un rêve

its hard to imagine what i was afraid of now that i am here and all is so well.

i had a long ocean swim yesterday with my new friend Liam (from NY lived in New Orleans and before that senegal) and while we were bobbing around in the salty sea with the jungle wrapped all around we tried to remember what it was that people told us about this place before we came. what was it that we were supposed to be afraid of? the wildlife? in the town there really isnt much. the mosquitos are stealth but their bite is not as painful/itchy as the ones that i encountered this summer. outside of the jungle i havent seen a spider yet. just butterflies. and flowers. and handsome french men and beautiful french women who, like ourselves have fled the conventional life for a taste of the tropics. granted-we have only been here a bit more than a week-but it feels like home.

in fact, im moving into my new home tomorrow! the place on the sea with the architect and the musician. i will post pictures of that soon. today i will go to the market and buy some fruit and a bowl made from a coconut and probably a scarf to put over my poor toasted shoulders. and then i will ride my bike to the beach where some friends are meeting for an afternoon dip. then i will prendre une sieste (one of my favorite parts of the day). we will go to a concert tonight in the center of town with the men we met the other night who are here as doctors for 6 months who come from france.

flights are cheap in january. the yellow fever shot is the only one required to visit. will someone come down here and share this with me? you can rent cabanas by the week and i will have a moped to scoot us around town! it will be carnival in february and for three months there will be costumes and feathers and sequins galore! have i convinced anyone?

i hope this post finds everyone enjoying the red and orange and yellow leaves that have surely begun to decorate the trees. as much as i will miss a cozy sweater and some warm tea this fall-i am happy to have the sun and the sea on my skin for now.

a tout a l'heure
kayla