Syd, Jr's visit

We had a wonderful visit with Syd's son's family in late May. Syd Jr, Amy and Lyla visited for several days before his band's performance in front of 10,000 fans in Barcelona. Check out lessavyfav.com and frenchkissrecords.com!!

Shane, Syd, Mallory, Syd Jr and Lyla at Lu Bistrot du Paradou

ADORE this girl!!!

Syd, Lyla and Amy at Villa Glanum, the incredible Roman ruins of a city on the outskirts of St. Remy de Provence

Proud Papa and Lyla at our home

Nana and Lyla at the Aix market

Dinner al fresco in our backyard


Lyla feeding Daddy at Chez Joe in Aix

Check out those adorable eyes and chocolate bliss!

Lyla loved window shopping with Nana and mommy in Aix


Amy and Lyla at Villa Glanum

Lyla and Aunt Mallory at Villa Glanum

Lyla and Uncle Shane in our hammock. We think of Shane as our baby, but he is HUGE compared to his dainty neice!

Proud Aunt Mal with Lyla who is plotting her escape from the hammock!

Uncle Shane pushing Lyla around St. Remy de Provence

Buying chocotes at Joel Durand Chocolatier in St. Remy de Provence

Can you tell who idolizes "big brother?"

Lyla just LOVES carousels!

Daddy tuning up before their departure for Barcelona

Gourmet dinners

Throughout the year, we joined the Wilberts from Germany and Nicklanders from Finland for several delightful gourmet dinner evenings....

Jan, Annina, Juhani and Julie enjoying a German cocktail similar to a fuzzy navel

Anja and Annina show off the VERY UNIQUE Finnish cocktail which included a licorice candy shooter

Juhani prepared his unique Finnish cocktail with a liquor bottled just for him. All I can say is, IT WAS VERY STRONG!!!!!!!!

Syd with Elena Wilbert and Juhani

The kids enjoyed their own gournet meal prior to an evening of sports and movies

Southwestern France history lesson

The children had a mini-vacation in May so we headed to the Languedoc-Roussillon area in southwestern France for a on-sight history lesson. Ever since we arrived in France last summer, I had been longing to take the family to Carcassonne, one of the finest examples of Medieval architecture in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Carcassonne was founded in the 8th century BC and was occupied by the Celts, Romans (who built the first walls), Visigoths, Arabs and the Francs. The city is the largest fortress in Europe and is surrounded by a double wall with a count's castle in the center. All I can say is, "WOW!!!!"

The grand entrance

The inner ramparts

The path between the inner and outer ramparts

Another view of the inner and outer ramparts

The amazing wall of defense

Mallory next to a Medieval door at the castle entrance inside the ramparts

The inner walkway where "knights" would defend the castle during seiges (this REALLY impressed Shane, our knight-in-training!)

Happy Mom at the end of the ramparts tour

Our hotel in Carcassonne, Le Domaine d'Auriae

After a day and a half in Carcassonne, we drove along the Canal du Midi, another UNESCO World Heritage site, on our way back to Provence. The canal was built in the 17th century to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea for economic and military purposes.

We spent a night near Uzes, a beautiful old village near the Pont du Gard.

Shane enjoyed running around the main square in Uzes...especially with a gelato in hand!

Mal hamming it up in front of yet another centuries old door

Our hotel near Uzes, Chateau Hotel d'Arpaillargues

While in Uzes, we toured the Haribo candy factory. Dr. Dana, the kids' wonderful DC dentist, would hate this place full of a multitude of German/French versions of gummies, licorices and marshmallows! The kids, however, just loved it!

Last stop on our three day tour was canoeing under the Pont du Gard, yet another UNESCO World Heritage site. The Pont du Gard was built around AD 50 as an aqueduct to bring water to Nimes from a spring in Uzes. It was the highest aqueduct built by the Romans and is just breath-taking.

Mal preparing for the canoe trip

Can you tell Shane was having fun?

Mal, Shane and Syd as we approached the Pont du Gard

While canoeing, Shane said the highlight of our trip was (drum roll, please)....

"That Haribo candy factory was WOW-ZOLA."

So much for history.... :-)

Medieval Days

During the spring, several villages hosted Medieval Days where hundred of costumed adults and children reenacted life in the middle ages. Shane LOVED the dress-up factor, especially because he was able to bring along a sword, or two, or three.....

Shane loved the contests!

The Hamlins joined us at Chateau Barben on a hot, but delightful day. Ethan was even recruited for a mock-fight among several knights.

Sword-drawn Shane, Syd, Mal and Julie at Chateau Barben

A knight "protecting" Max Veyne, Shane and Ethan

Shane REALLY REALLY wanted to buy a helmut like this, despite the fact that it weight about 20 kilos!

Sure am glad we were born in the 20th century ;-)

The beginning of a colorful procession

Shane enjoyed taking some photos at the Medieval Days in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte Baume...

Daddy, Mal and Mommy

A friendly fox

Some sweet, but tired goats

Shane's favorite - DONKEY!

The 14th century Basilicia of Mary Magdalene where, according to legend, the relics of Mary Magdalene were found in 1280 in an old Roman-era crypt. This made Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume a very popular pilgrimage site prior to the French Revolution.