happiness comes in the form of wine and traveling

This past month has been filled with vacation days because the French love their vacation. I've been having 3 or 4 day weekends practically all month! The weather has been off and on bipolar so my motivation is kind of low for running in the morning. If you know how early I get up to go running, I think you'll know why. Weekends are still reserved for my long runs. But this month I get to start training for my half marathon!

The NPT Review Conference is over, after a month of long debate and meetings. To say that I haven't paid attention this year to this would be an understatement of the year. Unlike last year, I followed a lot of the sessions via live broadcast, this year, I frankly haven't cared. So because I haven't thought about disarmament in the nuke world, I guess I haven't shot off into outer space, as the good Russian representative said in the UNGA 2013. For now, the Bio world has been treating me fairly well.

I've been toying with the idea of getting properly fitted shoes, for running that is. The ones that I have are doing ok so far and I haven't felt any discomfort. But as I increase in mileage, I may have to get some good socks and shoes. What can I say? Socks are awesome. Sales are coming up (24 June!) so I think I may have to take advantage of that when time comes.

A few weekends ago, I spent a warm day in Beaune, just north of Lyon, in the beautiful region of Burgundy, aka wine region. And boy, did I get to try some wine. I went to a big wine cave recommended by a friend where I walked 5km underground and sampled 13 different kinds of wine. If anyone is interested, it's called Patriache. I couldn't resist the wine there so I had to carry back a bottle. And then there was boeuf bourguignon. Glorious, delicious beef stew with potatoes and shallots.

              Inside Patriarche - SO MUCH WINE

         Charms of Beaune

        Hostel-Dieu

More charms

All in all, Beaune is charming and small town. I would go there again to spend a weekend, rather than just one day. There are more than just one wine cave and plenty to explore in the area. How much do I love wine? Well, I almost grabbed a bottle of wine to go out for a walk rather than a bottle of water from the fridge (cause they were the same size). That's how much I can't differentiate when I'm in a rush. But seriously, what more can a girl ask for?  It's the small things, folks.

The summer weather is finally here and I have planned some semi-last minute vacation. Because every once in awhile, my heart gets wild and I get cabin fever. To satisfy my wild heart, I just got to travel and explore. There's been a trip to Finland planned. I plan on magically popping in saunas and have no plans on leaving other than going to my friend's wedding. If I don't come back to France, it means I have abandoned all sense of responsibility and relaxing in the Finnish saunas. I will also be popping in Vienna sometimes in August in order to nerd out on the 4 hour tour of the Sound of Music once again in Salzburg and eat my way through Mozartkrugels, apple strudels, and drink so much espresso until I bounce off the walls.

Until the next update! Also, I'm taking suggestions for books so if anyone has any recommendations on good books, let me know. Bon weekend!

life on this side of the atlantic lately...

Mont. St Michel

It's been too long since my last blog post. I really should start posting more often!! That is, if my English isn't deteriorating...

Apparently, my written English is on a decline since I write so little in said language. This has got to change. I should have known that being in a foreign country is detrimental to my English language skills. No regrets about living in France though!

In a delightful little village called Quinéville

Chateau de Chenonceau

In the past few weeks, I've been off traveling, strolling on the beaches of Normandy and waltzing down the corridor in a chateau. My friend rented a car to drive around these places. Thank God he did all the driving because I can't drive a manual car for the life of me (lessons on the way!). This has been quite relaxing since I work so much during the week. I spent some time in sunny Avignon and Aix-en-Provence and even managed a quick get-away trip to Annecy. Seeing the D-day beaches was definitely an eye-opener. After studying extensively on WWII, it felt surreal to see the beaches where thousands of soldiers died on that fateful day.

Fun fact about the chateau pictured above: This castle was actually the demarcation line between occupied France and Vichy France. Hence it was used for the resistance and used to smuggle people from and to the free zone of France.

Also, this happened:

Yes, I've just signed up for the half marathon in Lyon on 4 October. I guess I'll be spending three glorious summer months training for this. Who knew that I could get up so early now in the morning? This is definitely not the old me. Past me would have gone to sleep past midnight and on weekends, I'd sleep in until 9 or 10. Now I wake up everyday at 5h30 and the weekends at 6h30. Because I'm crazy enough to be out running before 6am during the weekdays. To whoever thinks that I'm insane for doing this, deal with it. Everyone has their own balance in life and for me, running happens to be a part of that.

More adventures are concocting and slowly brewing to reality. Today actually marks the one year and three months that I've been in France. It's had it's ups and downs and more joys than I can ever count. I have every reason to be grateful and I know that I have caught every curveball that life has thrown at me so far.

To conclude, here's a gem from the '90s:
Pinky: What are we going to do tonight?
Brain: Same thing we do every night! Try and take over the world!! 

Bon weekend et bonne semaine!