le 3 au 6 février
     After three brain-pulverizing weeks of studying and finals, Cécile, Bertille and I took a trip to the Basque Country to decompress. We stayed in the converted garage of the Marfaings' summer house at Saint Jean de Luz, where the old people materialize in the afternoon to sun themselves on benches, but otherwise the town is mostly deserted in the off-season. We had the streets to ourselves at night, and during the day we read poetry, wandered down the coast, explored town, and on Saturday, went to Spain.

One of the little lighthouses around the bay at Saint Jean.


Looking across the bay at Ciboure, the next village over.


The little lighthouse again - the park surrounding it reminds me of Teletubby land.


The Atlantic!


This part of the coast is called the "heap of plates."


Bertille, enjoying being alive.


Me, enjoying being exactly where I am.


That way towards home!

     We picked Saturday for our trip to Spain. We got info on where to catch a bus, bought ourselves a baguette and packed a pot of Bertille's mom's homemade pâté for lunch, and off we went. In Spain, lots of people were wandering around, going about their business in Halloween-type costumes. This struck us as odd. It turns out it was CARNAVAL! We were really excited to have randomly picked such an awesome day to be in Spain, and totally disappointed that we hadn't had a chance to make some costumes of our own. But we made the best of the situation and our meager supplies, and settled on "babushka" disguises. Then we hit the streets of Donostia, or San Sebastian, or Saint Sébastien, whichever name you prefer for one of the most wonderful places I've ever been.

The cathedral of Donostia.


Cécile + Bertille : We wish we had more exciting costume ideas than a scarf wrapped around our heads.


Cécile : Does crayon work on your face? No? Then I'll make it part of my costume by sticking it in my nose.


Hatching a plan to climb up to the statue on the hill.


At the foot of the statue; on top of the city.


Giving my benediction to the town.


He wins the prize for best costume.


Carnaval parade : Go, Ninja, go, ninja, GO!


Star Wars goes 'dance team.'


Poorly-executed fish faces, and our little daurade!


Cooking masterpiece.


Just before taking the train home, we went out to have cereal on the beach.


The sea kisses our toes goodbye.

le 11 février
Here is a little concert poster that is pasted to the back of a "No Parking" sign on my way to the metro. Vulgarity notwithstanding, I found it pretty funny.

le 21 février
Manu is obsessed with the band Karate. He called me Saturday night offering to take me with him, Matthieu, and their friend Cécile to a Karate concert in Bordeaux on Sunday. I was totally in! We braved the impossible maze of one-way bordelais streets and found our way to the hole in the wall where the concert was taking place, which is incidentally neighbors with a karate school. Then we went to a bar, where the bartender made Manu stay outside until he had finished eating his sandwich, because, frankly, it stank. The next stop was an unscrupulous épicerie de nuit that sold alcohol despite it being after 10 PM. We ended the evening at Hianta's. It was a good time.

Hianta + moi.


Manu.


Henri-Lionel has had enough to drink.

le 26 février
Ahh, winter break... and interminable boredom. Interminable, that is, until Brandon and I put our heads together and got our butts in gear. Here you see us in front of a giant mechanical dragon in a park at the heart of the financial district (if you can call it that).

Me + Brandon.


Oatmeal dumplings and Henri Michaux : breakfast of champions.