Tour du Fromage: Camembert

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Changing Colors in Charolais

Tour du Vin: Pinot Noir de Bourgogne

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La Musique Populaire

Recalling my exposure to and love of many Ghanaian and West African musical artists from Sarkodie to P-Square, I decided to dig into the French billboard charts to what I might find. Although a wide variety of American and English speaking artists peppered the list, I did come across a few French speaking artists who now predominate my playlists. Perhaps my favorite is Stromae--a Belgian hip-hop/electronic musical artist with Central African ethnic roots which shine through in his use of diverse rhythms and beats. Arguably, he is most famous for his 2009/2010 hit "Alors on danse." I also recommend Maître Gims and Christophe Maé.  

Lost Adapter in Lyon

Within my first twenty four hours in France, I was reminded once again that flexibility is an advantageous attribute in nearly every situation. Getting to Charolles from Paris turned out to be slightly more challenging than originally anticipated, involving a missed train connection in Lyon and a lost outlet adapter (my only one). Needless to say, the train station Lyon Part Dieu and I spent four lovely hours together while I waited around for the next train to Paray-le-Monial--the closest train station to Charolles, and somehow my adapter escaped my trusty Swiss Army backpack. However, all was not lost as I managed to arrive in Charolles roughly 25 hours after departing from US soil. Following a quiet Sunday of wandering along narrow streets and flowered gardens of vibrant reds and blues , a trip to the local supermarket yielded the above French USB plug compatible with my iPad, and thanks to Amazon.fr, I woke up to two universal adapters on my doorstep by the end of the week. While it sometimes demands a slightly higher price tag, flexibility helps.    

Charolles

Introducing Charolles, France, a small village in the Saône-et-Loire department in Bourgogne and my home during my time in France. The name Charolles, with Romanesque linguistic origins, is derived from its specific region in France, pays du Charolais, and the region is also home to the famous beef breed of cattle, La Charolaise. Above, the Tour Charles le Téméraire (Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy from 1467 - 1477) and the ruins of the castle of the counts of Charolais sit prominently atop the summit of a hill in the center of town.

Planes & Trains: Arrival in France

L'aéroport de Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle. The thought of a pensive stroll along the Seine quickly faded from my mind's eye as I reminded myself that Paris and all its grandeur would have to take a number behind an initial visit to Charolles, my French home to be. Emboldened by the lively energy and unique stimuli only a genuine international environment possesses, I navigated customs, grabbed my luggage and finally, wound my way down a descending maze of escalators to the SNCF train station. There, among the methodical arrival and departure announcements, throngs of diverse travelers and precariously, stacked luggage carts, I awaited a high speed train to Lyon, well on my way to the next adventure.

“I live my life in widening circles That reach out across the world.” -Rainer Maria Rilke

The eve of departure, Grand Haven, Mi, USA. While perhaps a little corny, not to mention an unoriginal revelation, it would seem that a lighthouse is an apropos landmark for the town where I grew up--a symbolic beacon ensuring that regardless of the physical expanse separating me from family and old friends, I will always find my way back home.