May 1st Holiday

Daniel had a long weekend for the "Premier Mai" holiday. Apparently it is the day to celebrate workers, but rather than celebrate it by working everyone gets a day off. The partners in Daniel's office were convinced that it was a worldwide bank holiday. Not exactly, but I'll take it! The weather couldn't have been better and we had great weekend full of hiking and swimming. We spent Friday hiking near La Ciotat.

Jonas loves all this hiking around; he gets to do the easy part

Taking a break and enoying the view from the botanical gardens in La Ciotat

Is he serious?

Yes, he is and there he goes. See his little head and his flippers? Daniel is thrilled that the Mediterranean has finally warmed up enough for him (not enough for me) to go snorkelling. It really brings out the kid in him...

A little dad and son island hopping

Jonas at the wheel! The next morning we headed back out to Cassis with the rather ambitious plan of hiking out to the calanque "en vau".

Can I just say, I have the most amazing three-year-0ld! We hiked about four miles on Satuday, an intense hike with a lot of uphill that left both Daniel and I exhaused and sore. This kid trekked the entire way and did not ask to be held once! The hike commenced with a steep descent of about 1/5 of a mile and I was somewhat dreading the whole time the entirely likely prospect of needing to lug him back up it at the end. But not at all. He joyfully sped right up that mountain pretending to be an airplane and I was spared. He is such a tough kid!

Of course we took some time out to enjoy the beaches tucked in the coves.

Jonas had his first taste of sand. Most of the beaches around here are pebbly, so he has had a lot of pebbles come through his digestive track. This was his first time with sand, and he really seemed to enjoy it.

Jaxon loved playing in this little rocky area with the waves coming in and out.

Everyone was thoroughly exausted by the end of our weekend...

So that is it! Our last French adventure before we take off for our visit back to the States this Friday. We are certainly looking forward to eating some Mexican food, some good barbeque, and buying cheap toilletries...