La Vallee de San-Souci

Charlie and Rick had a few days off a week or 2 ago so we headed about 45 minutes south of Clermont to San-Souci. It was a beautiful hike despite the muddy trail. We were reminded a lot of South Carolina along this hike. We did however notice one thing, for some reason the trees in France or at least in these woods aren't nearly as high or wide as the trees in the US. I will have to do some reading on that to see if I can find any answers. There was also a rushing stream along the hike that was ice cold.

 One of the views of the rushing stream that Charlie continuously tried to fall into.

 

 Even the weeds in France are pretty.

 

 A view from on top of the mountain.

 

 Throwing rocks into the stream.

 

 What's a French hike without some horses?

 

 A nosey picture/we climbed that mountain in the background. It looked a lot more impressive in person.

 

 Proof we were there.

 

Rick explaining something very important and interesting to the kids...

Chadeleuf continued...

We went back and finished this hike and we were not disappointed. Wow. Amazing views, lots of narrow passageways and a neat bridge. One part of the hike even said that we were walking on an old Roman road! The hike ended with essentially a cliff we got to slide - eh - hike down. You've got to love France...

This cat followed us for half of the hike. Ruthie loved it! She named her Fancy. Ask Rick why...

 

 A view of the city from the cliff...

 

 Hiking through the "jungle".

 

 Narrow passageways.

 

 An old bridge. It was so narrow only people or horses could pass over it.

 

 A different view of the bridge.

 

 A neat church in one of the villages we hiked through.

 

 Snow capped mountains in the background. Beautiful.

 

An old Roman road. Or so the sign said.

 

Ruthie not so sure about the hike down. We weren't so sure either. 

Chadeleuf

So we've become hikers. We hiked a little on the weekends in the states but this is a very beautiful part of the country and there are a ton of outdoor things to do here. When you have 3 kids, aged 4 years and under being outside and able to run free is a great way to see the country and make your kids happy at the same time. About 2 weeks ago we went on a hike through the city of Chadeleuf. It was off the beaten path and a beautiful little village and about 20 minutes from Clermont-Ferrand. The trail took us through the countryside/farm land. We hope to do the entire hike soon!

Touring about the city.

 



 Horses along the way.

 

 This cat LOVED Ruthie and followed her around the city.

 Snooping.

 

 There is history everywhere. So amazing.

 

 "Mama look!"

 

 Ditto.

 

 The drive to the village. Montpeyroux in the distance.

 

 A city sign.

 

Driving to the village. Such a beautiful countryside.

 





Part of the trail.

Le lac de Guery

A few Sundays ago we went hiking at Le lac de Guery. It is about 40 minutes outside of Clermont, past Puy de Dome and is the highest lake in Auvergne. It was about a 4 km hike full of waterfalls, fields of wild daffodils and beautiful views of mountains in the distance covered in snow.

Across from where we parked where some steep hills/pastures that were full of wild daffodils. My friend Tracy and I decided to crawl through on opening on the barbed wire fence and pick a few. We were pretty sure a bull was going to come and rush us at any moment. So we collected our bouquets and got out of there!

Proof we were actually there.

 

 The boys doing what boys do. Throwing every possible object they could find into the lake.

 

 Bouquet of wild daffodils after a steep hike up a mountain to get them!

 

 Rick saying something profound about the hike, scenery or life in general.

 

 The drive to the hike was breathtakingly beautiful.

 

 The lake.

 

 4/5s of the Keefe family.

 

 One of several waterfalls seen on the hike.

 

 A view across the lake.

 

 The girls taking a quick snack break. Sweet friends.

 

One of 3 fields we hiked past full of wild daffodils.

 

So beautiful.

 

 Barbed wire fence. What barbed wire fence?

 

What a hike with 6 kids actually looks like.



Where am I?

So its been raining here for about a month. Ok maybe just 4 days but it feels like a month. In light of this I am going to list 10 things that I like about France, our experience here or just something positive so I don't completely loose my mind...

10 - Hearing Charlie speak French and understand it on the playground, in stores and really all the time. He amazes me everyday.

9 - How resilient kids are. I drop Charlie off at school everyday and multisport once a week and he is ok it and not only that LOVES it.

8 - Fresh baguettes. Need I say more?

7 - Champagne. I seriously found a bottle the other day for 1 euro 50 cents (2+ US dollars). And it's delicious.

6 - Lily says "au revoir" at 17 months.

5 - I'm being stretched. And even though I don't love it now I will 4 years from now and I will look back and see how wonderfully blessed we've been because of this experience.

4 - Spain, Germany, Sweden, Austria, and Italy are literally a car ride away.

3 - We walk EVERYWHERE. Work, school, the gym, grocery store, park...

2 - Have I mentioned the fresh baguettes...?

1 - The people I have met here. The network of women here is amazing, so welcoming and incredibly caring. The French, Americans and all others are such wonderful people. I feel blessed to have them in my life!

 Playing with a volcano fountain at Jardin Lecoq

 

 Ruthie after I butchered, I mean cut her hair...

 

 The wisteria outside our apartment. It smells AMAZING and is so beautiful.

 

Lily with her "hair by Holly" style. We love you Holly!! 

SOS

Ok so I feel like I need to blog about this for selfish reasons. Mostly because I don't want to forget.

We haven't been to the pediatrician yet for well visits (they're scheduled for late May) and kind of like the states you can't go to the doctor here without having your well visit first. So we have to go to SOS Medicin. I about had a heart attack/stroke when I had to call them for the first time for an appointment. We live in France. Everyone speaks French. No one speaks English.

So I dialed the number, a lady picked up and I read my script. Somewhere between nom/prenom I was lost but by a sheer act of God we had an appointment. Thankfully the office was less than a mile away so we walked there. I opened the door to the office and saw 5 chairs, white walls, white tile floors and a white ceiling. No receptionist. One or 2 small posters on the wall and that's it. I was a little concerned. A few minutes later a man opened a door, said Lily's name and we walked in to the office/exam room. It smelled like he had just finished smoking an entire pack of cigarettes. There was an exam table, a desk and 2 chairs. I was sweating. He asked me a few simple questions, I answered them with some French and some sign language. Lily had an ear infection. Her first. He wrote a prescription for about 5 different things, I handed him my credit card, paid and left.

We've been back and forth to that SOS several times since then and even had them come to the house once. I still sweat every time I have to call and make an appointment but it's getting easier and a little more normal.

Something interesting...
You mix your own antibiotics here. Meaning you add the water when you get home. They give you the powder in a bottle. The medicine dispensers are really strange looking. I'm sure I will get used to them. AND you measure out medicine according to kg, not teaspoons...

First Full Day!

Charlie has been at Massillon for going on 5 months and really enjoying it. Up until now he only went for the first half of the day and then came home for lunch and stayed. On Monday he started going back to school after his lunch break. He was thrilled. Not only does he not have to take a rest but he gets to go back and play with all of his friends, paint, read, etc.

He is growing up so quickly and really is such a sweet kid. I can't believe he'll be 5 in July.

 Getting ready to head back to school after lunch and super excited!

 

 Are the pictures over yet?

 

Because we are the Williams family and we like food. A special treat for Charlie's first full day.

2 pan au chocolats, 1 donut and 1 croissant. It's a rough life here in France.