Alliance Française de Charlotte

This is my high school friend at Alliance Française in Charlotte, North Carolina last summer. She is dancing here with the leader of the marching band, Les Gueules Seches, "'a 50-member group from Limoges (France) that dates back to the WWI era. They perform mostly in their region, but occasionally play in neighboring countries in Europe. Their only U.S. appearance ever was here in Charlotte on Bastille Day, for a combined celebration of the band’s 100th anniversary, Bastille Day and the 30th anniversary of the Charlotte-Limoges Sister City partnership. Quite a big event! We had fun hosting five members in our home during their time in Charlotte."

Les Volets Bleus

Les Volets Bleus, The Blue Shutters, is a Bed and Breakfast in Venasque, a town outside Avignon on an Apille, "little Alp." This is the best bed and breakfast ever. The owners are a French couple. The original house is very old. Venasque was the summer home of the Vatican when it was in Avignon, 1309 - 1376 because it was high up on the hill and cool. Venasque has a lot of ruins from its glory days in the fourteenth century. It also has a fifth century baptistry.

Mount Ventoux

Here is Rick standing in front of Mount Ventoux in Venasque. This was the view from The Volets Bleus as we ate our breakfast.

We have seen Mount Ventoux many times on the Tour de France on tv as cyclists strive to reach its high points. Such a beautiful site in person.