought along dominos.  The three of us had never played before although D knows the concept from some of her other games. Whether by luck or skill, she won all three games. On the short bike ride home though, D clipped a wall. That gave her a skinned knee and a fat bloody lip.

We've gotten in the habit of going to a great little local cafe for lunch after Sunday church- Salt & Pepper .  John and Sue who own it, do some interesting food.  We can just walk in and say give me whatever you've got, and it is always is fantastic. Here's the kids with John having some of their homemade ice lollies, as they say in the UK. Then, later in the day, we ventured up to Rubinos for our evening paseo.  The Wimbledon Tennis final had just finished down the road, and we wanted to see all the people coming back.

Before the wee one's ceremony began: C and his friend Aaron After the ceremony:

We've eaten burgers, watched the talent show, seen all kinds of friends, played games and gotten our faces painted.

C's artwork from school.  My thumb is covering the "A" in America.

On Saturday, we rented out the church hall up the street, corralled 30 kids, and had a great time.  Miss Clare- D's favourite dance teacher- came along, and Aunt Nettie was gracious enough to help as well.   Here's a few from on the day.  Video to follow.