Joyeux noël!!!

This Christmas we spent in Arras with Andre’s parents. Bob and Louise arrived just in time to see the Arras Christmas market on December 24th. We walked around the market one last time and bought extra provisions for our Christmas Eve dinner of foie gras, several different cheeses, saucisson, and champagne!

The next morning we opened our presents right away! This is against Lyttle tradition, BUT don’t panic Daddo, we did uphold the good ol’ Lyttle values with a traditional eggs Benedict breakfast.

Most of the day was spent on skype and lounging around the apartment. After a delicious roast duck dinner, made in our oven with has it’s own motorized spit, we went for a late night’s walk to see the Christmas lights. 

After our walk we returned to home to the traditional French dessert, the Christmas log, or Buche de noël.

                  

The next day we went to Paris to see the Christmas market before flying to Italy!

 

Les Marchés de Noël

The Christmas market in Arras started November 25th and goes until December 24th. We went several times, for the Christmas spirit, and of course the vin chaud and churros!

  

We also went to the Christmas Market in Paris this year. We went to Paris for the day and took the opportunity to also go to the Père Lachaise cemetery. 

Back at home we got in the Christmas spirit decorating the house!

With a little help from our guest....

Main Square 2011

Fleet Foxes, Greenroom 

In early July we went to the annual Main Square Festival. We bought the three-day pass to see some of our favourite bands on this year’s line-up including the Fleet Foxes, The National, the Arcade Fire and Coldplay.

On the second day we went to see the Fleet Foxes, who played very well. They had some technical difficulties with the acoustics, but they were still very good. The National was also terrific, but the Arcade Fire easily stole the show.

The third day was Coldplay. They played late into the night with a dramatic lightshow. I love concerts, especially festivals. The atmosphere of the Main Square festival now held in the beautiful old citadel of Arras with people from all over the world is incredible. 

Mother's Days in France

Mother's Day Breakfast in France

In May my Mother came for a second visit, her third time to France, but her first time travelling here alone! I met her at the Charles de Gaulle airport and from there we took the train to Lille stopping off for lunch and then catching the next train to Arras. 

My Mother arrived just in time for the Gala de Danse. The Ballet School I’ve been taking classes with finishes every year with a gala in the spring. The dance teacher created a wonderful ballet with 28 dance performances connected by the story of a blue fairy bringing colour to the pallid world of four orphan sisters. 

Saturday before the Gala we went to the Market. The Sunday was Mother’s Day! And she came to both performances!

Both Andre and I had to work during her visit so she spent a few days exploring Arras and practising her French with the locals!

Luckily we were off and at home on Tuesday when there was a gas leak! The whole neighbourhood was evacuated so we had a spontaneous picnic before going to Lille for the afternoon.

We did a day trip to Paris too. We did a quick tour of the Tuileries gardens and walked along the Seine before taking the train to Versailles…

 

Back at home Mom had another day or two alone, which she used to become aquainted with Monsieur Nicolas Sarkozy. She also took her spiffy rental car to visit me at Beaumont-Hamel and take me out for lunch!

On our next days off we went to Boulogne-sur-Mer and drove along the coast to the beach and rocky cliffs at Wimereux.

The gas still wasn’t fixed at this point and we all sorely missed having a hot shower, so we booked a hotel in Brussels for the night. After a hot shower we headed to Délirium Café to sample one or two of their 2000 beers. The next day we made sure to get some chocolate, see the manneken pis, and eat a waffle or two before heading back to France...

And with that she was gone!

Tu me manques tellement!!


To see more photos click the link: https://picasaweb.google.com/christi.lyttle/MotherSDaysInFrance

Vous me manquez

Now that so many months have passed since my last blog post, the daunting task of catching up just keeps getting bigger. The numerous excuses I have for taking a séjour from blogging would seem ridiculous. Especially now that I am undertaking the task when, within a week, I have an immense final project due for my practicum and a final evaluation for the French classes I’ve been taking in Lille.

So to continue where I left off, back in February… My Dad came for a weeks holidays arriving a few days before my brother, who had exams. We had a wonderful visit filled with sight-seeing: the Arras Musée des Beaux-Arts, the Vimy Memorial, and the English Channel.  As well as some good food; raclette, galettes, beer, wine and cheese. And of course many wonderful memories.  As it was so many months ago I think a photo post would be the best route to express the nostalgia I have for the week they were here. 

For the first days of my Dad’s visit I had to work, but Andre’s cousins were also visiting so he had some company during the day, with time to tour Arras together in the evening.

23 years old and across the ocean,
my Daddo still comes  to my ballet class

      

We met my brother at the Paris airport, and did a very quick tour of the major tourist hits around L'île de la Cité.

 

We rented a car to do some sight-seeing in the area. We did a day trip to the coast. After starting the morning at the Vimy Memorial, we drove up to Calais. From there, we drove along the coast to the look-out points: Cape Gris Nez and Cape Blanc Nez. 

After dipping our/my pinkies/toes in the ocean, we stopped in the beautiful coastal fortified town, Boulogne-sur-Mer.

 

 

 Our final day trip was to the beautiful city of Ghent in Belgium, where we spent a northern rainy day warming up with a café or two and wandering along the canals.

One week is not enough, vous me manquez! Je vous aime beaucoup, le plus GROS Bisous!!