Daily Archives: August 14, 2024

Aug14

Bastille Day Fireworks!

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Sunday, 14-July-2024


Sunday was Bastille Day, the equivalent to the 4th of July in the US, and that meant fireworks.

The evening before, while my Mom and Steve and I were out having our (metaphorically) tearful goodbye dinner, we’d been graced with a full regalia of uniformed band members marching up and down the streets of Cassis, rocking out to what I assume was the French National Anthem. It was fun, we joined in on the celebrations, and appreciated the chance to experience another culture’s independence day events.


The next evening, while I was rolling solo again, I’d already made dinner and was absentmindedly flicking my way through YouTube when I heard a sound from the harbor, and quickly realized that darkness had fallen and fireworks had kicked off!

I quickly zipped upstairs to the glorious balcony that our apartment came with, and set my chair up to be fully laid back… and enjoyed the show.

Aug14

A solo, lonely but happy, walk through Les Calanques

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Sunday, 14-July-2024


I was sad and lonely after dropping my Mom and Steve off at the airport. So I went for a walk.

We’d had a great week together – Exploring Aix en Provence, appreciating the quiet of Cassis, eating an absolute ton of amazing food… and just relaxing and enjoying a vacation (in contrast to the Adventure that I’d been on). Finding myself alone again was interesting, melancholy, and a little bit challenging… so I did what I try to always do when I’m feeling blue, and I went out into nature.


One of the nice parts of Cassis is just how close to the Calanques it is. I didn’t have to drive, I didn’t have to get a bike or a scooter (not that Cassis has either of them), all I had to do was walk.

In contrast to the first day I was in Cassis, I prepared a bit better for this excursion: I picked up a sandwich, of course, but I also tossed in a cold drink, some water, and slathered on a metric ton of sunscreen before venturing out into the slightly oppressive heat of the day.

Part of the lessons that I’d learned was when I departed, alongside what I brought. I didn’t try going out into the heat immediately after getting home – first, I relaxed, napped, and had a bit of espresso to power myself up… and to let the heat of the day dissipate a bit. Siestas aren’t only for Spaniards, don’t’cha’know.

With that done, I headed in.



The hike didn’t eliminate all of my feelings of melancholy, of course. But between the sun, the drink, the Sandwich, my book, and the laughter of all the people cliff-diving and swimming…

Well, life isn’t all the bad.