French Blog Link Up--It's Your Turn

There are many great Francophile and expat bloggers out there; some I read religiously, learn from, am inspired by. And some, I'm happy to say, have become real-life friends.

I'd like to hear from all of you so I've created this link up where you can share your favorite French themed blog. 

It's all about sharing the love, touting someone who you think adds something creative, beautiful, inspiring or fun to your love of France. You can add your own blog if you'd like. I'm sure you're full of creative, beautiful and inspiring things yourself.

I'll start with one of the blogs that challenges and supports me in my daily struggle to speak the language I find myself surrounded by. I have that Coldplay song running through my head all the time, 'They're talking in a language I don't speak, and they're talking it to me.'

I can't wait to see what blogs ya'll add.

La Montpellier-Reine 4k for Mother's Day

Yesterday was Fête des Mères here in France, that's Mother's Day to all of you. To celebrate, Ma Fille and I ran the Montpellier Reine 4k benefiting breast cancer research.

4k is about 2 and a half miles, so not too long for my debut runner to finish.The route was around downtown Montpellier, starting at the top of the city at the Jardin du Peyrou, running under the triumphal Arch and winding down through the cobbled and slippery marble streets, passing shop windows, cafes and the Musee Fabre.

We wound through narrow lanes lined with apartments carved from 18th century buildings, their residents peering out over windows to get a look and cheer us on.


One group played the guitar, serenading us from their window, joggers singing and waving to them as they ran by. Some joggers were dressed up in wigs and big, over-sized sunglasses; a man in a huge inflated bum suit made us laugh.

Ma Fille loved the energy of it. I knew she would. She said she thought it was cool that everyone was clapping and cheering for us. And she just kept jogging.

Before the start we had decided to walk and run, taking our time and finishing comfortably. This being her first race, I wanted it to be fun. But she ended up jogging the whole thing, passing people who had stopped jogging to walk the final half mile back up the hill to the park, finishing in 26 minutes and collecting her pink rose and goodie bag.

{post-race, yay Ma Fille!}

I was so proud of her I (guess what) almost cried. She looked at me and said, 'Mom, you're so weird. You're not going to cry are you?' Of course not, don't be silly.

She stuck her number to her bedroom wall and wrote '4k' on her calendar last night before she went to bed. I think we have a new runner in the house.

Paillotes--One of My Favorite Things

Every summer they appear. To my great joy and excitement. Along the stretch of beach that runs between the towns of Carnon and La Grande Motte, the paillotes are rebuilt for the season.

Paillotes are seasonal restaurants right on the beach with sun loungers and parasols for the taking, all day if you like. You pay a set fee for the chair, its cushion, a parasol and lunch of a big salad and bottle of water. All you have to do is relax.

It's what I dream of when I dream of a holiday. And somehow, I actually live here and can drive the 20 minutes to my favorite place. We took the day yesterday while all three kids were in school to do just that. We arrived at 9:30 and left at 3:30 with swimming, napping, reading and eating, plus a small bottle of cold pink wine in between.

{blackberry photo, but you get the idea}

We're thinking this should be a weekly tradition until the end of the school year. A mid-week break in our own neighborhood, lying on the beach and watching the world go by; sailboats zipping across the Med, airplanes flying overhead bringing and taking people to and from our petit coin of paradise, Stephan the Daniel Craig looking waiter delivering big salads with wedges of orange melon and soft goat cheese toasts on big trays, joggers and walkers and dogs and kids parading past all day long.

My favorite time of the year has officially arrived.
Do you love summer?
Tell me your dream destination. Or borrow mine. There's a beach lounger waiting for you...