Hot Hot Hot

Only 15 min of wifi left on my billet, so this wll be a short one.
Today in 80 degree weather we walked from the gite on a dusty rock trail through scrubby oaks and 30 foot pines for about 45 minutes to the town of Lourmarin.
We had a lovely lunch on a vine covered terrace. We ate pizza with chorizo and olives, yummy local olives and a salad italiene which the freshest buffalo mozzarella I have ever eaten. We had a pastry filled with chocolate mousse and walnuts, small but decadent. And followed by a much need capacino.
I am finally cooled off after sitting in the Tourist office using their wifi and ready to head out in the heat. We will look for something to cook for dinner and then start the hike back to the gite, where the swimming pool and a cold bottle of wine wait.
Until the next time I can get on line.
A Bientot!

Location:Lourmarin

Sunset to Sunrise

Air France Business Class -- Sunset to Sunrise -- nine hours of open bar, gourmet meals, snacks galore, movies and games at a fingertip. On top of all that, for those unlike myself who have the capacity to to sleep on command, the seats actually go completely flat.
We boarded the plane at 4pm and after a short delay for some checklist issues which were never explained. Once in the air drinks and goat cheese stuffed breadsticks arrived. And shortly after that the 5 course dinner service began.

Entree choices included pan seared cod served with sautéed artichokes and broccoli, Southwest roast chicken with rice, tournedos of beef with roasted potatoes and asparagus, or a Japanese style vegetable stew. Before the appetizer we were served an amuse bouche of coppa wrapped breadstick, a morsel of blue cheese and a dollop of chutney all served on a spoon. That was followed by the starter of lobster tail with mango salsa and aioli sauce. There was a Camembert and a Swiss for the cheese course, mixed greens with a balsamic vinaigrette for the salad course and fresh wonderful rolls arrived with each course. Don't worry they did not skimp on the desserts. There was a choice of a pastry plate, which included dessert apricot macaroon with lavender, a blueberry pastry and a milk chocolate cake with bergamot or sorbets: mango and raspberry.

It never stops, as I am writing this surrounded by sleepers the hostess ferrets out the only passengers that are awake in our section, my husband and i and serves us ice cream. Blue Bell Dutch Chocolate, I turned down the vanilla.

I am not sure I can ever travel coach again. Unfortunately for the next leg of this journey, Paris to Marseille I will have to.

Flight No. 1

Ah First class and the free Bloody Mary; free in the sense that there is no additional charge over the exorbitant price of the fare. My husband and I are quasi interlopers; we are here thanks to years of pains taking efforts to use our mileage accruing credit and debit cards, the fruits of which have been harvested in the form of two first class round trip tickets to Paris. So in a way the tickets were free. Also free are the digeplayers which hold tons of entertainment fun. And of course we were served a complimentary hot lunch with real silverware, because no first class passenger would use the metal knife or fork for any criminal/unsavory act. Looking on the bright side, maybe we are easing up on the paranoia and realizing that most people know right from wrong and that we should live under that assumption. But I digress ...
Another benefit of Le Premiere Classe is the lounge in the airport which supplies free w ifi, espresso and from 7-10:30 am, pancakes! Waiting for a flight has never been this good. Then of course you have your own lines for check in, security and boarding. They do make you feel special for spending all that money. Oh wait, we didn't! I love my frequent flyer program!



From the plane, flying above the space fluffy clouds; I see the the shadows they cast mimicking their shape exactly.

All Packed

All packed with the assumption that the weather will be warm. Forecast in Provence supports that premise, but Burgundy and Paris, not so much. Luckily we head to Provence first. Hopefully the other parts of France will host warm dry weather by the time they host us. But c'est la vie. If it is cold and wet I guess we may have to buy some new clothes. Oh no!

24 Hours and Counting

Twenty-four hours left until we leave. It is definitely time to get real and cross some things off the to-do list because they will never get done at this stage of the game. The question is what things will/can be left undone? All things on the home front are buttoned up. The house and the grandma are in good hands. There are a few things that would be satisfying to finish, but really do not matter in the grand scheme. Still need to finish packing and at this point, that is pretty high on the list. Luckily the laundry is done, so the clothes are ready to go. Still have to pick up dry cleaning and hem a pair of pants.
Panting a little but the preparation finish line is in site!

Tomorrow the first leg of the journey Houston.

France Seven Days and Counting

Preparing for France. Seven days and counting...
What to wear? What to bring? Getting things set up on the home front to minimize the chaos when we return. This is the faze of the trip that makes you wonder why you are going. Each time I ask the same question, is the trip worth all the stress of preparation?  So far the answer has been yes. Hopefully this time it will be too!