It's On To Phase Two - Time With Family

Several people have noticed that I have not commented on the places Rosey and I visited while in France. So here goes: Day One, Fontaine de Vacluse, Gordes and L’Isle sur la Sorgue; Day Two, Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas; Day Three, Avignon, Villeneuve les-Avignon and Pont du Gard; Day Four, St. Remy and Les Baux; Day Five, Cadenet, Lourmarin and Bonnieux; Day Six, Aix-en-Provence and a private tour and tasting at Chateau Simone.

It’s been a wonderful adventure in France. Our group of nine intrepid travelers would leave the house about 9:00 AM every morning. We would usually drive to another town or village to sight see, have lunch and on three days, visited wineries.  I think the best part was just sitting in a sidewalk café and watching people. The French know how to live life – and how to dress.

Touring around Provence has been one of my more unique driving experiences. In the small villages, it was narrow roads and unmarked signs. In the larger cities, it was massive traffic circles (roundabouts) and honking horns. By the second day we had a system down. Each car had a driver (my car was Team A) and a navigator. Our car even had an advanced form of navigation: a “gsc.” Of course, that stands for girl scout compass. You would not believe how handy that became when I would ask the question, “what direction are we going?” The gsc was never wrong.  

In France, they have very few winery tasting rooms like we do in California. For two of our visits, previous arrangements had been made, complete with letters of introduction. Robert Haas from Tablas Creek in Paso Robles was instrumental in getting us appointments. The wines were some of the best I’ve ever tasted and the Chateaus were right out of the movie sets – picture perfect.

Our group separates today. Rosey and the others return to California and I go on to Switzerland. We just arrived at the Marseille airport and were greeted by a group of airport workers wearing orange and semi-marching around the main lobby of terminal one. It seems that the baggage handlers have decided to go on strike. Several necessary items have now been moved to my carry-on. I may never see my luggage again. Oh well, it is the French way.  

PS - Just landed in Munich on my way to Geneva. Free WiFi. I'm connected again.