Hello, smiling reptiles and handbag fiends, and welcome to Pierrelatte, France! Today the beans have the great pleasure of stopping in to visit something they never thought they'd find in France -- a crocodile farm. Yet here they are, at La Ferme Aux Crocodiles (or for those of you stuck in English: "The Farm with the Crocodiles." Duh, huh?). Located on the banks of the River Rhone 60 miles south of Valence on the A7/E15 (approximately 100 miles south of Lyon), about 500 crocs call this farm "home", which includes a full lab, a nursery and hatchery, a grotto, and of course lots and lots of hungry critters.

As you may well imagine, the beans had a fabulous time with all the jumbo reptiles. And look - they even picked up a nice new set of bean-sized boots in the process!

Here's one thing I found interesting in David's notes: "La Ferme Aux Crocodiles has an unusual relationship with the neighbouring nuclear power plant. Hot coolant water from the reactor provides the heat necessary to keep the hundreds of crocodiles alive in the cooler European climate." Hmmm -- hundreds of potentially vicious man-eating crocodiles living in nuclear reactor water -- sounds like a bad B movie, doesn't it? Whatever you do, the beans highly recommend that you never flush one of these radioactive babies down the loo -- who knows how big it'll get in the sewers?

Open wide and say Ahhhhhh....

Yes, this hungry croc looks like he would really enjoy some black beans about now, wouldn't he? Truth be told, it's more of a "revenge" thing. He's still a little ticked off about the whole crocodile boots joke. We were just kidding, big fella -- the beans don't own any crocodile skin footwear. (Just don't ask to see their wallet...)

Anyway, the beans did have a blast with Mr. Croc & friends, and hope that all of you will stop by the next time you're in the area. And don't forget to bring the beans...and some dental floss.