To finish up our trip (we are back now), our last days in France were spent thus.  Thursday was the final workshop day and in the evening everyone took a bus to Cassis, on the coast east of Marseille.  We stopped for wonderful views along the cliffs and down to the Mediterranean.  The meal was at a restaurant right on the sea and we had abundant appetizers with a buffet to follow.  It was a relaxed grazing kind of event and copious amounts of wine were consumed.  Pastis was also available but not drunk by Randy nor I.

Friday morning we chilled around our temporary French home and packed.  The packing went smoother than I anticipated with room for everything though I worried about being overweight (my bags, that is).  We went to Aix and picked up Jeff and Kristi from their hotel and took them to the high speed train station.  We then parked in Aix and found La Perele Rare, a cool store for Magic cards, etc.  We bought Nick some French Magic cards and a T shirt and then shopped at Metroprix, a department store downtown. I bought lots of make up (Bourjois, my favorite brand) while Randy waited.  We walked to the Granet Museum.  This was unexpectedly large - an eclectic painting collection spread over three floors of a historic building in town.  It was a nice (and cool) way to spend an hour or two.  We walked back to our car park stopping for beer and French fries for a snack.  I also crammed in more shopping at Massimo Dutti, a Spanish brand of upscale clothing.

Before dinner, I finally took advantage of the pool at the house we were staying at.  It was lovely and I was joined by our genial host, Steve, who had been installing solar panels on roofs all afternoon and was in serious need of refreshment.  He planned to spend the night (from 8 PM to 2 AM) helping a friend move his bee hives.  What an industrious guy!

Dinner was scheduled at a small hotel just outside of Aix that I found using the on line Michelin guide.  It was all I could have hoped for.  For 48 Euro (plus wine) we dined on four exquisite courses including an amazing cheese assortment.  The location was in a lovely garden at the rear of the hotel and the service was excellent (unusual for France, in our experience).  It was an evening to cherish and one I hope to repeat.  In fact, I would like to stay at the hotel and enjoy its charms further.  The place is Le Mas D' Etremont and you must go there if you are in the Aix region!

Saturday we breakfasted at home, loaded our car and began the journey to Nice.  This took only two hours and was smooth.  We returned the car at the airport relatively hassle free and checked in.  Using the Delta Priority lane was great - we avoided waiting in the long line and were given a pass to the VIP club.  We went there for snacks and drinks.  Our flight was delayed about 45 minutes and loading was chaotic.  But we had great seats - exit row and bulkhead so there was tons of legroom - and there were individual entertainment stations on this plane.

Cassis from the cliff

We did not get too close to the edge - it was actually scary

Our group on the cliff over Cassis

Self portrait at the beautiful Mediterranean

Another part of the cliff

View from our Cassis seaside restaurant - no food pictures from this one because we were too busy drinking and relaxing to celebrate the end of the workshop

Magic players at La Perle Rare

Our obliging storekeeper at La Perle Rare

If you like to play Magic, this is your place in Aix

Detail of the four dolphins fountain in Aix

A very good French (actually Belgian) beer in a sophisticated glass

You have heard a lot about him and we could not have done the trip without him - our trusty (well, sometimes) Clive

Complimentary appetizers, etc. at Le Mas D'Entremont

We saved the best dinner for last - it was an evening to savor in every way

My fish soup with grated cheese and aioli and toast - nothing better!

Randy's salmon three ways - each divine

My garlic crusted lamb chops - the most tender I have ever had

Randy's Iberian pork

One of our many waiters with the amazing cheese selection

My profiteroles

Randy's cake with peaches and ice cream from a special dairy region in France

Randy enjoys U.S. Today at the VIP Lounge of the Nice airport

At JFK in New York we pushed our way though the crowds and were able to make our flight to Atlanta (just).  I did get upgraded to first class and left Randy in coach and enjoyed wine and a Bailey's before falling asleep in the comfortable seats in the big plane. Our bags also made it through JFK though my new suitcase was ruined by the handlers (or destroyers) in either New York or Atlanta (I suspect New York).  Ozgur Kabadurmus - my trusty senior Ph.D. student - and his lovely girlfriend Fatma were waiting for to drive us to our happy home in Auburn.