Hello it is Benoit . I never to write on the blog but it'is a good exercice for my english :) tuesday Laura is back in Nantes. I went to pick up Laura in the train station with some flowers (Germini ).
Laura and I had the idea to put some movies in the blog to show you how Laura lives in Nantes.
It is a good idea?
Love ,
Benoît

1 down, 9 to go; however I am not here to recount my final exams. There are other things much more exciting to address

Notion #1 Our turtles are officially sexually frustrated...

Every Friday afternoon and Monday morning, George and Caroline (those are the names of our two turtles--I named George and Benoit named Caroline) make the trip from Nantes to Pornic and back again in the back seat of Benoit's car (sometimes if they are good, he lets them ride up front).  The roundtrips must be taking a toll on them because we find that they are "much" more active nowadays than before.  Mom, you may have grandbabies sooner than you think!  However, they won't look anything like Benoit and I.

Each turtle wears his or her name well according to his or her character.  George is a lot like Grandpap George.  He keeps to himself most of the time, but always pulls out a joke.  Caroline, to my understanding, is a lot like the crazy turtle in the animated French cartoon Benoit watched as a kid.  

Notion #2 Benoit came to Angers this weekend!

He surprised me for lunch on Friday by arriving a little bit earlier than planned.  During my normal two hour lunch break (I still can't get over how much the French value their lunchtime) we bought chicken sandwiches on fresh baguettes with mayo, tomatoes, and egg and each of us chose the dessert that we preferred: chocolate tarte for me and a lemon tarte for Benoit (a lot like another couple I know--Hi Mom and Dad--ok enough with the mushy love references haha).

During my afternoon class, Benoit occupied himself at the tool store.  Yes, this would be considered a usual habit of any common man; however, he was buying stone mason tools dating back to the middle ages.  Hmmm, again sometimes I wonder if I am living a dream or not.

After class, we went shoe shopping together and because Benoit bought a new pair of boots, the cashier gave me 50% off my pair of boots.  Now that's a steal!  

We were invited to dinner Friday at my friend Randa's (she is a Lebanese woman of 36 but with a lively, adorable character) and her husband Christophe's (he is French--Yes, Randa also converted) house. Since we had some time to spend before aperitif/dinner at 8pm, we decided to walk around the Christmas market.  Then while deciding that it would be a nice gesture to bring a bouquet of flowers for  "la maitresse de la maison" (the woman of the house) we made our way to the nearest florist shop only to find ourselves in the middle of a reception of Very Important People.  As we entered the shop, the woman asks us if we had an invitation.  "Um, no.  We are just here to buy some flowers." (which would be a normal response I would presume).  "Oh yes that's fine.  It's just that we are holding a reception for the mayor and his associates tonight.  But my colleague here will help you arrange your bouquet," the woman  informed us.  

As we walk in, we observe all of the "fine people" dressed to their best, drinking flutes of champagne and tasting beautiful desserts too delicious to eat.  And there are Benoit and I, dressed in jeans, noses red from the cold (and maybe a little too much hot wine at the Christmas market), holding our big bags of shoeboxes.  We decided on a full bouquet of 8 colorful Gerber daisies.  "Why don't you two serve yourselves a glass of champagne or two while I arrange your bouquet.  Don't be afraid to try the desserts made fresh from the bakery next door." 

Umm..OKAY! So while Benoit and I were "champagning it up" with the mayor of Angers, we decided that maybe it was time to head over to Randa's house (we are ALWAYS late for EVERYTHING--our friends now have the tendency to tell us to be somewhere a half an hour earlier than everyone else just so that we might have a CHANCE of actually being "on time").  And we left the mayor and his associates to carry on the delightful reception without us.

Dinner was lovely.  Randa and Christophe are absolutely wonderful people and I felt a little bit like Julia Child that evening, elegantly wining and dining in France with fine individuals (haha); even though it was not I hosting dinner.

Saturday was Chateau Day!  Benoit and I finally got to visit the Castle of Angers, which holds the largest tapestry in the world, dating back the age of the apocalypse.  Very, very impressive.  However, as you may expect, if you follow an audio tour which explains the entire tapestry, you better organize a good 2 1/2 hours out of your day.  After all, it is the largest in the world.

Weekend à Anger entre amoureux (Week in Angers between two people in love):

And here we are Sunday night, after a long and enjoyable weekend, at our humble home in Nantes eating the French smoked sausage and cheese we bought at the market, drinking red wine from the region of Chinon, and playing a game of chess.

Christmas Market in Nantes

A French man, wearing a barret, smoking a cigarette, and cooking chestnuts over an open fire.  Yes, this is a real.

Benoît won.