After a Delay - Parts 3 and 4

Part 3 - Avignon
OK so I am never going to find the time to describe Avignon, France as it should properly be described, especially now that I am back in the USA working full-time. Dammit.

Let's just say the South of France is better than the cliches - amazing, relaxing, loaded with history (Roman and Papal and otherwise), food and wine to make you want to never go home. One again, I will have to describe this place in pictures, and not just because I am lazy, but because the town is just so amazing.

We stayed at Maison Boussingault in the historic center of Avignon. I would definitely recommend this simple, cheap hotel. I can't even give a lot of restaurant recommendations because everywhere we ate was amazing, but we did really enjoy Le 26. Just stay away from the restaurants in the touristy bits of the town, and you'll be fine.

So here I am in Arles, a quick day trip from Avignon via train. Oh and Roman ruins in Arles will make you want to piss yourself they are so awesome. I didn't (piss myself, that is), but only because it was so UNSEASONABLY COLD while we were there. It was the SOUTH OF FRANCE in late MAY. I used caps to emphasize how pissed I was that it was the coldest spring in 100 EFFING YEARS in Europe. It was supposed to be in the 80s and it was maybe 60.

At the Roman coliseum in Arles, just redic, but cold.

Also we were detoxing from work stress, well Dave was. So there was a lot of wandering around the city of Avignon.

Villeneuve-lès-Avignon Market, don't effing tell me that cheese isn't awesome.

We carried SIX bottles of Champagne with us to Avignon from our trip to Champagne. Let's just say they were freaking heavy that some of them had to be sacrificed (consumed) before coming back to the USA. Here is a nice little bottle of Bryce accompanying our lunch picnic.

Cherries, berries, radis, cheese, bread, and faggots (meat sticks) = picnic perfection.

Oh guess what, there was drinking.

Also, castles and gorgeousness - come on.

And more drinking.

But hey, it wasn't all relaxing and drinking. We also did a 35K ride to Châteauneuf-du-Pape though vineyards and fields.......also along freeways, but we'll forget that part. The directions we received from the tourism office were in French. Luckily, I had been taking French for the 3 weeks prior to this trip while we were in Paris  - or else we might have ended up in Italy.

Fields of poppies everywhere.

This is where the Pope kept his wine during the Great Schism. Smart man.

Part 4 - Chicago and Tahoe
So we made it back to the States (should that be capitalized, hmmmm) from Europe. There were a few days in Chicago with family on the way back to Cali, most of which I don't remember because we were drinking the remains of all Champagne we didn't consume in Avignon.

There was also the Tahoe Relay!!!! After 2 years in London doing the occasional race where I knew NO ONE (and upon finishing, just went home), I cannot even express how amazing it was to run the last 200 yards of the race surrounded by the 13 women from our two relay teams. I ran the last leg and they were all there to run me into the finish. Blah, I am going to get all wishy-washy thinking about it.You ladies all rock!

Anyway, if you want to know more about the Tahoe Relay, Miss AT described the day way better than I could here.

Much love to the many friends that kept up with us. I may have a few post-London blogs up my sleeve, so stay tuned:).