A Slice of Heaven (and an entire baguette)

The previous week in review: I watched several classic films. Voici, a summary.

• Gladiator: Great film, great ending. 
• Braveheart: Basic archetype was the same as Gladiator, but less good. Best scene: when the Scots are facing the Brits and demoralize them by mooning their armies. Classic. 
• The Patriot: Another great. Also Heath Ledger. This film convinced me to take up a tomahawk in the zombie apocalypse. 
• Hitch: A modern classic (not on the list), that Chance from France had never seen. Rectified. 

Part two of week one: Workout fiends. Hannah and Chance from France both signed up for personal workouts with yours truly. And protein shakes après. No complaints on final hangouts with my favorite people before they ditch me for Idaho. 

In other news, I took a week-long vacation to Europe with Jimmy and Gregorious. Here's what went down.

"And then it starts to rain."

London 

-Climbed up St Paul's Cathedral with a hilarious Asian commentator and a man with his entire suitcase. 

-Played "if you were the artist" at Tate Modern Art museum. 

-Commandeered platform 9 3/4 for a proper photoshoot. 

-Bartered for indian food with my old chums, Lyndsie and Thomas.

A proper English box.

-Participated in traditional medieval torture at the London Dungeon. 

-Saw all the dinosaurs (and basically Hogwarts) at the Natural History Museum. 

-Put our pinkies out for tea time and ate a proper English breakfast with Brits Philippa and Josh.

On that one bridge that everyone puts locks on.
Except for us cuz we're rebels.

Paris

-Found mysterious excrement on all of Trevor's clothes post-"the most stressful bike ride"

-Ripped the laundry bag outside the Grand Palais

-Acquired tetanus at the Garden de Tuileries

-Was pickpocketed of one Louvre ticket (once inside)

Il faut, je pense.

-Waited in line at the catacombs (which do NOT, in fact, open at 7am)

-Ate the most needed Pain au Chocolat at our hotel after the Air Bnb bailed on us

-Spent sunrise at the Eiffel Tower

The REAL vacation begins in Chalon.

Chalon-sur-Saône

-Tasted the first kebab of the trip en route (the first of MANY)

-Investigated the Landré's armory, finding at least one "sockret" weapon

-Learned the meaning of "gourmands" chez un restaurant chinois with the missionary couple

Soeur Landré knows how to chantilly.

-Laughed until we cried chez les DuCoeurs

-Bought illegal caramel épicé from un chalonnais at the local march

-Chilled on the quai, with a gorgeous view of the Saône and a current construction project

Teaching Promise. 

Lyon

-Played foot at Parc de la Tête D'or (and took a nap)

-Took our introductory pictures at Fourvière

-Tried ALL of Vieux Lyon's gelato shops

-Lost and FOUND Trevor's wallet - all while teaching Promise

Found ittttt.

-Found the #OnlyLyon sign at the Musée des Confluences

-Drank some cash money with the Parans while exploring la nouvelle chapelle

-Slept on Soeur Yvars' toasty cement floor (for free)

This is MY city. 

Cannes

-Cried at the good views of L'Esterel from the train entre St. Raph and Cannes-même

-Drank Yop and ate vegetarian falafel

-Dipped our toes in the Mediterranean during the Red Bull World Championship Air Competition

Gelato. Encore. (always)

-Ate a picnic, played sand volleyball, and went swimming for real with the Perez family (slashed cried a little at just being with them. Or at laughing so hard, not sure which.) Then we ate more gelato and stayed at a beach-front hotel.

-Found a granola supplier in my old neighbor, M. Tonial, who is just as delightful as ever. 

-Acquired 15 tiny rubber babies.

Socca is as good as it sounds. (Delicious).

Nice

-Perfected our zombie apocalypse plan

-Ate more gelato, baguettes, socca, and flower candies

Baguettes. A representation of my life. 

-Travelled for 36 hours to chez nous - during which Trevor was separated from us (and thus missed out on Hacksaw Ridge), Greg's passport was flagged bc his fetus pic doesn't match his current face, I spent several hours curled up on 2 adjacent chairs in a cold sweat with itchy hives all over my body, Trevor lost his caramel, an angry zamboni man called security on us, and I watched Justice League and Last Jedi while squished between an bickering married couple. 

And now I've showered and am wearing clean clothes, praise be.