Home Sweet Second Home?

It has been far too long since I have written, and I am having trouble remembering what I was planning to write.

Today we returned to Ste Croix, driving across France rather than around it. The middle of France is enchanting. I felt like I spent my day skipping across the feilds of my favorite Impressionist paintings. Being back at my make-shift home is nice, and tomorrow I am hoping to bike around the village and surrounding countryside.

This past week was fantastic! It was all that a vacation on vacation should be - full of sunshine, lazy days, and amazing food. By the end, we had gotten into a rhythm of waking up and going on an adventure, then returning to evenings at the pool and playing ball games in the street.

One of my favorite outings was to this little cove on the pennisula adjacent to the island I mentioned earlier (which is called Porquerolles, by the way). The beach was secluded and private, like something out of Robinson-Crusoe. To get there, you have to hike in, which provided some absolutely fantastic views of the turquoise diamond water.

We also went to St. Tropez, which was like entering an entirely new world. One where there are as many boats as cars, and where ice cream costs 12 euros. It was more than amusing to gasp and giggle at prices, not to mention the somewhat strange merchandise.

Sunday evening we left Hyéres, and drove to a small village right next to Aix-en Provence, where Xavier's aunt lives. I had heard about how charming Aix was, but I do not think I really believed it until we arrived. There is something so uniquely magical about the tan, worn houses and signs that adorn the cobbelstone streets. Xavier's aunt, Georgette, has a beautiful house. It is rustic and laid back, with an immense garden and a chicken coop. We had a pleasant dinner and aftrewards Maelle and I watched the second half of Cast Away on the television (It was extremely disconcerting to see Tom Hanks, but hear a different high pitched French voice!).

All in all, everything is going well. Yesterday was the 3 week mark, and I was filled with of mixture of anticipation to go home and sadness that I would have to leave. The contradiction thickens.

Another thing I have realized is that almost all of the foods I had insisted I didn't like, I now eat on a fairly regular basis. Olives, Mushrooms, Goat Cheese, Tuna (kind of). I have not turned down the oppurtunity to taste anything, excpet fish sticks (I am certain they are disgusting no matter what continent they were manufactured on).
I love how there are tons of specialty shops here - Fromagerie, Boulangerie, Epicerie, Poissonerie, etc. Each one has an immense variety of things. It is rather mind-boggeling. But, at the same time, there is a plethora of packaged chocolate things of every type imaginable. I went grocery shopping with Sylvie today, and I have vowed that next time I will take my camera to document it.
When you see chocolate croissants packaged like Twinkies, you know you are in France I guess..