Coffee treats

I'm into my second week here and things are starting to feel more familiar. I finally got over my jet lag, thank goodness. Looks like I'll be stirring up my routine again because I'm moving probably early next week - my neighbors where I live are so noisy and I found a quiet and much nicer apartment in Saint-Cyr-Sur-Loire, just on the other side of the Loire from where I live now. It actually has an oven and a washing machine. These are gold here, apparently. Perfect timing, because I'm ready to do some laundry!

Last weekend I grabbed French brunch with some friends and enjoyed a giant piece of tiramisu for dessert. I really love the lifestyle here - I walk a few hours a day and enjoy my dessert and still feel great. No long driving commute for this year!

American-sized dessert.

Here are some other lovely treats I had this week:

I don't know how I've never had this before - café gourmand. You get a coffee and little desserts. Perfect. 

And in non-dessert related news:

View from my office.

The Guinguette, a really neat riverside bar/café with excellent views of the Loire and great outdoor seating. Only open until the end of September - it's a summer thing. We're trying to take advantage of it while it's open!

OK friends and family, that's it for now. 

Le décalage horaire

Hello from Tours, France! I've been here a few days now and I'm settling in as well as I can. I had some really bad jet-lag which I'm still getting over - I don't know why, I've never had it this badly before. I've basically had insomnia at night and I turned into a zombie during the day. I must be getting old.

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous so far. I know this isn't normal for Tours so I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts. I must have brought the Colorado sunshine with me:) Here are some pictures from my walk around vieux Tours this morning:

Place du monstre

I found Les Halles today, where there's a big outdoor market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. I'm good food-wise for now so I just walked around, plotting future meals.

I have three boulangeries close to my apartment. I stopped in one of them today for une tradition and my weekend dessert, a pear almond tartelette.

The bread was still really warm.

Everything I hoped it would be, and more.