Getting to Know Vous

“Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport.”  -Author Unknown

 

What a happy sight… suitcases standing at attention, waiting to be opened up and loaded up with two weeks’ worth of necessities. For several months, we’ve been anticipating our trip to France, and today is the day. Our suitcases are filled– leaving some room for wine purchases–, I’ve returned all the Pimsleur French cd’s and the Fodor’s, Frommer’s, and Rick Steve to the library, and now it’s waiting-around time.

Mike doesn’t claim to have a bucket list, but if he did, Bordeaux would be right at the top. For a oenophile, its the Promised Land of historic vineyards, chateaus. and grande crus classes like Margaux, Latour, and Lafite-Rothschild. He’s already salivating about the two days we’ll spend with a private guide, who’s arranged tours and tastings along La Route de Medoc and near St. Emilion. Wine isn’t the only reason to go to Bordeaux, described as beautiful as Paris without the crowds. Elegant architecture, cobblestone streets, a quay perfect for strolling, and French pastries are just waiting across the ocean to dazzle us.

After six nights in Bordeaux, we’re opting for a change of pace. We’ll be renting une voiture — one with an English-speaking GPS– and traveling a few hours east and centuries back in time to the Dordogne region.  We chose the medieval village of Sarlat-de-Caneda as our base camp. With a population of about 10,000 people, it’s one of the biggest towns in the region. Here, the Dordogne River winds its way past charming villages — one boasting the title “cutest town in France” — and medieval castles hovering at cliffs’ edges. This neck of the woods is also home to numerous grottes, caves that once housed prehistoric people who decorated their homes with still-intact paintings.

After the Dordogne, Arcachon, a seaside resort town outside of Bordeaux, will be our last stop. A day of ocean breezes will be a sympa finale to our French adventure.

So this blog post is written, and I still have a couple of hours before the taxi arrives. Shall I unzip the suitcase and toss in another scarf or top that didn’t make the cut? Nah. I’m good.

Laissez commencer l’aventure!