In el pueblo...

We spent our last weekend in Spain relaxing in the campo with the family for the town's summer fiesta. The town fills with everyone who has moved to the city who came back for a weekend of visits, meals, and the mass for their local patron saint, the Virgen de los Dolores. With everything packed in Santiago we headed out to the starfilled cold nights and the bright sunny days in the mountians of Galicia.

 ps...a pound of fresh Galician bread...and the old wood burning oven that dinner was cooked in. 

Alaska y Mario

Spain's version of MTV reality TV a la The Osbornes is Alaska y Mario. Alaska is famous for her role in La Bola de Cristal-a vanguard childrens' program made in the 1980's when Spain was taking its first dramatic steps out of the Franco dictatorship-and for the 1980's cult classic dance band named after her, Alaska. Her man, recently husband, Mario is Mario, PR rep for a few other famous Spanish stars, he's also played around in the world of music writing lyrics for Alaska and singing in his own band Nancys Rubias. Anyway, they are quite the pair- I think my favorite scene from their reality show was one of them picking out their outfits for a party together or maybe when they spent the day playing dominos with Alaska's mom. In any case, as exentric as they are you can't help but love them and they make for the best programming on MTV Spain. Here's a little intro clip-or you can watch an episode clicking on the Alaska y Mario link above.

last days of summer...

We're off to the pueblo for the anual end of summer fiesta this weekend-lots of food, family, and parades. Can you believe summer is almost over? I'm excited for fall, but will miss sunny, sandy beach hopping on the amazing coasts of Galicia. One of my favorite things about summer is a day at the beach with a good book. What will you miss about summer?

Vélo

I'm going to need a bike for all these dreamy bike rides through the French countryside. I'd love to have a Public bike but they are a bit expensive for my price range and from what I see on the website don't ship to France. I'd love to have a Schwinn too, but a new Schwinn is expensive too and not easy to find in Europe. I'm going to check used bikes when we get to France, but the easiest choice now is a city bike from the European sports budget superstore Decathlon. This version is mid priced, comes with a basket, and can be either red or purple. I can't really decide what color I like more-red is super classic, but purple is unique. What do you think?

Audrey

Brigitte Bardot

Jackie O

Lauren Bacall

ps...Lonely Planet even has a book dedicated to cycling in France-Check it out here.

pss...See more classics on bikes here.

ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

As I briefly mentioned before Diego and I are packing our suitcases and about to embark on a new adventure-one year in Dijon, France. Famous for mustard-Dijon is also the capital of the Burgundy region of France, yes that means lots of burgundy wine! I'm so excited to spend a fall taking bike rides (can't wait to buy a bike-with a basket of course) to vineyards and trying new foods (really interested to taste French butter-people are crazy about it, can it really be that different?). Diego will be teaching Spanish language and culture at the university and I'll be teaching English, learning French, and hopefully taking some cooking classes between trips to the marche...haha. I know it's all so cliche, but who ever thought I would actually be living in France?! I'm going to live it up.

While I am already dreaming about the possibilities of daily life, we haven't actually got a place to live. We'll start the search upon arrival next week. From what I've seen online most French appartements don't come furnished so,aside from thrifting again, I'm on a mission to see what I can come up with at Ikea for the cheapest possible price. What do you think about this option for about 200 euros?

(Photos on the wall, not Ikea-and I based the prices in the French Ikea site)

chez moi...

Discovered second hand online shopping in Dijon...wouldn't these be the perfect dreamy start to our new French maison?? (haha and yes, that's a piano-I've always wanted to play)