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Flashback: Bauemersgulley Extravaganza!!!

In both 2005 & 2006, we were blessed to be able to spend long weekends in the mountains around Gatlinburg, Tennessee with our good friends Mike & Ann Baur and Matt & Nikki Gulley. Mike is my best friend and one of the best guys you will ever meet, and he and Ann have been very special to us for a long time now. Matt was in Knights with me at Harding, and he and Nikki were a part of a very tight group of young marrieds who met for Bible study and discussion each Sunday for about a year just before we left Searcy.
Mike’s Aunt and Uncle own this sweet cottage in the Smokies called “The Blessing”, and they let Mike and his family use it for free whenever they want. This thing is totally pimped out with a jacuzzi, pool table, huge screen TV with satellite cable, and 3 large and comfortable bedrooms. All that to go with an amazing view, beautiful sunsets, and all of the ridiculous yet magnetic cheesiness of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge just 20 minutes away!
These two trips we took together with the Baurs and Gulleys were very special times for all of us. For us, it is bittersweet to think about our memories there because we know that we will not get to go back there with our friends for quite sometime. Even as I write, I’m getting that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you think about things you love and miss. I have to rely on God to give me peace because He has called us to Togo and we’re not turning back.
So here’s to intense games of charades and Catchphrase, running riot and going on killing sprees in Halo, big breakfasts, sharing beautiful sunsets with dear friends, hiking to the waterfall, long talks while turning to prunes in the jacuzzi, trips to the movie theater in Pigeon Forge (“Ricky Bobby”!), leaving irresistible snacks out on the grill for the raccoons, worshipping and praying together, and never wanting it to end. I love you all, may God continue to bless your families as you walk with Him!

PS: I also have to give props to the Looches for always making it over from Knoxville for a day. You guys rock!

Pendjari National Park

Pendjari is a game park in northern Benin, about 3 hours from Kara. It’s a true safari experience; those East African safari parks are nothing more than big outdoor zoos, with animals just sitting around and lazily watching yet another batch of cheesy tourists drive by in the Sam’s Safaris tour bus. In West Africa, you have to work for it and you get to drive around by yourself with no guide and few rules, which makes the animal encounters you have much more exciting…So anyways, here are some pics from the trip. My teammates Bryan and Dave and I went for 2 days with their older boys, Isaac, Graham, and Elijah. We had a blast, seeing lots of big mammals and countless beautiful birds. Yes, I’ve gotten into bird watching, mostly because my teammates are into it, but also because West Africa is home to a huge number of rare and beautiful birds.

This is just a small sampling of what we saw. Pendjari is only 3 hours away, so this may become a habit…

Olympique Lyonnais

Almost every country in the world besides America loves soccer. To say that they love it is actually a huge understatement; words like passionate, insane, frightening, and postal are probably more appropriate. Living in France is no different, and it just so happens that one of the best club teams in the world plays about an hour and a half away from Albertville in the city of Lyon. Lyon is the 2nd biggest city in France, and while it’s more well known for it’s collection of world class chefs and their gastronomical delights, their football club is a close second.

** What’s all the fuss about? It’s just a soccer game… **

I’ve the had the chance to drive to Lyon for 2 matches. One was in October, but the game was sold out when we got there, and the scalpers where asking wicked high prices because the game was against St. Entienne, which is one of OL’s biggest rivalries because of the two cities’ close proximity. This was still a fun trip though, because there was some classic hooligan action before the game, complete with fights, fire, and hundreds of riot gear equipped gendarme. No game, but plenty of good action!

** Yep, the one finger salute means the same thing here as it does back in the States… **

The 2nd game was last Saturday against Monaco, who is allowed to play in the French Ligue 1 despite not even being in France. It’s a whole separate country. That would be like the U.S. allowing Canadian teams to play on the NBA or MLB…oh wait, maybe it’s not so weird.

** A beautifully groomed pitch **

Monaco is a middle of the road team and OL has won the French Ligue 1 title for 5 straight years, so it was expected to be a blowout, but Monaco scratched and clawed its way to a 0-0 tie. No scoring, but if you know anything about soccer, you know that 0-0 ties can still be incredibly exciting games.

** This is a classic sign. It says, “Olympique Lyonnais is a formidable reason to be happy.” I love it… **

I also had great seats for this game about 20 yards from midfield behind the OL bench in the 4th row. There was a cool young French couple sitting right next to me who had never met an American before, so we talked some, mostly in French, and it added alot to the experience. Knowing some French and being able to converse with the people is an amazing thing.

** Me and my awesome seat **

The next time I see a football match it will probably be some Kabiye kids out in a village kickin‘ it around in the dust, and while the level of play won’t be quite as high as Olympique Lyonnais, I’m sure that it will, on some level, be just as awesome…

Piazza della Signoria

When my parents visited us this past October, we took them on a 6 day trip to Florence and Rome. I know, it’s not enough time, not even close, but we made the most of what we had and we got to see alot. I would never even attempt to sum up such a trip with one measly blog post, so I’ll just take it bit by bit, piazza by piazza, and so on…

Let me just start by saying that this is not my first trip to either destination. I traveled Italy very extensively back in the fall of 2000 while I was at HUF, and April and I came here again in the summer of 2003, so nothing was really new to me. However, the more you visit a particular destination, the more you can enjoy the nuances in each nook and cranny, and you can definitely glean something from a new perspective that you might not have seen the last time.

