Getting ready to get cultured

---

"Traveling -it leaves you speechless, then it turns you into a storyteller." Ibn Battuta



I'm at my son's in Denville, NJ waiting for my Empire Town Car to take me to the Newark airport. So far my 6 p.m. flight to Amsterdam has been changed twice. This also necessitated a change in my connecting flight to Nice. I know I will eventually get there and that Oliver, my Grand Circle guide will, hopefully, be holding up a little sign saying "Ms. Taylor." If not, well, I'll be in Nice, France, a place so lovely that my sweet writing workshop leader, Valentine, says is the most beautiful place on earth.

I will be taking a river cruise with 40 other travelers from Arles (checking out Van Gogh's home), then on to Avignon, Viviers, Touron, Lyon, and more. I will have five glorious days in Paris where I hope to explore markets, parks, and maybe a museum or two.

My dear friend Pat, who I traveled to Russia and Ireland with, sent me some lovely books about Provence by Peter Mayle. I love this passage " ...tourists, of course are other people ; never us. We consider ourselves travelers- intelligent, well-mannered,cultured, a blessing to our chosen destination, a delight to have around."

So on this trip, my first to France, I am going to be a tourist soaking in the markets, parks, food, scenery,and above all the people.

I am never sure if wifi will be available on the river boats but be assured I will be taking notes and observing and will tell you all my stories when I do get a chance to write .... And maybe a picture or two.



❤️ Carolyn/ gunga

---

Comments

[Amy]

Have fun....
How exciting! You are sub a traveler - I am surprised this is your first trip to France. Are you still living in TN near your daughter?

[Gunga]

Went afar first
The loose plan was always to go to more far afield places first and then do the 'easy' ones as I got creaky. I am very excited about going to France- the art, the food, the lavender fields-what's not to live. Yes, I still live in Memphis. Linda is now acting Dean of the School of Language and Audiology @ the Univ. of Memphis. Her kids are now in 6th and 9 th grades. I bookended my trip with Newark so I could visit w PJ and his family. He is teaching German at the high school where his daughter ,Stella, and his step- daughter ,Julia attend. Busy girls. Are you still doing photography?

[D MJ Binkley]

Fantastic trip!
We will be eagerly awaiting the blog. Sounds like a perfect itinerary.

[Gunga]

Missing you
So ridiculous that we are missing each other by only a few days as I head to Paris and you leave. I plan to do lots of people watching and visit many pastry shops and only a museum or two. Carolyn