3/22/2009

Vallon des Auffes. Marseille


 

We stopped by the Vallon des Auffes for our Sunday morning walk. Not too shabby!

3/19/2009

Rock Climbing. Marseille.



We went rock climbing this week end. I really didn't know what I was doing but for a first time, I had fun. Marseille is one of the preferred spot for rock climbers in France. There are thousands of places to climb right by the water. I think it's good to go now because soon it will be really crowded. 

3/18/2009

Sisi the Empress died in Geneva.


As we walked on the promenade of lake Geneva, we stopped by the statue of Sisi the Empress. She had been walking along this same place about to board steampship Genève but a young italian anarchist stabbed her in the heart with a sharpened file. It was September 10, 1898.  

3/17/2009

Tough day for the little one...



He started early in the morning and didn't stop until he was done!! 


At the end of the day... my little nephew was rather tired. These pics were taken 3 weeks ago at my aunt's retirement party in le Jura.

3/15/2009

L'Etoile. Jura.



A picture taken last week of the little place where I grew up. It's all about making wine around here. I can't wait to take the same picture in May. My brother will be getting married in this church the last week end of May. 

3/14/2009

Lac Léman. Geneva.


Last Monday with Sam, we stopped in Geneva. It's was grey and rainy. We couldn't see the beautiful Alps in the background but we still managed to take some pics. More to come...

"... As an interesting historical and scientific footnote, in 1827, Lake Geneva was the site for the first measurement of the speed of sound in (fresh) water. French mathematician Jacques Charles François Sturm and Swiss Physicist Daniel Collodon used two moored boats, separated by a measured distance, as the transmit and receive platforms for the sounds of exploding gunpowder. The loud airborne sound coupled into the lake, establishing a loud underwater sound that could be measured at a distance. The flash of the exploding gunpowder provided the visual starting cue for the timepiece, and the underwater explosion sound striking a bell provided the finish cue."


3/13/2009

L'Adversaire. Book.

I just finished this book. A lot of people where we grew up have read the book because that's where this awful but true story took place back in 1993. At the time, I had just left home to study in Lyon. We all remember it. You can find the english version of the book here. I read the french version, it's really well written, not sure about the english version. More on the story here.

3/12/2009

Les Calanques. Marseille.



This Tuesday, Céline B. and I went for a 6 hour hike in Les Calanques. 15 minutes away from Marseille. What can I say but that it was just beautiful, quiet and peaceful. We even got sunburnt!