We took a mini-road trip to Oadour-sur-Glane, which is where our friend Robin did his internship. Oradour-sur-Glane was/is a village in France destroyed by the Germans in WWII. There is confusion over why this even happened. Some say it was to quench german resistance in France, some say it was because of rumors of a german hostage, others say they just got the wrong village. But either way over 600 innocent men, women and children where shot here and then the village set ablaze and the following pictures are the aftermath still standing as a reminder.
These signs point out the 6 different locations where the men were separated out to stand and wait to be shot at. All the guns were supposed to fire at the same time. When one went off early some of the men were alerted to what was going to happen and a few were able to fight back and escape.
The women were gathered in this church. Many could have survived by escaping out this back door, except for the fact that panic had set in. Everyone was pressing against the door and the door needed to swing open into the church, this wasn't possible with all the people pressing up against it.
There was one female survivor who managed to escape by some extreme gymnastics by flipping off a table through a window and landing injured 10 feet below. She dragged herself into bushes and remained there until she was rescued the next day.
The village remains in ruins and a duplicate village was built nearby which is still inhabited. In the fields next to the original village there are several memorials and graves. These two glass cases contain some of the remains found in the burned homes and businesses.
Well I guess just to continue on this sad note. I'm posting the pictures of my last days in Limgoes. I still have a few more blogs to put up but these are some pictures of me saying goodbye to my awesome friends and brother.
(We expect to see you all here in the States for next Thanksgiving.)
This is Ghennadi's sad face.
C'est normal.
This is true brochette love.
And this one because this is how I will always remember him. Beer in hand, tongue out, sitting in the window smoking.
I do have good news though! I'm posting this blog today because today we are picking up my brother from the airport!!! I can't believe it's already time!
Saying goodbye at the train station! Next stop, Paris!
By the way, Christelle is moving to America!!!!!!!!! Even better just one state over, Georgia!!!!
And Eric comes home today!!!!
Bisous! Bisous! Bisous!
Next blog....Paris!
Speaking of grocery stores, I saw this tasty looking drink at another grocery store (non-crypt related store) and I just thought it was just a great combination of english words and celebrity sponsorship. Also please note disgustingly dirty shelves, and no joke, I saw a mouse dodge between the aisles one day.
This is from the day we decided to have a picnic at the park near the train station and then play in the fountain. Did I mention we were throwing a spoon around and playing catch in the fountain...yes this is how I wisely chose to spend my days in France.
This was all made for a going away party for a girl I'd only met once, someone's mom came and made fresh sushi.
This picture is pretty much because I love pink & green and I passed these chairs everyday on my way to the library, so I took a picture.
I'm glad I always have a camera with me so I can capture things like this hilarious parking job that forced Christelle to climb into her car via the passenger side door. 
I just thought this picture was hilariously romantic. We went to a lake one night when the sun was setting. It's two dudes, my brother and Ghennadi. 
Now while I didn't get to shoot any brides for real, I did have a volunteer for a photo shoot, my friend Jorge. Some of these pictures are on his facebook page and one of the comments translated was "...ooo the Latino Brad Pitt!"
This is my all time favorite picture from the trip. William is thanking Spiderman (pronounced "speeder-mon" in France) for all his good work. And only in France would you see Spiderman with a baguette and William holding a bottle of wine on the street.
This apartment is where some of the lifelong bonding happened. Some of it happened over a 7 day old bowl of rice and rotten peach pits. I didn't dare photograph that. Also I like how in the following video, we took down the red "E" in the word Ghetto and replaced it with a hand drawn "E". You could almost call it art now. Oh and I forgot the most important part of the video. Antoine taught himself how to play the guitar by watching youtube videos. I guess you could say the other two musicians are also self taught....
Next stop, haircut! My first haircut since late March. (see pre-haircut picture above)
Back at Christelle's friend's apartment for a little birthday bakery goodness. Please note single free standing candle for me to blow out.
Eric had the very cool/good idea that we should go out for a traditional multi-course french meal. This was our 1st course: Aperitif. I think we were supposed to order a liquor too, but we didn't. (Tip: if you go for a formal french meal, don't fill up on bread at all.)
The menu lets you order from different selections for a set price, there were about 3 choices for every course and 3 of us so we got one of each and rotated. Christelle had to explain to the waitress that we were American, so that she wouldn't die of shock at our manners. These were our Hors d'oeuvres: escargot with salad (not normal, usually its served in the shell with butter and green stuff) I'm gonna butcher it if I try and tell you what the other two were, but I liked the one with bread and dip best, then the salad with something that looks like bacon, BUT IS NOT BACON! And last the escargot. If you go to France, do eat escargot, but the traditional way. Just close your eyes and pick up the tiny fork.
These were our main courses. This one was only my 2nd favorite, but everyone else's 1st. It was egg and fish with potatoes. 
This was not what we wanted to order, but our 1st choice was no longer available, 
This was my favorite, to me it tasted kinda like meatloaf. I'm sure french chefs are rolling over in their graves everywhere because of this blog, but its the best I can do.
And everyone's personal favorite: Creme Brulee!
And fudgey chocolate cake, I'm glad we were splitting 3 ways, this is too much for 1 person.
So thanks Eric! Great birthday present! And to say it in french "It wasn't bad."
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