All of that being said, I will begin this string of posts with the Piazza della Signoria in Florence. I sometimes think that this piazza is impossible to truly enjoy because it is so packed with tourists, but during this visit I just tried to ignore the crowds and marvel at the beautiful works of art that are everywhere from different perpsectives. I took some very interesting pics, and it really is an amazing outdoor museum. Here are some examples…

Fontana del Nettuno by Bartolomeo Ammannati

All of the artsy fartsy people will tell you that this sculpture is an embarresment to Florence. Florentines have nicknamed it “Big Whitey”, and Michelangelo is even quoted as saying, “Ammannato, Ammannato, what a beautiful piece of marble you’ve ruined.” Harsh words, but if I agreed with what everyone else thought, I’d have to fake how I feel about this work. I think it’s beautiful; it commands attention and is a wonderful compliment to the piazza…

Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini

Gotta love a statue of a guy holding a severed head, especially if that head belongs to a woman (Medusa) who has snakes for hair instead of actual hair like the rest of us. Not much else to say here…

Hercules and the Centaur by Baccio Bandinelli

I love it! I probably sound like a huge nerd, but I’ve liked centaurs ever since I got into Harry Potter. Unfortunately, this particular centaur is getting a beat down at the hands of Hercules…

Marzocco by Donatello

This sculpture of a lion resting his paw on a shield is the symbol of the city of Florence. I like this pic because the lion is about to chomp the head of off the replica of Michelangelo’s David, which I think is a good thing. Why? Because I think that having a copy of such an amazing sculpture just sitting outside to get rained and pooped on is just ridiculous…

So that’s all I’ve got for now. I didn’t mention The Rape of the Sabines, a great work no doubt, but I think that this is a pretty good recap of my experience in the Piazza della Signoria. It’s a great place to soak up beauty with the added bonus of being outside and being allowed to get very close to the art….

Flashback: Togo 2003

I realized today that a blog of my travels that begins in October of 2006 is missing more than a decade of amazing places and experiences. In no way can 8 pics sum up my 2 month stay in Kara, Togo in the summer of 2003, but I’ll at least try. I’ll save the elephant pics and video for a future post…Some Christians from the village of Legue Legue. The man with the cane, Nestor, is a really cool guy, and I look forward to spending more time with him in the coming years. The other 3 are very young Christians who will hopefully be leaders in the Kabiye churches for years to come… On a hike with 2 of my favorite people in the world!
Me and a random Kabiye dude. Nobody knows who this is, but it’s a pretty cool pic nonetheless…
Hiking on a ridge very near to Kara. Gotta love the rainy season and the beauty it brings along with it…
Playing some b-ball with some Togolese kids. I look like a great white giant…
I love that in Togo it is totally normal to find a chameleon on the side of the road, take it home, and “Voila!”, you have a sweet new pet…
April makes it into this pic from the village of Tung Po. Several cool things are happening here, most notably the Fulani chief (seated at left) and the chief of Tung Po (middle), who I think looks eerily similar to Gilligan…
I love sollum! It’s a fermented drink made from sorghum. Drink one bowl only though; more than that and you feel a little funny…

Chateau Chantemerle

Here at language school, we are off every Wednesday and many Saturdays. It’s good to break up the learning so that we don’t get burned out, but I mostly appreciate the chances to have whole days to explore the amazing region of France that we live in.
This past Saturday I went with a classmate and his 9 year old son to Chateau Chantemerle. It’s not typical to this region in that it hasn’t been preserved and restored like most of the chateaus of the Dukes of Savoie. This chateau actually predates the Dukes; the original structure was built in the 12th century. It was built as a place of protection for nobles as well as a place to watch the traffic through the valley so that no transit taxes left their pockets. Chantemerle is built high up on a hill above the little town of Bathie, just southeast of Albertville. I love this chateau! It is surrounded by woods, and the fall colors are in full force here. The 10 minute hike up to the ruins is greatly enhanced by the crunching of fallen, slightly faded leaves under my feet. And yes, it is techinically in ruins, but I like it that way. It lets my imagination wander to what it might have been like to build and live in this chateau during it’s heyday. Nothing is restored or recreated for me, so I get to restore and recreate it in my mind. If Chantemerle was in the States, it would no doubt be a national monument that cost 10 bucks to visit. Here in Savoie, it’s just another old 12th century chateau above a sleepy valley with mountains towering all around. This place needs further exploring, so I’ll be heading back sometime soon to hike the hills, let the leaves crunch under my Merrells, and imagine life as a 12th century noble…

