butterflies and chocolate on Thursday

The most evocative thing to me at the garden in royan. I'd never seen an olive grove, and this one had a tree over 1800 years old. We had to pose of course.

Down below you'll read EN's account of battling on stools. This is it. She couldn't comprehend that Aicha actully won all her battles. She did. She loved it. Don't ask me why this is in a garden. It just is. I'd have to speak french to ask. The girls loved it.

Thursday ended with a trip to a chocolate factory. Here we are, licking our fingers, laughing how 5 euros of chocolate can disapear in 5 seconds.

forgive me for putting the last picture in the middle, but the minutes here have just worked out. Bear with me. We're on to St. Germaine de didion tomorrow. We're ready for a change. Hopefully they'll have wifi at something less than a euro every 10 minutes.

Love to all,

d. -- meanwhile, read on

This is EN's take on the day, as described to her mom:

Hi Mommy,I will tell you what we did on thursday. first of all we went to a garden. We saw butterflies in all different colors. Then we saw goats. Me and Aicha went on a trampoline then fought with cushions on stools. I always lost. It was weird but aicha ha a hard time falling. We also went on a long slide that was high up. Also we went on a small obsticle course. We all went through the garden. Oh, yeah I forget we went in a labrinth. Then me and aicha wen on carts that you have to peddle to move. goodnight Mommy. I miss you!!!!Emma Nour Belabbes

They also took pictures. This is Aicha's.

The kid's favorite part of the day. EN is yelling at A to slow down! Watch out! She herself tuck two turns and burned the rubber on every corner.

Oh, and there were goats to pet.

And the butterfly exhibit did intrigue them, small as it was, the specimens were lovely.

Here's the garden from outside, taken by aicha. The square bushes are supposed to look Japanese. That's ok. It's new. They'll work on it.
They'll send someone to Japan or Brooklyn to see how it's done.

love to all,

d.