Christmas in Germany

Merry Christmas from France!

We hope everyone at home had a nice relaxing holiday with family and friends.

We have returned from our incredible Christmas holiday in Germany and can't wait to share our highlights. I have another episode of Deux Baguettes on the way but wanted to take my 50th BLOG POST as an opportunity to thank everyone for listening! It has been a CRAZY year of travelling and discovering for Joel & I and we were happy to take everyone along for the ride. With OVER 4250 pageviews we feel like it was definitely worth the time and effort. Thanks to those who made the trip to visit us in Lyon and of course those who took the time to keep in touch via email, skype, instagram, imessage and facebook.  As our first year in France comes to a close we encourage everyone to visit the blog often and help us bring this wild ride home. 

Below are a few pictures from Germany:

Staying warm at the Christmas Markets sipping Gluewein in Hamburg.

Wandering the historic streets of Luneburg (the wobbly town).

Sitting down for one of many amazing dinners with the Bamseys in Bremen.

Taking in the momentous landmarks of Berlin.

Wishing everyone a very safe and Happy New Year!!!

Joel & Amy

July to December in France

Hiya folks, it's time to reminisce again. This time we'll take a look back at our second half of 2013. We've decided to exclude our up-and-coming Christmas trip to Germany as I am sure we'll gather enough footage for another entire episode. Appearances by Joel's sister Laura, our friends JC, Gill and Chelsea, my sister Christine, her fiance Anthony, my Mom and Aunt Brenda. 

Deux Baguettes - The Second 6 Months from PaddyRumble on Vimeo.

THANKS!!!!
Joel & Amy

Another Semester

I have almost finished my second and final semester of Au Pair'ing here in Lyon and it has certainly been an adventure. This time I was matched with two different families, both with two girls, between the ages of 2 and 5. I had Adele & Elena Mon, Tues and Thurs evenings and Alix & Anais all day Wednesday (since french children don't go to school wed). Both families are just starting to introduce their girls to English so it was impressive to watch them go from a few English words to putting together sentences and carrying on full conversations. I definitely think I fared a bit better with the younger crowd (as my ten year olds last semester thought I was so un-cool). It was nice to have someone enjoy my singing and dancing for once and I loved flexing my crafty muscles coming up with activities to both entertain and introduce new vocabulary. They all challenged me in their own way and of course taught me a thing or two along the way. 

Elena & Adele enjoy some pancakes with Pure Canadian Maple Syrup.
Alix & Anais learn about shapes.
I will miss these little monkeys in the new year as I am no longer permitted to work when my Visa expires. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Au Pair'ing experience and would highly recommend it to anyone planning to relocate on a temporary basis. It was both challenging and rewarding, I can't think of a better way to have spent my year in France.
THANKS GUYS!
Hope everyone is keeping warm and enjoying their holiday season!

Joel & Amy

Fete Des Lumieres

This weekend Lyon is celebrating it's annual Fete Des Lumieres (Festival of Lights). The story of the festival dates back to 1643 when Lyon was struck by the plague. The Lyonnais promised to pay tribute to Mary if it was spared. Since then, each year the people of Lyon light candles and place them in their windows in the name of Mary. The festival has since grown into the biggest lights festival in the world and certainly the only of it's kind. 

I wish I could put into words how spectacular some of these displays are. Using Lyon's biggest and most iconic buildings as backdrops, crowds of people enjoy projected light shows set to storytelling and music. 

Hot mulled wine and hot chocolate are served at every corner to help everyone stay warm. It really is an indescribable experience and completely untranslatable by pictures or video. We are really wishing all of our family and friends could be here to see it!

 THANKS guys, lots more to come in the next few weeks!

Joel & Amy

Homecoming Announcement

Hello All.

I bit of an announcement to make about the end of our adventures here in Lyon, France...

We have done all we can to add an additional 6 months to my Visa (working or non-working) but have been completely unsuccessful. 

Joel has been able to obtain a Titre De Sejour through work, which allows him to stay until 2016. 

SO, I will be making my way back to Ontario by the end of March 2014 and we are starting to get excited about finding our way home again. 

Joel will be continuing with his work in France until at least July 2014, so he will join me at home shortly after my return.

We still have plenty planned between now and then, including Christmas in Germany, lots of snowboarding in the Alps and a long weekend in Amsterdam so stay with us here at Deux Baguettes!
It's not over yet!

Joel & Amy