Chateau Saint Bernard Menthon

About 30 minutes from Albertville, in the hills above the city of Talloires (TAL-wah), sits a beautiful castle that was once the home of the famous Saint Bernard. The story goes like this: as a young boy, Bernard Menthon lived in great splendor. His father was a very wealthy nobleman, and he ruled the area around Lake Annecy for many years. As Bernard looked around, especially in the winter months, he saw thousands of people hungry, cold, and diseased, while he lived in great comfort in the confines of his father’s castle. He decided to reject the lifestyle of his parents, and he dreamed of leaving the castle and using his wealth to help others. His father, like all good tyrants, forbade his son from leaving, and arranged for him to be married to a fellow nobleman’s daughter. On his wedding night, Bernard (according to legend) lept from his bedroom window in order to escape his marriage and was caught by angels before he could be splattered on the ground. He took this as a sign from God, and he went off on a pilgrimage to the town of San Sebastian in northern Spain, eventually becoming a monk.

**Caden and I outside the chateau**

After living in San Sebastian for awhile, he decided to return to the Savoie region in France where he was raised and use what he had learned to help those who often could not help themselves. His ministry developed largely into helping travellers and pilgrims avoid thieves and bandits and also helping to feed and properly clothe them. He is known today as the patron saint of travellers. Since Savioe is a very mountainous region, travellers often had to go through high mountain passes in order to reach their destinations. Bernard realized that a big, strong, durable canine would be a useful tool in helping struggling travellers. He went to northern Italy and found a dog that would fit this criteria, except for one small detail: this dog has very short hair, and it would freeze if left outside during the cold, snowy winters at the high elevations of the mountain passes. Bernard decided to bring this dog back to Savioe, where he bred it with another dog who had long, shaggy hair, and “VOILA!”, the dog we know as today’s “St. Bernard” was born.

**April and Caden at the mountain pass Grand Saint Bernard, with lots of stuffed puppies!**

St. Bernard’s boyhood home is one of the best castles I’ve ever been too, and I’ve been to alot. It is completely restored to look just like it did in the 17th century, with one added touch that I’ve never experienced before: period costumed performers in every room! It really makes the experience quite special, but since, like almost all castles, pictures are not allowed inside, I’ll have to settle for just posting some pictures of the outside, which is quite impressive as well. The castle looks down over Lake Annecy (a future post) and it surrounded by beautiful mountains. I’m impressed that Bernard had the heart to allow him to leave!

**The mountains and lake near the chateau**

We took this trip with two other families from school and had a blast. Caden had a good time too, and even though he won’t remember it, I’m glad I can take him to amazing places and perserve the memories for him to enjoy when he is older.

The Places I’ve Been

In some ways, it’s not really a very good title for this blog. It would be impossible for me to go back and post about all of the places I’ve been in my life, so a better title might be “The Places I’ve Been Since October 3rd, 2006″. That title is a little cumbersome, however, so I think I’ll stick with the one I’ve got.

So 2 days ago I went on a solo road trip to the little town of Courmayeur, Italy, so that I could take a cable car up the side of Monte Bianco (if you prefer Italian) or Mont Blanc (if you’re more of a French person). Mont Blanc (I’ll go with French since I’m living in France) is the highest mountain in all of Europe at 15,774 feet (4,808 meters). It sits on the border between Italy and France, and it has long been a place of legend for European alpine mountaineers.

You can’t go all the way to the summit by cable car, of course; you can make it up to about 12,605 feet (3,842 meters). The views were absolutely breathtaking, views like none I have ever seen since I was up on Mt. Pilatus in Lucerne, Switzerland, in November 2000. The high alps are just incredible, and getting to live smack dab in the middle of them for 4 months is a blessing that I will always be grateful for.

As always, one of the best things about my travel experience was the people I met. This is Daniel and Maria, a married couple I met on our way up the mountain. They are the same age as me and they are very friendly people. They were married 5 years ago in their native Romania, then promptly moved to Milan, Italy to find better jobs than the ones available in their homeland. Maria speaks English quite well, and Daniel speaks enough to get by. I also have a little Italian from the time I spent studying in Italy during college, so communication with Daniel and Maria was easy and fun too. We basically spent 2 hours together, talking, joking, and enjoying the amazing scenery. After about an hour outside, we were freezing cold (it was only about 40 degrees F up there) so we went inside, and my new friends bought me a drink. It was a traditional drink for northern Italians called a “Bombardino”, or “little bomb”. Let’s just say it was aptly named, and I was quite warm and toasty inside after consuming it. Daniel and Maria have invited me to come and spent a day with them in Milan, and I sure hope I get the chance. They are wonderful people that I will never forget.
On my way home, I took the long way over the Petit Saint Bernard mountain pass. It is a seldom used pass, so it was quite deserted and very beautiful. It’s also another border between France and Italy. I saw cows grazing, high alpine lakes, beautiful mountains, and some interesting old, abandoned buildings, including a WWII-era guard house. Saint Bernard picked a good spot to have a mountain pass named after himself!

Stay tuned: a chateau or two are up next!