What signified my European escape coming to a close ...

was the 2 weeks, or final trip I had planned, in France.
            If I tried to document every part of this trip, it was be entirely too long and you would have grow horribly bored, so I have chosen a selection of the pictures I took and they must suffice.

And the trip began with a nice train ride from Konstanz to Paris ...

At the festival Les Vieilles Charrues, it rained, a common occurence in Bretange, France. We still has a blast though.

We saw Cold Wars Kids, Kaiser Chiefs, Jack Johnson, Bell Rays, David Guetta, etc and so on.

Aayla's peguin enjoyed the show.

At David Guetta ...

Remy's pal Sasha's place in Bretange

After Sasha's we went to stay at Remy's family's. This is a fraction of one of my family rooms there.

Remy and I spent a day touring the coast of Bretange.

At his cousin's place outside of Bordeaux

At his Aunt and Step Uncles' also outside of Bordeaux in wine country.

They took us to see a castle that used to be on the coast of a sea. Underneath it are caves full of fossilized oyster wreaths.

Next we went to stay with his friend Tristan in Marseille. We half drove half hiked to a beach. This is a view of the city from the hike.

Facing the other way towards the sea.

Down at the sea. :)

Can anyone identify this flower?

We went to another part of the sea to eat dinner ...

... and stayed late to watch ferries pass underneath the sunset.

The next day we went to an island nature reserve with wild bulls and tons of wild white horses.

I failed to get a good picture of them, but I saw my first flamingos.

And we took a nap on the beach there as well.

Downtown Marseille in the harbor area.

The section of the city that was a big pool for refugees and immigrants.

Now back in Konstanz, I made stuffed zucchinis for Remy, his brother, and myself.

Flohmarkt and Weihnachten

Today and last night, as I strolled past the endless stands littering the streets of Konstanz's annual Flohmarkt (fleemarket), I found many interesting, classically German trinkets. After purchasing a few key gifts and one thing for myself, I came home and decided it was about time to figure out what I could and couldn't (or shouldn't) bring home. I got a bit side-tracked by setting out all the gifts I have purchased for people since arriving to Europe ... and boy, have I gotten many! I just discovered a big weakness of mine, I like buying thing for people, and in my head, if what I'm buying isn't for me, then it doesn't count as spending money: suffice to say that I have bought enough presents to get me through a couple birthdays and Christmas. By telling myself many were Christmas gifts, I didn't feel quite as bad. I don't know how I will wait until Christmas to give them, though! Anyway, the point is this: people who are close to me ... get excited! ... if I can get it all home to the States =O

Link about the Flohmarkt in Konstanz: http://www.konstanz.de/smk/01206/01211/01222/index.html