Chenonceau started in 1513 in the Loire Valley. |
Well, as evidenced by this post, we all survived each other. I wasn't worried about getting lost in France; gypsies or terrorists; lost bags or the language barrier. I was worried that we would be scratching each others' eyes out by Day 5.
Chateau de la Tortiniere built at the end of the 10th Century. Now a hotel. |
When I voiced my concerns to my friend Carol, her advice was "drink lots of wine." I did, and it was delicious. We quickly learned that in France, the dollar doesn't buy much. However three things are reasonable if not cheap -- wine, bread and cheese.
Our bedroom at de la Tortiniere |
But what was really fun was seeing another country through the eyes of a pre-teen and teenager.
When we arrived at our first hotel, our daughter plopped on the couch and started flipping through TV channels. "It's all in French," she stated. "Ugh."
Ruins of the historic town Eygalieres. |
My husband is a sort of tech nerd, so he reprogrammed the TV to English. I was a little bummed by that.
But then, the real horror came. Our adapter, which we borrowed, was for England, not France. Now that was a bigger problem and one travelers didn't have two decades ago. The chargers alone must weigh a total of five pounds. But he figured out how to charge by plugging into the TV.
Gordes, built into a side of a mountain. |
"Maybe we could be the American version," I mused. "American Idiots Aboard."
Roman coliseum in Arles which is under renovation. |
When traveling aboard, one quickly begins to appreciate things both countries have. For instance, in France, the countryside is clean with many wildflowers in bloom. No trash lining roadways. But here's my rundown of each country's top things.
France:
* Clean streets, yards, and towns
* Excellent wine, cheese and bread
Our Hotel Buci room in Paris |
* Long, luxurious lunches (two hours)
* Fresh vegetables and fruits
* Cute boys (this one is from my daughter)
USA:
* His/her bathrooms with sinks and toilet seats
* Manned tollways
* Highways that aren't tollways
* Clothing/shoes at reasonable prices
* Pharmacies open at night
* The can-do spirit
* The consumer driven economy.
Family portrait in Provence. |