Trippin'

About a month from now I'll be leaving for a trip to parts of France. Rather than make the arrangements myself and go alone, I've decided to travel with a small group, the leader being a friend and traveler to France on several previous occasions. I'd decided to take this trip before the financial situation became so unstable, so I'd put away some funds toward it, but I still feel a little like a spendthrift by going through with my plans. Ah well, no turning back. In fact, I'm looking forward to experiencing part of the world that I've only seen in pictures.

The specific details in the itinerary will change, as they usually do, but the general destinations are as follows:
Friday, April 17 = Fly from Boston, overnight, to Paris and on to Nice.
Saturday, 18 = Enjoy Cote d'Azur and the beach
Sunday, 19 = Enjoy Cannes, Nice, Cimiez, St. Paul de Vence, the old town and/or beach
Monday, 20 = Visit Eze and the residence of the Grimaldi family in Monaco; more time on the Riviera beach
Tuesday, 21 = Drive to Aix-en-Provence, through Camargue to Augues-Mortes and Provence
Wednesday, 22 = Nimes and the Roman history of the area including the Arena and Avignon; travel to Paris via the TGV (Europe's fastest train)
Thursday, 23 = Guided sightseeing tour of Paris' most famous sites: Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Elysees, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Versailles and the Hall of Mirrors. Ride the Seine by boat to see Paris lights in the evening.
Friday, 24 = Optional tour of Chartres Cathedral or exploration time. Afternoon is a Walking Tour with our group through the Louvre. Optional fancy dinner.
Saturday, 25 = Fly home, Paris to Boston.

I won't be rested after this vacation, but that's the point: I want to see and do and absorb as much as I can of this part of France because it's unlikely I'll return. My friend Jim will give us some options to see places he's found interesting on his past visits, and that's the charm of going with someone who knows an area fairly well. We'll have Sunday to recover, somewhat, and that's enough for me. I'm gathering cameras, cellphone (and checking out Verizon's Global program for the month of April), and clothing that will do double and triple duty so I can be under the luggage weight requirements on the way over. Then I'll have room for a few souvenirs :)

The sun is out and the front porch is calling me....