This is Certainly NOT St Michel

I am now a black man.

If you couldn’t tell, I was crazy spoiled by Brigitte and Philippe. I always had more wine and food than I could handle. Brigitte warned me of American and English hosts being shitty about the food situation and she was totally right. My diet went from fine cheeses, fresh bread, duck and wine to cereal, sandwiches and more sandwiches and still some wine of course. I am now buying my own food and cooking it myself (or combining items on two pieces of bread). Life is not easy anymore. I figure this way at least, I can lose all that duck fat I was storing up! The French grocery stores are totally fun to explore at least. I bought some sort of nutella with cookie bits in it! Totally delicious and no help for losing duck fat, I realize this. And I have been buying random meats to try (probably as bad of an idea as it sounds). Ken and Lilli have also headed back to London so it feels like mom and dad left and now we have this castle to ourselves and the Romanian/French workers too, but oh well, it’s awesome. I found a brochure for wineries in the area, so Brittany came with me to explore. We saw some sketchy looking signs, but no front door and no one around. I managed to bust out a little French and ask a neighbor for directions. We ended up right back where we started and wandered into a tiny little winery room, but again, no one. We still remained trespassing and looked around for a minute anyway and I of course took some pictures. Then we see another man (with terrible teeth, this is how you know you are in the country). I work my French ways and we end up following him to his basement wine room. Brittany hung back since it looked sketchy, but where there is wine, I will be (even if it means possibly being attacked first). At least being attacked would have given me a reason to steal lots of wine and run I figure. It would have been a win/win either way really. It turned out totally safe and awesome though, no reason to steal. There were trophies and wine everywhere, so I knew it would be good. Unfortunately, I couldn’t talk too much with the guy, but the wine was delicious so I bought some and will be back to buy more for sure. There should be more wine the next village over also, which I plan on venturing to as well. I think about every village has some sort of hidden wine cave and I will find them all. I have said it once and I will say it again…I LOVE WINE.

Lake Geneva!

PS – I am working my couchsurfing ways into Geneva and Lausanne, Switzerland this weekend so I will be out of touch for the most part. Hopefully I will return with some amazing stories. Friday sounds like I will be touring Geneva, then off to Lausanne (on the lake) for a concert/festival, supposedly the biggest student festival in Europe. Then the next day will be more Geneva and a poker night across the border in Gex, France. I am totally stoked. I will be eating my weight in chocolate I am sure.