France: Summation
Remember, way back, when this blog was to be a series of "a-tions"---observations, exclamations, proclomations? Well, now we come to the summation.
How to make a concise, yet short, overview of our wonderful 6 weeks of travel in France? It is not possible. We had hoped the adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" would cover it...but, I'm afraid we gave you the "thousand pictures"---and now I need the thousand words too.
We covered much of France in our rental car starting in the northern Normandy Region, across west to Brittany, down the Atlantic, back inland to the Loire Valley, back southest to the Atlantic, then inland into the Dordogne Valley, south to Languedoc Region, then over to Provence. We met up with the tour group to return north via a river cruise on the Rhone and Soane Rivers through the Ardeche, the Beaujolais, and Burgundy Regions before going into Paris for our return home.
Kathi Teel wrote a very comprehensive poem, and another account describing the many aspects of our trip. With her permission I share it here, although, I am taking only excerpts lest you accuse me of using all of the "thousand words"
We didn't see all, but we did see some
We heard stories tall and had some fun
Our French was small, but our joy outdone
Not a single mall, and we learned a ton.
Driving was really not all that crazy
However, beware, it's not for the lazy
Refer to the guidebooks
Find crannies and nooks
Stop here, go look
What's a tourist hook!
In six weeks we saw the grain fields change
From newly planted, to harvested, was the range.
Blooming flowers, red poppies--our best memory, long range
Adventure, fun, laugher--and Euros to exchange.
Ah, these six weeks, would we do it again?
Would we drive 3000 plus miles..and then
Board a boat that goes through locks more than ten
To see the perimeter of France--her valleys and glens?
We eat too much in each single day
Walk the boat's gang plank to go and play
We listen to all the guides have to say
Yet millions of dates will soon fall away.
Relaxing on the Rohne, our trip comes to an end
We wonder and plan as the Soane does its bend
We think about home and the projects it sends
We're thankful for work and the gardens to tend.
We loved our tour and we loved the chance
To explore with friends this country called France.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
Kathi continues with these observations:
This has been a TRIP OF 'EST as in BEST:
Oldest. Longest, Biggest, Tallest,
Cutest, Shortest, Smallest, Loveliest,
(Nothing has been second-best)
Widest, Broadest, Narrowest, Grandest
Largest, Busiest, Fartherest, Deadliest,
Greatest, Noisiest, Highest, Most
Those 'est-words' goes with the accompanying words:
Village, City, Tapestry, Cave Paintings, View, Street, SandDune, Door, Cars,
Vineyards, Sites, Beaches, Locks, Cathedrals, Chateaus, Fortress, Ruins
Jerry says we have seen lots of ROCKS..
Heaped and piled in organized fashion
Called by Fortress, Castle, or Chateau, Caves
Some called Ruins, some Archeological Digs
With French Tourist Promotion we mostly agree--
France is: Most Pleasant, Enjoyable, Agreeable
++++++++++++++++
And, oh, the FOOD! Have we mentioned...
Breads--fresh! crispy crusts, plain, or filled, buttered or with cheese
Cheeses: Hard or soft, warm or cold (and lots of Chevre--goat cheese)
Fresh Fruit--in abundance at all the open markets
All kinds of fish and shell fish, beef, lamb and pork, and especially DUCK
Sauces, Flavorings, Herbs, Walnuts, pates (especially foie gras)
Ice Cream (Glaces), sorbets, Pasteries (especially eclairs)
Even--dare we say--McDonalds--Mais Ouis--(typically French, even the McDonalds was of a higher quality)
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Thank you, Kathi, for your creative recording of our travels
++++++++++++++++++++
Have we used the thousand words yet? Probably, but who's counting?
The memories are fresh of the art everywhere, the architecture, the rich history--from the prehistoric cave paintings to Roman ruins..to great cathedrals to WWII memorials...the list is endless. We so enjoyed seeing the land and the people---both are diverse from region to region. Our senses, our minds, our hearts, (not to mention our bodies) were filled and we still smile when we think of France!
AU REVOIR
