Solitude in the Loire Valley

I have been grossly negligent in updating you on my various adventures, but you see, I've been busy having adventures! After I finished my studies and work, I took a week-long holiday to the Loire Valley where I spent my days roaming around castles, vineyards, and gardens. It was a week of rest and renewal, and a bit of indulgence as I mentally and spiritually embraced my next season of transition. I had a glorious week of solitude in this valley famous for its castles, which is also an epicenter for spiritual pilgrimages.

 

 

 

Thanks to the help of a dear friend, and the generous hospitality of a new friend, I got to stay in a beautiful home perfectly situated in the heart of the city of Tours. Each day I would go out and explore, then wrap up the afternoon down by the gypsy camp at the river. Ok, it wasn't a real gypsy camp, but it was an outdoor bar with live music and dancing, and all sorts of creative seating overlooking the river.

La Guinguette (The Country Café) - or in my mind The Gypsy Camp

 

The Game Shack (bus) at The Gypsy Camp

These boats reminded me of the gypsy boats in the movie Chocolat

 

The outdoor library/study at The Gypsy Camp

One day I rented a bike and rode to the nearby village of Amboise. It was a beautiful but long ride along the river and through vineyards. The chateau was impressive, but I was also intrigued by the many houses built directly into the cliffs. I also discovered wine caves built in the cliffs, which gives a whole new perspective on a wine cellar.

 

 

 

Another day I hopped on the train and went to the village of Chinon. We passed through field after field of sunflowers and more vineyards too.  I enjoyed exploring the village with the comforting presence of the chateau towering overhead.

 

 

 

 

Unknowingly, I saved the best chateau for the last. I was a bit done with seeing castles, but had heard this was a must see, and I am very thankful I made the effort to go. The chateau of Chenonceau is a grand estate, with all of the outbuildings, flower and vegetable gardens immaculately kept. From every direction the castle takes on a new personality, and I found myself thoroughly immersed in the history of the various women who had lived here, while I soaked up the beauty of the architecture and the landscapes.

 

 

This was a week of quiet reflection. I filled up a lot of journal pages as I prepared to say goodbye to France and re-enter the US. It was an ideal location for me to embrace this next season of transition. I was able to revel in the beauty and splendor of the French countryside, indulge in the delicious French cuisine, and simply be present to my heart and soul.

 

 



 

 

Saying goodbye was not easy.... which is actually a good thing

At the end of July I finished my time at the school in France where I have been studying and working for the past ten months. I had the good fortune of working with some pretty amazing people who were not only colleagues and teachers, but friends. Here is a glimpse of a few of the people who have been a part of my journey this past year. By no means is this everyone, as I don't have pictures of many, but these are some of the people who made this year special for me.



I spent a LOT of time with these crazy guys




Partners in crime and fun



Patient teachers and dear friends




Baking Buddy, teacher, friend - she welcomed me into her life

 

Dedicated teacher and friend, she always made sure I was taken care of -
 and her kiddos were my favorite English students!



She was our housekeeper, but so much more



Our Chef, who patiently taught me French vocabulary for all things cooking related

 

This guy... he's an American-Frenchman with a huge heart full of kindness

 



Hospitable, kind, and super talented - she provided a home away from home

 

 



He put up with me day in and day out - providing laughter and balance in the chaos



And so, memories were made and friendships grew, and this is what made it difficult to say goodbye. I'm thankful it was difficult, because that means I was present and invested in relationships which have impacted me greatly and which will be truly missed. Thank you to all of you who were a part of my journey at Planete-Langues, you are now forever part of my story.

The Beauty of Lights

There is a town nearby that is famous for it's cathedral which is a significant point on the Saint Jacques de Compostelle trail. In my opinion, the cathedral of Chartres rivals Norte Dame de Paris in it's grandeur, and because it's in a small country village, you can see it from miles (or rather kilometers) away as it sits at the top of a hill with a magnificent view of the countryside. Also, there are no crowds, so you can actually experience the quiet majesty of the cathedral. 

I've been there several times to visit the cathedral, but I recently learned that there's a whole medieval village that still exists at the base of the cathedral which I had never seen; and, during the summer they have a special light show, every single night, all summer long. I love lights! The little twinkle lights at Christmas, the antique chandelier hung from a tree over a garden terrace, the flickering candlelight at dinner, the quirky lamp at the local coffee shop, the sunlight filtering through the trees, the moonlight shining in my window..... really, I LOVE lights! And so, I have been waiting with great anticipation for this opportunity to see the lights of Charters.

The cathedral of Chartres by day

The medieval village of Charters is picturesque and offered a wonderful start to the evening. While we waited for the sun to set we walked through the tiny streets, following the winding river towards the cathedral.



