marseille-cassis

For our second day at Marseille, we decided to visit Cassis a small city near by Marseille. Benoit and Lucas enjoyed the beach as well as the food. The Calanques between Marseille and Cassis have some of the finest climbing limestone but since we did not have our climbing gears we decided to pass for this year.

After spending our morning at Cassis, we headed back to Marseille near the Prado, so the kids could play at the park. From there we walked to the skate park which was almost deserted, but Jean-Benoit was still there skating the big bowls. The sunset light was so amazing, no wonder why Cezanne spend quite a bit of time at Marseille.

I had to come back at Marseille to pick up my passport. That's when I shooted that windsurfing photo. It was a pity that I did not have my windsurfing gears since the wind, wave conditions were near perfect.




Marseille vieux-port (view from hotel)












Cassis beach.


















































































Marseille skatepark.












Jean-Benoit BS air.











Windsurfer at Prado beach.

Marseille

On Saturday we arrived at Marseille (from Toulouse). We stopped by the hotel where the kids were fooling around in the bedroom.

We had the time to find the skate park and try the big bowls. The skate park is so amazing, it is just like the video game. Benoit did good on the mini ramp where He learned how to axle stall. Lucas made some good friend while playing with its lego.

We met with Jean-Benoit, a very fast and skilled skateboarder. It was fun watching him.





























Benoit axle stall.


























Jean-Benoit FS air.

Toulouse

I went to Toulouse to present my paper on space time coding for the ICASSP conference. Bea and Philippe took care of me during my stay.

Toulouse is called the pink city because of the color of the buildings and bridges.

Claire and our kids met me on Friday and we got to eat a nice paella from Bea. We also got rob :( our lugage from our car. That was too bad since we lost our passport as well.



















Toulouse down town.
















Kebab shop.






























Pablo.














Bea and Philippe.

First vacation day in France

Your first day of vacation started at San Francisco Airport. Our plane was a big 747 from Air France.

The fly went well. After 11 hour or so we arrived at Paris where Benoit started by a little bit of skateboarding while Claire was getting the renting car.

In our way to La Rochelle we stopped at Fontainebleau for some fun climbing.

We finished our day at La Rochelle with Margot birthday.
















































Fontainebleau.












































Helene and Margot celebrating her one year.

Last weekend at Santa Cruz before our vacation

For our last weekend at Santa Cruz before our vacation, we started the day by racing car.
























Driving the car was fun, but the real motocycle was even better.














After that we headed to Brian house to check the dogs.



























We stop by the beach on our way back to home.



Lucas can be found somewhere...




















The day will not be complete without some skateboarding.




Justin back side air at Scotts Valley

Benoit skating at Scotts Valley

Benoit took a skateboard class at Dislocated skate shop with Eron.


Benoit dropping in the 6 foot bowl for the first time.


Back side kick turn in the medium bowl.

Fun spot

Benoit FS kick turn.














Just another day at Fun Spot Santa Cruz