A New Beginning – The Trees

French Journal Day 117 (Travel Diary Day 197)

Rachel and I slowly made our way from the village boulangerie back home this evening. We were empty-handed – the old woman who runs it closes early if she’s out of bread. We greeted a crazy-eyed lady who lives nearby. Squeaky, the friendly stray cat we feed each day bounded towards us, running around our feet and meowing. It was dinner time, apparently.

A smell of smoke that isn’t at all unsatisfying usually fills the village evening air. It was a particularly mild night. We weren’t in a hurry to rush home. The relaxed mood of French country life seems to be affecting us. Nothing happens quickly over here – that suits us right now.

We spent late afternoon driving through the now familiar country roads in search of something new. The sun shone for the first time in 5 weeks and we wanted to take advantage of it. We slowly drove over a narrow bridge that crossed a canal. We pulled over on a grassy bank nearby. Surrounded by countryside and sun, we felt free of everything. We don’t lead stressful lives but it’s a pleasure to be away from our computer screens.

I could get used to the slow life…

Yet there is an ever-growing excitement of the Parisian adventure that is soon to come. I’m craving the bright lights and energy of city life. Even more exciting is the prospect of meeting photographers in the city and going out shooting regularly. We spent 2 years living in an energetic city in Korea and it left a lasting mark. City life is in our blood now.

We have two more weeks of rural living, two more weeks of friendly greetings, of being surrounded by beautiful chateaus, of looking after the world’s fattest cat. We’ll enjoy it – we’ll take it easy while also being productive. And I’ll do what I can to take pictures.

Note: If you’re new to my journal, you can find older entries here: strange lands

Today’s Photo – Trees

A picture from today’s explore. I climbed over some barbed wire to get to this spot. Rachel bravely chose to watch from a distance.