Sad News...

Tai was awakened in the night with the news her dear friend Coach Wooden had passed...

The Day Ends...

Beauty in the Center...

The Cheese Lady!!!

George continued to show us the best of the Alps! Our final treat -- THE CHEESE LADY!!! We LOVED her -- and her cheese!!!

French Alps Monastery

Outside and inside were magnificent!

We arrived just as the monks started to chant. Beautiful! (They make cheese too!!!)

In each little town we visit, we go into a main church and Tai has to light a candle.

Marissa just wanted to know "what the water by the door is for?"

Paraponting -- the Sport of Talloires!

Paraponting was invented in Talloires. So we just had to experience it!

Wild Flowers of Talloires...

George could tell you the names. As we walked through the wild flowers, Marissa was certain it was a hike but Tai declared; "This is not a hike -- it's flat." But Marissa was sure it was because as she put it, "There's nature on the floor."

And how about the cow bells!!! Who needs wind chimes!

A Saints View...

The view of Talloires from Saint Germaine.

Thones Church...

George almost had a heart-attack watching Tai in the middle of the road taking this picture (as she had a near-miss with several cars)

Thones, France - Open Air Market

Our Saturday was perhaps one of the most amazing days of our trip so far!!! Our day began as our new friend, "George the Botanist" from Tufts, drove us to the little village of Thones for their Saturday open air market. We shopped and shopped and got the freshest fruits (melt in your mouth strawberries & melon) and veggies in season which would later become our picnic lunch. We are learning that in France the restaurants (and people) use only the freshest things in season -- much like we cook in LA except most everything is always in season in LA because most everything is readily available to us. A delightful and delicious time!!!



George guided us well to the heirloom (means any species that's not a hybrid -- longtime favorite of region) tomatoes as well as the tombe cheese that was our favorite and the regional cheese of the area.

La Savoyarde

...this salad was so amazing we had to go back to La Savoyarde two nights in a row just for their salad and pizza! We know -- Italian food in France just doesn't seem right but it was perfect!!!

The salad was accompanied with goat cheese toasts -- warmed with a drizzle of honey and slivered almonds.

Le Cottage & Marissa Gets a Haircut!!!

We LOVE Le Cottage -- our new favorite spot of Talloires!!! And the owner Jean Claude such a dear, dear man! French people are FABULOUS -- to go with the food!!! We are going to do our "cooking experience" here tomorrow! And by the way, Marissa got a new hair cut!!! Tres Belle!!!