Another Year Begins

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On one hand, I can’t believe it’s already started. Tempus fugit! On the other…it’s mid October and the year just began. What the hell is that?

This Thursday, yes that’s right…Thursday, the second academic year started with a bang – otherwise known as a the business game. And this year’s game came complete with early mornings, work on Saturday and midnight deadlines. At least this year it’s in English.

The overall enrollment in the Wine and the new Spirits program is a lot higher. Which means that we will once again be split into two cohorts. I’m excited by the possibility that I will get to build a bigger network – that includes other Americans this year – and make new friends. On the other hand I am sad that some of my friends have transferred to Spirits or are moving on to new adventures and yet more will be in the other cohort. I don’t know the exact division yet but I’ll have lost some of my partners in crime. Oh well, a new year and a new adventure.

On a great note, for me the year begins with two weeks of travel and adventures in new places. Before classes even get a chance to work up to the full swing of things, the Wine program is off to explore la Rioja. And the week after, I’m off to Switzerland for the Digital Wine Communications Conference. Then the real work begins.

But on that note, I’m off for a cup of coffee and then I’m back to the game. Wish me luck!

Summer may be over, but the fun continues

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Once again it has been a long time since I’ve written. But I can promise it’s been a crazy if fun (and of course travel filled) six weeks.

On the practical front my visa renewal is all but finished. I have my temporary papers but need to collect and drop off two final school related items to claim the official document. Which means, I officially get to stay in France for another year.

I also took my first trip to Burgundy and stayed with the absolutely lovely L. family. I got to experience Beaune in all its glory. Great Pinot Noir. Amazing Chardonnays. Intriguing Aligotes. (and yes, I am actually raving about white wines) In fact, I added to my steadily growing collection. I got to explore some of the area’s history, the Hospice and Clos de Vougeot. And the wine nerd in me got to see the famous Domaine de Romanee Conti. Now I just need to get a chance to taste the wine…. I’ll have to work on that. Click here for some of the amazing array of photos.

Then I went home for three weeks and almost completely checked out (even though I did bring my computer home). I got to see old friends, celebrate birthdays with family and take a vacation. Stops included Disneyland (yes I’m still enough of a kid to love it), Vegas (yes I’m enough of an adult to take advantage) and Mammoth (got nothing on this one). Sorry no high-quality pictures on this one, but click here for a few iPhone snaps.

And on the way back to France, I made a pit stop in Amsterdam with my dad. And a whirlwind 48 hours it was. A Canal Tour, Heineken Brewery Experience, Van Gogh Museum, the Flower Market, Museum of the Canals, Houseboat Museum, Tulip Museum, Cheese Museum, the House of Bols and Genever, the Windmill Brewery (Brozerit’j IJ) and of course the obligatory tour through the Red Light District. It was a very busy trip and of course this time there were photos.

I would say I don’t have another trip planned but I’m afraid that just isn’t the case. I’ll be back in Spain, visiting the Rioja region with school, in October. And it looks like I’ll be headed back to Burgundy for the Hospice de Beaune Vente de Vin in November. In the mean time, I’ll go back to work and start preparing for the new school year. I’ll confess to feeling very nervous about what this year will bring, but I can say with 100% certainty that I know I’ll be enjoying that wine collection I built up over the summer. In fact, I doubt it will last until Christmas. 😉 But I promise to start posting more wine reviews and updates.

So for now –à la prochaine !

Hello Again!

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It’s been ages since I wrote. Although to be perfectly accurate I should say: it’s been ages since I posted. I’ve been writing. I have several posts that have already been written but never seemed to make it to the website. All I can say is: I’ve been too busy having too much fun to actually post them.

Barcelona, Arcachon, Brussels, Boston, New York, California, Cornwall again, Bordeaux Fete le Vin, Valencia… I’ve been busy racking up the miles and living out of a suitcase. In fact, I’m celebrating the fact that I’ve only lost one item in all the mayhem. Granted it was a favorite coat, but I’ll keep looking for a replacement.

This has been my first quiet weekend in a while. In fact, I’m celebrating by being domestic: eight loads of laundry, writing my internship report, floor to ceiling apartment scrubbing, grocery shopping, napping, etc. And of course plotting for my next trip. I have another month an a half before my internship contract is over for the summer. And August is going to look a little boring – most of France and a lot of my friends will be on holiday. So…next stop, Georgia (and yes the country not the state) or maybe it’s actually the camping trip to the Bayonne ferias or maybe back to Germany for another visit with the family. Either way…I’ll be in touch. Or maybe, I’ll be too busy travelling. Either way this has been a summer to remember.