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The Roads Less Traveled: Traversing France With Mai Tai Tom & Tracy

Tracy and I took to the road (always a dangerous proposition with me behind the wheel) for most of our nearly three-week trip to France. The trip took us on the highways and back roads through Burgundy, Provence and Languedoc, before boarding our train for the last four days in Paris. Driving was an adventure, and Tracy doesn’t know how we navigated Europe without GPS in previous years. (although our British lady did abandon us occasionally, making for a few unforgettable moments).  From gorgeous scenery to ancient wonders to charming towns dotting the countryside to the incredible food and wine, we had the great fortune of enjoying 18 wonderful days exploring many places we had never ventured before.  Thanks for joining us on this marvelous journey.

October 28, 2016

Chapter One: We Make It To Burgundy…Finally!

Chapter One:  We Make It To Burgundy…Finally! My sister believes that had I been born 25 years later, I probably would have been prescribed Ritalin. I suppose that’s why I’ve never been characterized as a “Slow Traveler.” In our ardent attempt to “stop and smell the vineyards” on our Autumn […]
November 2, 2016

Chapter Two: Witnessing History On The Drive To Beaune

Chapter Two:  Witnessing History On The Drive To Beaune Day Two: No Way Vézelay, Where’s Orson Welles, Please Don’t Pee In Our Photo, The Chateau Less Visited, Gosh I Didn’t See That Sign, Do You Know The Way To Fontenay, We’re On The Road To Nowhere, Dear Abbaye, Sure Now […]
November 7, 2016

Chapter Three: Checking Out Beaune…From Above and Below

Chapter Three:  Checking Out Beaune…From Above and Below Day Three: MaiTai and The Amazing Technicolor Roof, Second To Nun, Our Man Rogier, Woman Of The Cloths, It’s All About The Tapestries, The “Elevator List” Revisited, Historic Cellars, Wine In Our Spacious Backyard & Dinner At The God Of The Grape […]
November 14, 2016

Chapter Four: Dijon Cuts The Mustard

Chapter Four: Dijon Cuts The Mustard Day Four – Scrambling For Breakfast, The Elusive Dijon Parking Lot, Heart-Stopping Climb, The Tomb Room, Owl Be Damned, Aztec Wishes, Not So Grand Cru, Not My Cup Of Wine, Oh That Wasn’t Our Bottle, A Looney Tunes Dinner and Last Call Up early […]
November 20, 2016

Chapter Five: We Head To Provence

Chapter Five: We Head To Provence Day Five: “Diesel” Or “Diesel”, Shut Out At Obi-Wan Kenobi, Never Pick The First Restaurant You See, Lost In Translation, Chicken Or Beef, It Helps To Have The Address, Room With A View, Beautiful Bonnieux, Circuitous Dinner Route, Dining Delight and Carrying A Torch […]
November 29, 2016

Chapter Six: Looping The Lovely Luberon

Chapter Six: Looping The Lovely Luberon Day Six – Mr. Belvedere, Wine Sale, Seeing Red, Frankenstein Goes Hiking, Another Sleepy Town, Take My Restaurant Recommendation With A Grain Of Salt, Going Cucu, Do We Need To Buy Them a Gift, Chateau Diversion, Finally A Busy Town, Chasing Camus, Sunset To […]
December 12, 2016

Chapter Seven: Old Bridge, Old Popes, Old Town, Old Man!

Chapter Seven:  Old Bridge, Old Popes, Old Town, Old Man! Day Seven – Pont Diversion, Papes Goes The Palace, A Tour We Could Have Skipped, Stop All These Weddings, Solemn Ceremony, How Art Thou, A Bridge Too Far…and Too Short, Going Out Of My Gordes, Better From The Road, Lavender-less […]
December 21, 2016

Chapter Eight: Waterwheels, On Gard & Uzés

Chapter Eight: Waterwheels, On Gard & Uzés Day Eight – Brexit Chat, Big Wheels, On Gard, Paging Ned Beatty, Circling Uzés, Always Best To Check Your Emails, Castle Keep, Is That The Leaning Tower Of Pisa, Patio Perfect and The “Important American” After chatting with some Brits about Brexit (they […]
December 29, 2016

Chapter Nine: Cave Exploration, Gas Problems & More Of Uzés

Chapter Nine:  Cave Exploration, Gas Problems & More Of Uzés Day Nine – Breakfast in Paradise, Are You Sure This Is Right, Private Tour, It’s The Statue of Liberty, Lit Up, Road Block, Nurses Aid and Pay Pal, Médiéval Jardin, A Sad Day For MaiTai, Castle Keep…Out and Never Drink […]
January 19, 2017

Chapter Eleven – Languedoc Loop

Chapter Eleven – Languedoc Loop Day Eleven – Babette’s Feast, Another Old Bridge, UNESCO Abbey That Has Parts In New York, You Mean This Isn’t A Vegas Circus, Old Man Climbing Deterrence: Part Deux, A Lunch Setting Perfect For A Movie, Drive Around The Lac, Wine Salvation, Vats In The […]
January 29, 2017

Chapter Twelve – Meandering Through Montpellier

Chapter Twelve – Meandering Through Montpellier Day Twelve – This Drop Off Ain’t No Drop Off, Comedie Central, What’s This Wet Stuff, Monet’s Talented Friend, I Don’t Think You Smoked The Entire Pack Yet, Montpellier Meanderings, How Art Thou, We’re #1 & One Of The Joys Of Traveling Another great […]
February 10, 2017

Chapter Thirteen – Medieval Cité de Carcassonne

Chapter Thirteen – Medieval Cité de Carcassonne Day Thirteen – Beating The Crowds, Did She Really Throw A Pig, Yep…More Ramparts, Where’s Hugh, The Russians Are Coming, Morning Cassoulet/Wine Tasting Event, Not Ducky, Where’s That Church?, Picture Perfect, Pézenas Stroll, Napa Sellers and Dinner Deconstructed Yesterday we headed east.  Today […]
February 21, 2017

Chapter Fourteen – Leisurely Languedoc Sunday Drive

Chapter Fourteen – Leisurely Languedoc Sunday Drive Day Fourteen: Wine Wine And More Wine, Taking A Sunday Drive, Sensational Scenery, Are We At The Marigold Hotel, Chateau Of Disrepair, Rekindling The Memory Of Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, Stockholm Syndrome, Brits Galore and We’re Ready For The Big City On a very gray […]
February 23, 2017

Chapter Fifteen – “We’ll Always Have Paris”

Chapter Fifteen – “We’ll Always Have Paris” Day Fifteen: On Track To Paris, Camille Appeal, Oh How I Love The French, Timing Is Everything, “284 Steps…Only”, Slip Up or Have A Nice Trip, The I Fell Tower, Bruised Ego (any other things), We Are The Champs, That’s The Way The […]
March 7, 2017

Chapter Sixteen – Crisscrossing Paris & A Walk In The Parc

Chapter Sixteen – Crisscrossing Paris & A Walk In The Parc Day Sixteen – Behind The Red Door, No Not Cognac, You Can Call Me Jay, Ifs Ands & Buttes, Going To Temple, Hip To Be Square, Dante’s Infernal, Strollin’ On A Sunny Afternoon, Let Me “Think” About That, Tower […]