Dear readers. Bear with me. The grape picking is very demanding physically, plus internet connection is not very good. Next week I'll be back on line or at least I hope so...

the vandange aka the grape picking in france

6.30 in the morning

I have one thing to say. The vandange aka the grape picking is very tiring. I simply cannot feel some of my muscles. So. I will upload some pictures and hope you like them.

Let's go pick some grapes!

Brunch on the field...

70 kilos of grapes ready to go

Tourist, not friend!

After my day's rest, it was time for me to play tourist...

I could walk around and see some sites. My first instinct was to get out of the house and go right. I walked and walked and walked and saw everybody doing their morning chores, pretty ladies on bicycles, students going to the university, bakers baking, you name it.

I was constantly smiling and people were telling me bonjour and exuses moi... You have to love the French and their manners. I thought they would be rude, but they are absolutely adorable so far. When I was in Paris people were rude, but this is the south. It's warmer in the hearts and weather.

I saw beautiful doors, churches and old buildings... Until I reached this beautiful little pedestrian bridge... It was a bit intimidating because it was moving, but I quickly went on the other side safely... These little locks are on every bridge, a funny declaration of love for couples. I knew about it, but now I am seeing it everywhere!

My plan was to go up to the Notre Dame des Fourieres, the big cathedral on the hill. I had to find the funicular.

Instead, I wondered around the old city until I reached the cathedral of saint John the baptist.

Nice Gothic style, made to intimidate the small, insignificant and sinful crowds, as all churches did. Weird and scary creatures hanging above heads... Anyway, enough of my antichristian nagging.

What was mostly striking and beautiful were these little old shops and galleries in the city.

Little details like this wooden bicycle or the sign in the shape of a horse...

To be continued...

The end.

I have to declare: when I leave this country I'll be fat. All these special cheeses, all these special sausages...

Last Sunday was the last day on the mountain. Everyone was happy and tired...

Monday was a day of rest. We talked about the weekend and stuck in bed all day long...

Tuesday would be the day of tourism...

One more party. Scottish...

There is something I'd like to say. It's so nice to be writing on my blog again... It is my baby and I have left it without any juice for too long. On the other hand, I am either too busy to write when I am back home, or I am out of subjects. Anyway. Welcome back readers!

Where was I?

I was going to THE PARTY.

Friday's crowd was there but it was much bigger because family friends were added. A total of 120 people. It was like going to a wedding. But it was only Clio's 25 th birthday!

Beer and wine was flowing and a wonderful Scottish band was playing live. Alasdair, the band's leader, would teach us some Scottish dances! He told us in French "nes danses pas - nes manages pas".  (Excuse my bad grammar and spelling...)

Everyone wanted to eat so everyone was up for the first dance! Him and his wonderful fairy-like wife led us to a dance which was slow at first and then went into a frenzy...The band was full with fiddles and violins... They were absolutely brilliant! The crowd was dancing and so was I.... Till I was out of breath!

After a few dances and a lot of beer it was time to eat. A lady played the Scottish pipe and Clio's father went around presenting the haggis. It came complete with a glass of fine Scottish whisky. I don't like whisky but I surely drank that one and I must say I really enjoyed it!

The party was great and I went to bed at 4 in the morning... It was cold and humid up there on the Alps, so I wore as many clothes as I could and curled up in my sleeping bag...

camping in the french Alps

Friday's fire was put out.

We awoke on the mountain, yet another sunny hot day of smiley, happy faces... Somehow the tables were clean - some elder people were cooking for tonight's party - Coffee, croissants, breakfast, gifts to our birthday girl... By now all the faces became familiar and you said bonjour to everyone.

Clio's family is Scottish on her father's side so many nice Scottish people arrived for the day.

I decided to go on a small walk since the day was so warm and nice.

Lunch, more gifts....

