Monet in Normandy

We went to San Francisco to visit our friend Jean and also to check the Monet exhibition in the Legion of Honor museum (here http://www.monetinnormandy.org/).

Jean guided us to the French bakery one block away from his appartement. Since that bakery is only known by French, I will not reveal the name :)

The museum visit was great even if it was packed with people. We could not take any picture of the exhibit since it is forbidden. I still managed to get one shot of my favorite Monet's painting before the guard rushed and told me to stop :(



Only at SF or in France you can find those delicious desserts.












The only baguette that I know of in California which actually looks and tasts like a French baguette.
















Brioche + Orangina: life can not get any better.


















Quiche.



















Jean with his Salmon salad.














Monet in Normandy at the Legion of Honor museum.



















Monet's painting (my favorite).












The following painting were not part of the special exhibit and cameras were allowed.









Renoir's painting.

















Pissaro's painting.













Cezanne's painting.











Benoit likes to paint.













Lucas too.











Lucas chilling out after the exhibit.

College eight

College Eight is just across the road from our appartement. While the 2 monsters Lucas and Benoit were busy watching Scooby-Doo, I shot those photos after the sunset.


Monterey bay covered by the fog which is much welcome when the temperature reaches almost 100 degree.










A zoom in of the previous photo shows the cows being really happy with that fresh air coming from the sea.











College Eight being deserted during the summer.













College Eight dining hall.

Tennis at Family Student Housing

Benoit wanted to play tennis so we walked from our appartement to the tennis courts. Benoit and Lucas are picking up quick.




Lucas had an accident with his bike and shoe.













Benoit hitting the ball hard.














Lucas is running to get the tennis balls.











Lucas is carrying the balls with his helmet.

MBARI

On Saturday, Francois invited us for the MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) open day. MBARI is located between Santa Cruz and Monterey bay at Moss Landing. Francois is doing its intern ship as a mechanic engineer.

They were expected more than 3000 people and had many exhibits. More about MBARI can be found here http://www.mbari.org/














MBARI building sea side on a fogy day











Benoit has been caught by a giant calamary but He seems to handle the situation pretty well.












Kids could build and test their ROV (Remotely operated vehicles)










Francois posing in front of a ROV. He is working in adding an accelerometer. What a cool job.











Francois brought me inside the building and showed me that Autonomous underwater vehicle (AUVs).

















The electronic components are trapped inside that box full of oil. Pretty cool system where a pompe will keep the pression inside the box unchanged whatever how deep the AUV goes.















Tiburon ROV can go as low as 4000 meters.












ROV Ventana. Note the big robotic arm.

















Kids are resting watching some TV :)

Family Student Housing by night

Few days back, we walked the few hundred yards from FSH to College Eight Tennis courts and play ground so the kids could ride their bicycles. Since the fog was not decided to roll in for the night, I got my tripod and camera to shot those Monterey bay photos by night.

Helene is supposed to update her blog every Monday http://mafahe.blogspot.com/ therefore I knew it was time to udpdate mine :)




College Eight and Monterey bay










Tennis, volley ball and basket courts














View from the bridge which link FSH and College Eight.

Polka bread

Once a week, I will prepare a bread for the weekend. The Polka bread has a special lattice cuts (similar as a Polka dance moves) and a flat shape which make it easy to break just with your hands.

Making bread can be treaky but the reward of having a hot and fresh bread to eat compensate for the somehow long process.





Levain ready (just water + bread flour + yeast) after 2 hours



















The dough has been kneaded for about 10 minutes and is ready to rise












The bread is shaped, cut and floured and ready to go to the oven using the Baker's peel.














Look great. The brown colors come from the caramelized sugar which is naturaly created during the baking process.


























The crumb should be airy like the bread from your favorite bakery.

Manresa beach

Isabelle and Francois went surfing at Manresa beach. Manresa beach does not get too crowed like the Hook or Steamer line. Francois does like that place, since around Santa Cruz, it is one of the very few left wave (breaks from the right to the left).

After the beach, we headed to Scotts Valley for the art class.




Francois focusing during the take off.








Francois always at the right place...








Nice style








Lucas and Benoit playing in the sand. What a hard live.









May be, He wanted me to taste the sandy spoon. No thanks, I had already had my breakfirst.


















Lucas proud of its nice drawing

Santa Cruz board walk

The kids started their Friday evening with a playdate. Daniel and Thomas came to our house so they can play with Lucas and Benoit.

After they left, we went to Santa Cruz board beach. We parked our car on the wharf and waked a bit through the beach to the board walk.





Daniel and Thomas visiting.











wharf









Board walk





For some reasons, they will only ride the green car.













I guess the sit is already taken



















Roller coaster. I have not tried it yet (too soft).


















The double shot (125 feet or 40 meters). Climbing it might be fun :)

















Free concert every Friday during the summer












Lucas seems to have spotted something interesting...











Oh!! I see now.