6/8/08 - I am going to France for two weeks to celebrate turning 60. My two buddies, Virginia Scott and Gay Welch, are in Aix en Provence for the entire summer and have graciously invited me to to stay with them. I will attempt to write about my trip every couple of days if the wine drinking doesn't interfere too much. For those of you who are interested in reading about our escapades, I have attempted to create a blog....might not work...but I will try. Photos will be attached...I hope! I leave tomorrow 6/9.
6/10/08, 6:30 AM...I have awoken in the most wonderful of places. I am more than happy! Finally in Aix en Provence with Ginny and Gay at their third-story apartment owned by Vanderbilt University where they both work. They have been here for some weeks. Ginny is teaching her American students in the French program. Gay is keeping house and doing eco work for her research projects. My sense is they do work while here but do a good bit of playing as well. The French work day does not appear to start until 9:00 a.m.. There is a two-hour lunch break at which everything shuts down and everyone eats....out, I might add! They return to work around 2:00 p.m. and leave for home around 4:30. What is wrong with us??
This morning, I am sitting on the balcony of the apartment with a hot, steaming cup of black tea with soy...my absolute favorite next to a red Cotes Du Rhone which I had last night...my first night here which I DO remember after a harrowing train trek across France. The sun is streaming into the apartment, the sky is blue, and the village is waking. I am very happy!
The trip over was NOT pleasant to say the least, and I will keep the recap short. Bradenton had an overpass collapse due to a tanker truck full of fuel exploding which re-routed traffic dictating an earlier than usual departure for the airport. Many hours of layovers and NO sleep what-so-ever landed me at Charles De Gaulle airport and a train strike. No trains to Aix! I spent the entire day riding various trains around Paris by myself not speaking but the tiniest bit of French until I found a TGV station in Gare du Lyon with a train to Aix leaving in three minutes. My newly turned 60-year old self ran with back pack and a 40-pound suitcase down the corridor just in time to get on. Gin Gin and Gay were stressed when I didn't show at the bus station in Aix at the appointed time. Gin called Jack. Jack called Zack. Gay called Gin (when I finally arrived). Jack called Zack back... and all was well finally after 30 hours of traveling. We had dinner that night at a wonderful outdoor cafe with plenty of wine and fabulous French food. I slept well! And so here I am.....we'll see what happens today.
(Photos are of Gay & Ginny and the view from their balcony.)
R
6/10/08, 6:30 AM...I have awoken in the most wonderful of places. I am more than happy! Finally in Aix en Provence with Ginny and Gay at their third-story apartment owned by Vanderbilt University where they both work. They have been here for some weeks. Ginny is teaching her American students in the French program. Gay is keeping house and doing eco work for her research projects. My sense is they do work while here but do a good bit of playing as well. The French work day does not appear to start until 9:00 a.m.. There is a two-hour lunch break at which everything shuts down and everyone eats....out, I might add! They return to work around 2:00 p.m. and leave for home around 4:30. What is wrong with us??
This morning, I am sitting on the balcony of the apartment with a hot, steaming cup of black tea with soy...my absolute favorite next to a red Cotes Du Rhone which I had last night...my first night here which I DO remember after a harrowing train trek across France. The sun is streaming into the apartment, the sky is blue, and the village is waking. I am very happy!
The trip over was NOT pleasant to say the least, and I will keep the recap short. Bradenton had an overpass collapse due to a tanker truck full of fuel exploding which re-routed traffic dictating an earlier than usual departure for the airport. Many hours of layovers and NO sleep what-so-ever landed me at Charles De Gaulle airport and a train strike. No trains to Aix! I spent the entire day riding various trains around Paris by myself not speaking but the tiniest bit of French until I found a TGV station in Gare du Lyon with a train to Aix leaving in three minutes. My newly turned 60-year old self ran with back pack and a 40-pound suitcase down the corridor just in time to get on. Gin Gin and Gay were stressed when I didn't show at the bus station in Aix at the appointed time. Gin called Jack. Jack called Zack. Gay called Gin (when I finally arrived). Jack called Zack back... and all was well finally after 30 hours of traveling. We had dinner that night at a wonderful outdoor cafe with plenty of wine and fabulous French food. I slept well! And so here I am.....we'll see what happens today.
(Photos are of Gay & Ginny and the view from their balcony.)
R
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