And this is Caitlin, the American!

It's been a while since the last time I was introduced as "the American" in such blunt terms. But hey, these things happen. And there are worse places than at a huge birthday bash when you meet probably over 20 people over the course of one night. Because it helps explain your less-than-enthusiastic dancing to all those French songs from the 80s.

France painted in autumn

So this is the first time I've ever been in France during the fall. I've done winter, spring, summer...never fall. And let me tell you, if I thought France was beautiful before, it's nothing compared to what I think now. I've always liked fall, but it's never been a season that I would call the most beautiful. But when I mentioned to a teammate this weekend that I had never seen France in the fall, he replied, "well, this is it's most beautiful season, don't you agree?" And I do.

This season has possibly made such an impression on me because I've done so much traveling during it. I've spent at least 5 hours in transit to various places every weekend, with the highest total coming to around 15 hours in 3 days. So I've seen a lot of scenery. And it's like a gorgeous painting that never ends. It's helped by the fact that the French countryside about a 20 minute drive from most cities looks like it's still in the Middle Ages. On cloudy days it makes me feel like the Apocalypse happened.

Oh, and making out while standing in the Mediterranean with the sun shining down on you is possibly one of the most romantic things I've ever done. Minus, you know, making out underneath the Eiffel Tower.