Toulouse, France: on the move again

On the move again. We have spent a productive month in France and to bid au revoir to this lovely country we decided to stop over for a night in Toulouse before heading to España. We headed into town, bags packed, ready for the adventure again. The train station is in Chateauroux, a small city about a half hour from where we were staying. It is a three-track station, with a little coffee shop inside for those who have late trains, which we had. Once on board we settled into our compartment, which we shared with a young physicist from Paris and an older woman with her teenage son. 

Trains in France are very comfortable; I prefer train travel to flying.

We got a humble and comfortable hotel near the train station and set out to explore for our one night in Toulouse. The energy in this city was alive and buzzing on the Friday evening, with young people filling the streets and sidewalk brasseries. The sun was shining and a warm breeze forced the newly budding trees to sway happily above head. We wandered the narrow alleyways and broad boulevards until late into the evening, getting an express feel for this cool city.

It is nice to have a long time in one city, to really get a feel for a place; the different neighborhoods and styles, the outer areas and best restaurants, etc. Yet as we walked and talked neither of us felt remorse for the fact that ours was a short stay in Toulouse. Not because it is an unpleasant place, but because it is all part of the adventure! A stopover here, a week there, a month over there… there is romance in the contrast.

In the cool, quiet morning we walked the short distance to the bus station, which was littered with memories from the night before, with beer cans and empty brown bag liquor bottles, and a few sleeping bags carefully situated in the sheltered corners. We seamlessly checked in and found our bus. 

Barcelona here we come! 

studying again

I am deep into the books again! When I graduated from college years ago I was happy with my degree and what it had given my life and how it had opened doors. Also I was glad when it was over, that's for sure. Studying is a serious full-time job at times, if you want to succeed. I think back to those years of working late nights and waking early to go to class, studying in between school and work, and still juggling life, friends, and family. It made me strong to push myself like that, and it made me really appreciate what I was working for.

I am a student again, after many years off. Only this time it is quite different. I am not going to the campus and taking multiple choice exams, jumping through all the bureaucratic hoops, paying the life savings away. This time I am a student of Permaculture Design. 

Being as I'm from Portland, a super "green" city, and also that I was raised by my folks who are conscious of the environment in many decisions they make, I have always been inclined to use creative and sustainable means for achieving my goals. I have had humble backyard gardens in my city apartments, grown my own herbs all year round, and spent hours dreaming about the day when I'll have my own piece of land to cultivate in the ways that I believe are the most responsible and effecient. 

I was able to take this intensive Permaculture Design Course here in rural France with hands-on, one-on-one training, and lots of time to work on the land and see these principles in action. Being as this is something I've been interested in for a long time, the book work isn't even that tedious! I am happy to glean as much knowledge from those who are educating me, before I head out into the world and develop my professional endeavors in this field. 

With that being said, I am busy! I am coming to the end of a month here on this lovely farm, and I am in the final stages of the course, the stage where I am doing my first design. It is very involved and complex. There is a lot of land surveying, elevation plotting, wind, water, and energy assessment. I am spending a lot of time on "my plot" these days, taking measurements and just brainstorming ways that I can use these patterns in nature to better design a sustainable and self-sufficient off-grid homestead. 

I am not a very good artist, so the drawing is difficult for me, but I will improve, that is for sure, for it is a drawing intensive line of work. There are plans for the house, the shop, the greenhouse, the ponds and wells, the gardens and orchards, the collection and storage of water and electricity, the waste and recycling plans, and oh so much more! Maybe someday I'll hone in my skills to look something like these:

Also there is a lot of basic math. I used to be quite good at math, as I recall. I got all A's and made it to calculous without going crazy, but my oh my, that was years ago! I decided that I would get all my required math and science college courses out of the way in my first year so I could focus more on foreign language and liberal arts courses. Now I am having to recall simple things like creating scales for maps and how to draw right angels. ugh. Where does all that knowledge go? I'm gettin' it back! 

So spread the word all ye blog readers, that in the not so distant future this woman will be ready and willing to take on your projects, small and big, to create a healthier planet with healthier people and to set a good example for the future generations. (that is if we don't all perish this year, as the Mayans predicted--wink wink).

the woods in which we did a forest walk for the course. this is my classroom! i'm a happy lady...

Much love from France, N -- now I gotta get back to the books! 

Thrift store spectacular

Tucked away on at the end of a rural country road, just a few kilometers outside fo the small city of Chataraux is a thrift store heaven: Emmaus. I know thrift stores, I mean I've spent my share of hours digging in the bins (portlanders, you gotta know what I mean), scanning the aisles of House of Vintage, frequenting the many Goodwills, and everything in between. This one almost takes the cake! 

There are several large shed-like buildings staggered about a beautiful series of flower fields and old growth trees. Each building had it's own merchandise, furniture, clothing, books, kitchen and household things and a killer vintage section.

There was a beautiful collection of vintage books, alongside a massive cooking section and loads of contemporary books. Alas, they were in French and wouldn't be a great thing to collect and carry around in our bags for months to come. I love bookstores and libraries, it's the smell of books and their attractive appearance all lined up on the shelves and in towering stacks here and there. Many people want the digital form of books these days, but I think I'll be slow to jump on that wagon, if I ever do. I just can't give up my old-fashioned ways....

The upstairs vintage/retro section was a little more expensive; so maybe two euros instead of one for an item of clothing. There was a wide array of treasures from all over the world and from the region. Including old typewriters (I'm a sucker for those, and just love the one I already have), paintings and photographs, light fixtures and trinkets and even an ancient accordion that Josh was drawn to.

When you go to a place like Emmaus (or any vintage/thrift store) it is full of more than just stuff, the things have stories of their own, even though we won't know them! 

And of course the best part is when you score some good stuff for cheap. Had this been near our home we would have gotten much more stuff, but we had to pick and choose which things were worth carrying around, and we decided on a few items, some clothes for both Josh and I, and a few little trinkets, all one euro each! Some of which you can see here:

We returned home after our morning shopping and were ready for a tasty lunch, and what better way than the French way.... so I prepared us a tasty spread with something like ten different local cheeses, a meat plate, a few kinds of fresh bread, and of course a bottle of wine. It was such a pretty spread, so I had to capture this to show you how awesome we get to eat these days, with many thanks to our new friends Ged and Karen!