We’re going back to Europe in a couple of weeks after more than 15 years away. We are spending a couple of days in Bangkok on the way through, staying with the girls’ friend and her family. That will be the tropical change to shift us into holiday mode. Then on to Greece, where we have never been, a tightly-scheduled week in Paris, Serviers again with Jenny and our tour will be complete.
How nice it will be! Being in Greece, relaxing in the modern house with pool overlooking the coast that Steve has hired in the Greek Islands, perhaps doing some snorkelling as well as exploring the island where Mamma Mia was filmed. It will still be warm and summer fruit might still be in season.
When Steve and I were last in Paris in June 2009, we just turned up to all the museums, even the Louvre, and bought a ticket on our way in. Now we’ve found that many of these museums are already fully booked during our visit. My friend Stacey and her daughter Madeline will be there when we are and we’ll do some exploring together. I can’t wait to walk the Promenade Plantée again, see the Musee D’Orsay and L’Orangerie with Monet’s water lilies. It will be a bit strange to show the girls and our friends the Canal St Martin neighbourhood where Steve and I lived for three months, and to revisit the café where I used to go, a few doors away from our cavelike but artistically lit apartment. Even though we lived in Paris for three months and were fulltime tourists in that time, we didn’t see the magnificent library Biblioteque Nationale de Paris Richelieu, which I have just found out about. I don’t think we had seen the Galleries Lafayette either. We’re looking forward to returning to the seafood bistro Bofinger for a feast, and all the baguettes and cheese. I am also going to be buying myself some sort of shopping treat with money that mum has kindly given me to enhance my enjoyment.
In the south of France, I’m really looking forward to seeing Jenny again, she is always full of stories and observations. She wants to take us to some of her favourite places, and there is an exhibition of Aboriginal art that I am determined to see. Serviers and surrounds is such a pretty area of rolling green hills, vineyards and small stone houses. Maggie has very generously given Steve money for us to have a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant to celebrate Steve’s birthday which is tomorrow.
We will make a good start on the packing next weekend.