That night we would leave the big house to make room for the elder. We would sleep in tents and sleeping bags in the camping site of Autrans. I had been complaining that I haven't been camping for a long 2 years... Here I was, putting up a tent in the Alps!!! I was so excited! There were at least 10 tents on the grass.

Before we got ready for the big Scottish party, we went to help with the breakfast scones, a typical British cake and oatcakes, a typical Scottish treat. Everything tasted and felt so nice! I was overwhelmed by emotions, trying to soak everything and not forget!

Went back to the camping site to get ready... I almost cried with joy when I heard a Scottish fiddle somewhere in the distance. Call me crazy, but I get really emotional with all things Scottish and Irish. It's like home to me. There is a deep appreciation in my soul and it might go back many lifetimes....

Everyone was beautiful, in their party clothes. Some of the men even wore their Scottish skirts...

To be continued....

Birthday on the mountain

After a long sleep and strong coffee I think my brain is ready to start recalling the weekend.

Did I say I love the French language? Did I say I have started speaking? My ears and tongue are getting used to this brilliant sound and are slowly reproducing it.

So. Friday. I had learnt we were going to spent the weekend near Grenoble, on the French Alps. The village was called Autrans. A car full of baggage - including camping gear - three girls and a dog. His name is Panda - with a French accent Pondah - and his eyes look like Freeda's.....

I was so excited to be with my friend, the new day was warm and sunny... It was just perfect!

The driving was great, the mountains green and shiny... Cows and horses grazing in the vast pastures below the forest, rivers flowing down... It was all so beautiful!

We had lunch at a friends house. Lunch for the French means cheese, salad and bread. I will surely gain weight if I keep eating all this wonderful food! All the people here are really hospitable and nice... I'm so lucky to have travelled here...

In the night, we would stay in an old camping site for children, now used as a DIY hotel. This meant we had to cook and clean up after ourselves. It was so cute to see all the little cupboards and little toilettes!

In the afternoon, everybody arrived with booze and food. Friday night was for the youngsters, parents would arrive the next day. Barbeque and a big fire. The sun went to sleep, the moon shone bright above us. A two day party was starting and everybody was in a cheerful mood!

I have already praised Clio in my Skyros posts and I have to admit that most of her friends are just like her. Witty, playful, handsome, motivated, funny....

We had a great night until sleep came upon us... And then the boys started the pranks and I was really glad they did not know me that well!

To be continued....

Lyon. Friend, not tourist....

When Clio told me she'll have a party for her 25th birthday, nothing had prepared me for what was to follow.....

Thursday was preparation day. Driving around to get the wine, clean the car, buy some clothes, get everything ready, get everyone accommodated...

It is so different when you know someone in a big city you know nothing about. I am not just a tourist, my friend and her friends are trying to make me feel comfortable...

By the afternoon I found myself next to the river, surrounded by beautiful, young people in their twenties, drinking beer. French is such a musical, sexy language! I must have had this stupid smile on my face all afternoon cause I was so happy! I did not understand anything but it did not matter because it was so beautiful! The afternoon light changed everything with its red rose hues...

Lyon is big but it has beautiful corners. It has 2 rivers which I intended to explore in the next few days... It is a flat city so everyone rides bicycles. I might try it. I did not die cycling in Athens, I don't think I'll die in Lyon....

Tomorrow I'll be more capable of continuing my story about this unique birthday party. All I can say for now is goodnight!

See you tomorrow everyone!

flowing like a river

That is how it felt. Arrival at Geneva airport and then straight to the train station.

On the train to Lyon I saw vast fields of sunflowers. Van Gogh's sunflowers. The sunset was painting them in a bluish green hue. I am in the south of France, the land of inspiration for the impressionists. The land of absinthe, love and light.

My friend Clio was waiting. Everyone is here for her birthday.

on the rollercoaster

My big departure day has come...

Waiting at the airport for my flight to Geneva.

Looking carelessly around me with a slight smile for the adventure that lies ahead of me.

I'm excited like a child on a rollercoaster....