Arriving in Villeneuve St. Germain was a bit of a shock...Funny enough Alex does really live in the ghetto...there are new fancy apartment/condos across the street and he's in a Bronx/projects type building, it even comes furnished with its own drug sales out of a shoe box and a girl that lives above them, they've affectionately named Slut Smurf. The apartment itself is really not that bad, not lots of furniture but it works! His roommates are really nice in their own. There's an Australian named Nick, who it seems, will be providing the entertainment as he downloads about 8 movies every night. He is also overly obsessed with his weight and is constantly pinching himself, weighing his food and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to which sorbet, by flavor, has less calories, along with anything else you need to know. Piotr, Alex's other roommate is quite but kind. Alex's only complaint is that he sits to close to him on the couch. What can you do? His most apparent quality is his height no joke this guy is 7 feet something. The first week was spent sitting in his room trying to fish out a weak internet signal, as Alex had not yet received internet at the house. This being his 6th week living there, he understandably was a bit perturbed. I told him that this was the typical French speed of things and not to worry...sure enough it came the following day. The rest of the teammates are nice enough, some being incredibly quiet. His coach on the other hand was overzealous to meet me claiming that the 'traductrice' was finally here.
After sussing out some translations and going to more long day races than I'd ever hoped for, this week finally brings a period of rest in his ever constant schedule. Last week was time spent apart for us, not something we planned but after I was told there would be a 12 hour drive to the Pyrenees for a one day race and return in the same fashion, I packed my bags and headed to four days in city of love all by my lonesome. Not a problem as you can really never ever be bored in Paris and the entertainment of people watching there is known to be only the best.
This week (May 10) we've travelled to Brussels and are staying with Mary and Alfred, Alex's great uncle and aunt on his dad's side. Mary is everything I hope to be at 60, her freezer is organized, all the cutlery has a place in the dishwasher, her house is incredible and she has the best fashion sense. Alfred has taken the week off to work on building a new shed for their ever growing collection of garden tools and that enables him to entertain us with his knowledge of their newly purchased robotic lawnmower. Daytime has been spent catching the train into downtown Brussels where we’ve seen an abundance of lace, chocolate and diamonds I’d never thought possible. We've been entertained in the evening by great food & drinks, an outdoor fireplace and illustrious stories. 
The awe inspiring robotic lawnmower
Friday brings another quick trip to the city of love, together this time and Monday it's off to Limoux. I'm nervous about what this year's season will bring and how new hires and great friends leaving will change the dynamic of Montfaucon. Only time will tell....
The awe inspiring robotic lawnmowerA bien tot.
XO
Nathalie
