Partayyyy in France!

Volcanoes be 'splodin', the Earth be shakin', but we be partying it up in the south of France like it's no big D! The french know how to chillax amidst worldly dramz like no one else and we are comfortably assimilated into this lifestyle.

   Volcano Cloud

 Chillaxin' in Provence, 

not worrying about the ash cloud

April 17

We are very lucky to be largely unaffected for the moment by the big ash cloud. We don't have to travel until Friday, April 23 at midnight (the night train to Paris) and, even better, we don't have to take a plane until April 26th (from Paris to Dusseldorf, Germany. HOPEFULLY this giant smoke-monster-from-Lost-wannabe will have dissipated by then.

Until then, we are still enjoying the generously free lodging offered by my Mom. She hosted a wonderful soiree, celebrating her birthday and mine and Phil's recent engagement, on April 17th. There we got to see all of our favorite French friends we met last year in addition to some new faces. 

Phil and Gaelle's matching Tattoos

April 17

It's an experience trying to really communicate with someone who doesn't speak your language natively... much more complex and rewarding than the simple store-buying interactions we are used to on this trip. Even the slightest similarities and moments of being able to relate are treated as great triumphs-- such as when we realized that several of us had matching tattoos.

This week we are wrapping up our time here in Provence and also preparing to continue our trip at the end of the week. We even have some exciting things set up for our post-Europe time... more about that later. 

We'll keep you posted on our travel issues and whether or not we get affected by this crazy ash cloud too.

-Phil and Steph