"If the whole world moved to their favorite vacation spots, then the whole world would live in Hawaii and Italy and Cleveland."

I'm back in Cleveland! Even though I'm a born and raised lady of the lake, sometimes it's good to take an afternoon to explore familiar haunts, and maybe find something new...

....and discover, that maybe, in this crazy world, we aren't so different after all.

The markets of Cleveland and La Rochelle.....

...the meat vendors of the Westside Market and the Kazakh bazaar...

But this? This belongs exclusively to Cleveland....

I stumbled upon this little fellow at the same time that I was stumbling upon a glass blowing workshop in Ohio City. Here, in the grime and noise of the city, amidst construction and cars, this rooster was owning this alley. Ladies and gentlemen, the new mayor of W. 25th.

Life as a Rochelaise means:

 Loosing myself in old books, and old nautical maps...

...discovering washed up jelly fish on the shore...

...listening to the ocean...

...hanging out at the old port...

...photo shoots in St. Nicole quatier...

...spending time with these two love birds...

...mucking for oysters with...

...our new dog friend!

Rummaging through flea markets on Ile de Re (photo courtesy of Lee)...

...and climbing the church tower to check out beautiful St. Martin de Re.

La Rochelle will always be a special place. It was where I learned how to live abroad, alone. It was where I was challenged in so many ways, and discovered so much - not just about Europe, but about myself. The people I met in that little sea-side town truly became my family. And I learned how to become a Rochelaise in those seven months.

This marked one of the last times (at least for a while) that I would be in La Rochelle. Life moves on, people move on, and next year, it will become a place of discovery for a new group of Americans.

On my last morning in town, I ate my croissant and sipped my coffee, looking at the iconic towers in the old port. It might have been the combination of the salty sea air, the familiar taste of the buttery pastry, and the quiet of the early morning, but for a moment, I felt the city stand still. For that one moment, it was mine. My little piece of the world that I had conquered, and loved.

La Rochelle

photo compliments of Lee, circa Fall 2009

This week I'm hanging out in La Rochelle with the beautiful Miss Smith and Lee. Our plans include walking along the beach, mucking for oysters, eating cara'sel ice cream, and cooking. Lots and lots of cooking. It is so good to be back!

Another year, another country

Once again I find myself surrounded by mounds of stuff, piles of clothes, and a growing mountain of trash.

The school year is over, the students have left, and it's time to return to the United States. I'll be back in August, but because my apartment in the Chateau is being used in my absence, I needed to move out. Once again, my life has retained it's familiar cycle - saying hello to new adventures in August, and then, saying good bye to lovingly familiar places in May.

As I removed the post cards, concert posters, and photographs that I've tacked to the wall, I couldn't help but think about how incredibly blessed I am.This has been a year of art museums in Luxembourg city, Jazz concerts in Rotterdam, Monet's lilies in Giverny, and ancient cathedrals in France.

My overwhelming gratitude runs deep.

Like each new stage of life, this one was a transition. There were growing pains, tears, frustration...and then...understanding. And appreciation. And finally, before I knew it, I was living my life here.

Three and a half years ago, I was 20 years old, walking down the street, in search of a croissant, my hair braided (still a little jet-lagged), the sun shining, and my heart so very full. 

Somehow I found my way back to this little piece of the world, where I've learned to live la vie luxembourgeoise. And though it hasn't been without challenge (and a little heartache), it has been so lovely.