Bastille Day

We missed Bastille Day (le quatorze juillet) our first two Julys in France, but we caught the festivities this year!

Bastille Day is technically on July 14. However, to maximize the viewing pleasure of the fireworks around l'etang, each of the villages on l'etang celebrates a different night. So, it all started in Bouzigues on July 13 (followed by Balaruc July 14, Meze July 15, etc.).

The Bouziguads (both by birth and by general acceptance) gathered in front of the mairie (town hall) at 9:30 pm. Everyone received a French flag, and each child received a lantern (a paper lantern on a bamboo pole with a candle inside - obviously OSHA does not exist in Bouzigues!).


When it finally got dark around 10:30, the parade through the village began.


We ended in front of the port where the fireworks show dazzled us!

For us, it was very magical. Before the village festivities began, we ate dinner at Sophie's where we met Hamza (Sophie's fiance) and Jessica (Sophie's best friend) and Milan (Jessica's son and Sophie's godson). It was very fun, and we were thrilled to finally meet Hamza, Jessica & Milan!

At the festivities, we got to hang out with Debb, Reed, their granddaughters, and we got to see all of our other French friends!

It was almost like Bouzigues was having a going-away celebration for the Billats. How cool is that?!

Sabrina, Cyrielle, Laurent, Axel, Logane, and Jordan joined us for the fireworks, too.

A perfect end to our last summer in Bouzigues. We are very, very lucky people.

Love to all!!

Our Last Fun Day in France

We were lucky enough to spend our last day of fun in France with Debbie, Reed, and their granddaughters - Sophie & Isabelle.

We spent the day in one of our favorite places in France - Roquebrun.

Thank you, so much, Debb & Reed for helping us out the last week (not to mention all the countless other times!). Summer evenings in your garden are priceless memories.

Love to all!!

I'll let the pictures do the talking for me this time...

Sophie


Max
Josey


Isabelle
Random Fun . . .

Merci a Sophie!

Although it has a taken me several weeks to post this, it is not due to a lack of desire!

I want to thank Sophie, from the bottom of my heart, for making our last year in Bouzigues so much fun.

My regular readers know who Sophie is. She is our young friend (now more like the little sister I never had) who spent time with us each week. She took us fun places, she cooked us amazing food, she taught us all about life in the village of Bouzigues, she entertained us with stories, she helped us learn more French . . . She is the best!

Chère Sophie,
Je tu remercie beaucoup pour faire partie de notre famille. Tu nous manquez terriblement. S'il te plaît viens nous rendre visite bientôt. Tu peux rester aussi longtemps que tu souhaites!
Le plus gros bisous dans le monde!

Our last week in Bouzigues, we finally got to meet Sophie's entourage! Her fiancé, Hamza, her fabulous parents Gerard and Helene, and her best friend, Jessica. We hope to see them all again for a visit next summer.

Love to all!!