A tiny little restaurant overhanging the river





That's the cathedral in the background

Chartres en Lumieres - Charters in Lights

The pictures can't even begin to capture the beauty of the light show, but I tried to take a few to share with you. The lights are animated and tell a story of each of the historical monuments in the village that are part of the light show.

The cathedral in the midst of the show

 

The side entrance of the cathedral

Another side of the cathedral

This church was one of the many monuments that were part of the light show. When we arrived at dusk, I snapped the first picture, and at the end of the night, from the same spot, I took the second picture. 

 

 

It was a spectacular evening that delighted my senses. The beauty of the village was idyllic, the lights were beyond anything I had imagined, the music complimented everything nicely, the night was warm and cloudless with nearly a full moon, and the company was lovely!

Transitions

I haven't written anything for a while, but it's not for a lack of things to say. On the contrary, there are many things for me to share, I just haven't known quite where to begin.

Enjoying the view

A year ago at this time  moving to France was simply a dream, and now I have been living my dream for the last ten months - living, studying, and working in France. I arrived  bright-eyed and eager for the adventure that lay ahead, wondering if I might find a new place to call home.... if I might "fit" in France better than in the US... many friends had told me I was much more European than American in my approach to life. I was hopeful that I would find answers to some big life questions - Who am I? Where do I belong? What is my unique purpose in life? Ok, so maybe I had some unrealistic expectations, but really, I was ready for a new adventure and this was exactly what I needed to gain a fresh perspective on life. Some might call it a mid-life crisis, but I call it a pilgrimage and a sabbatical. The pilgrimage has been both a physical journey to a foreign country and a spiritual journey deeper into my own soul. The sabbatical has been a time to pause and reflect on life, to see where I've been and to intentionally look ahead to where I am going - both literally and figuratively.

 

 

The view on a recent bike ride

One of my favorite walks in the park

Transitions are a common thing in my world, especially when it comes to moving (I didn't get the name Gypsy by accident!). You'd think I'd be comfortable with the whole process by now, but each time I face a transition, it's a new and unique experience. I am getting better at not just enduring the process, but actually embracing and enjoying the ride as part of the greater journey, and yet it is still emotionally and physically exhausting; however, I have found that bike rides, walks in the park, and stopping to enjoy simple beauty all are things that nourish my soul in these times of transition.

This guy had about 20 friends hanging out on the same lavender bush

And now, another transition is on the horizon as my time here in France is quickly coming to an end. In light of that, I am doing all that I can to enjoy every moment, to see and do those last few "musts" in France before I leave; to be fully present, enjoying every moment, feeling the mix of emotions that come as I embrace the transition. Yes, I am leaving France. While it has been a unique experience for which I will be forever grateful, I have discovered that Colorado is more home to me than I ever knew, and now I am excited to be returning there this fall! I am looking forward to returning to my community of friends, finding a source of income that is fulfilling and sustainable, acquiring a place to live where I can practice hospitality, and of course rediscovering the beauty of Colorado!

A quiet respite at a friend's house in the mountains of Steamboat Springs

Free Time and a Fresh Perspective

Sometimes we receive the gift of unexpected free time. I recently had such a day and took full advantage of it. The weather was beautiful, I knew I was in need of some alone time, and I was feeling the urge to explore; so I headed into Paris, because sometimes the best place to find solitude is in the midst of a crowd.

The Biblioteque National de France - the National Library of France - was my destination, based on a recommendation from a friend... a library, a park, and a collection of artisan markets and restaurants. Yes, please!

The first surprise in my day of exploration was a delightful garden store just outside the metro stop. I spent some time wandering amongst the plants, and found a little organic market inside. They also had a kitchen section full of fabulous cookbooks. I could have spent hours in there, but I also wanted to be outside. I pulled myself away from the shop and walked along the river until I came to the library, where I walked into the courtyard and was speechless.... I felt like I had entered a movie set.

There is a forest planted in the middle, and when you walk up you are in the tree tops. When I finally found my way inside I was a bit disappointed - it was hot and crowded - not nearly as peaceful as I had hoped, so I went back out to the sun deck and enjoyed the forest a bit.

Next I headed across the river and walked through Bercy Park on my way to Bercy Village where there is a collection of artisain shops and restaurants. I wandered up and down the aisles soaking in the ambiance of this quaint neighborhood. I found some organic sorbet and enjoyed it in the park - sitting on the grass like a true Parisian.

My view at the park

 

The rose garden

 

Then I found some stuff for a little picnic and headed back to the Library where I had a great view of the Seine river and some nice background music coming from one of the house boat restaurants.

Picnic by the river



Houseboat restaurant

This was a wonderful day: My thirst for exploration was satisfied and my need for solitude was met. Throughout the day I gained a new perspective not only of Paris but on life, and thus, my soul was refreshed.