Bonjour

Who invites friends to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary?  Why Brad and Pam of course!  They invited us to go to France with them long before we planned to move to Utah.  We couldn't pass up the opportunity to experience the South of France with the Becksteads.  My mom flew in to watch the kids for a week, then our niece, Hunter, finished up.  Our children were probably in better care with them than with us.  They had a great time with their Grandma Jenks and Hunter.

We drove to Vegas to catch our flight August 30 and returned home September 9.  That's 10 days of travel/vacation and we kept all the days jam packed.  This post may require a bag of popcorn and a 44 ouncer so get comfortable and enjoy the ride:)

Leaving the Vegas airport.  All smiles.

Our home for the the day.  We departed Friday at 9 am pacific time and arrived in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday at 8 am Europe time (there is a 9 hour difference from Las Vegas time).  That's a lot of travel time in a cramped airplane seat sitting next to... someone I like, thankfully.

First stop, Sitges, Spain.  We jumped in our rental car and headed south.  This is where we lived for a couple months while Eric played football many moons ago.

Hotel Subur was our home away from home.  They still have Eric's team picture hanging on the wall.

Can you find him?

This is the topless beach where we spent our days at.  Kennedy was 18 months old and I just followed her around checking out the scenery.  Don't worry, I didn't go topless and from the looks of things, no one else should've either.  I am pretty sure all the beaches in Europe are tops optional.

Loving my Coca Cola Light.

We spent way too many hours in this rental car.  It was an Audi hatch back, stick shift.  Eric manned the drivers seat and only ran into one brick wall.  He also drove us down an alley way that was so narrow we had to put the mirrors in and say a prayer that we could get out.  Eric was sweating and swearing and the people that lived right out the alley were doing the same.  Never, ever a dull moment.

Seeing that it wasn't even noon yet (and we really hadn't slept other than a few hours on the plane) we ventured north west to the medieval city of Carcassonne.  This hill site became an important trading place in the 6th century BC.  Carcassonne became strategically identified when Romans fortified the hilltop around 100 BC (Wikipedia).  One of my favorite aspects of France was the rich history.  Everywhere we went it was a step back in time.  The French seem to be very laid back too.

We spent the night outside the castle walls and woke up Sunday morning and headed to the resort we would be staying at for most of the week.  Along the way, we drove through beautiful countryside and villages.

Had to stop for our first baguette (the first of many).  Baguettes are a staple in France.

Brad had a bucket list of items he wanted to experience and a goat farmer who made goat cheese was one of them.  This goat farm just happened to fall right into our lap.

Eric, Brad and Pam took the tour outside of the cheese shop and joined the goats in their pen (goat doo doo and all).  I kept  my space and took pictures.

This is Guillermo, the farmer.  He was very personable and shy at the same time.  I don't think he gets many visitors like us.

Eric was showing me where "goat tee" gets it's name.  Makes perfect sense.

Brad got up close and personal.

Pam was right at home.  I've mentioned before how much she loves animals and that love crosses to all types.  They love her right back.

The shop where the cheese was made.  Don't worry, inside it was up to code.

Pam and I trespassed and picked a few grapes to sample.  They were yummy!  The grape vine fields were absolutely gorgeous.  They covered the terraced hillsides.

A spot we picked along the country rode to eat our lunch of a baguette, goat cheese, Gouda, fresh tomato, peaches, and grape and peach nectar we purchased at a wine store (the only kind we felt like we should be "legally" drinking).  I of course had a Coca Cola Light.  Brad couldn't wait to taste the goat cheese.  Unfortunately he said it tasted like goat s*%@.  Getting in the pen with the goats might have contributed to that?  Just saying.

Sunday afternoon we finally arrived at "Thalacap," in Banyul Su Mer, the resort Brad was able to book with his time share (half the reason our trip was affordable).  Eric tried making himself at home in the lobby and broke the couch first thing.  Darn leg just gave in.  All the ladies were laughing and in awe.  He likes to leave his mark.

We all took a shower and headed to the quaint village of Colliere for dinner.  My favorite spot in the whole trip.  It's located on the Mediterranean with shops and restaurants straight out of a story book.

We went to an expensive place for dinner where Brad and Eric shared a big platter of sea food and fish but Eric had his eye this pizza place.  He had his second course there.  Almost every night we topped things off with a gelato.  I neglected to get a picture of that.  I didn't want to be bothered to take a picture cause it was so good.

This band was the cherry on top of the sundae.  They were all talented and sang an array of music.  People were just sitting around chatting and enjoying the lovely evening.  We met a guy from Ireland who had a friend (girl) from Poland with him.  We chatted for quite a while and I asked her what she did while he worked (he was a wine buyer).  She informed me she was his whore.  My jaw dropped.  They both just laughed about it and I fumbled over my next words, saying I wasn't implying that at all.  Nice couple :)

The view from our resort Monday morning.

We had a lot of area to cover so we jumped in the car and headed to the Languedoc region.  France is organized by regions.  We happened upon a McDonald's and I insisted we stop and at least get a soda.  Up to this point, the food was sub par.  A good ole McDonald's meal was calling my name.

Eric came across a toilet made for little people.  He kept saying how everything in France was made for little people.  Not really little people, but littler people than himself.  He came to the realization that he really was a freak of nature in stature.  We didn't see anyone his size there.  Maybe in height but not in poundage.

Pam had done her research and read Rick Steve's book on France numerous times.  She had things mapped out for us which was fine by me because I didn't want to think.  I had no expectations.  She was so excited to see this Roman aqueduct bridge - Pont de Gard.  Once we got there, we were all excited too.  The Romans knew what they were doing in designing this system.  It was built in the 1st century AD and was the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges and is the best preserved.  The bridge has three tiers of arches, standing 160 feet high.  That is taller than the Colosseum in Rome.  No mortar was used in its construction so the idea of a keystone has been around a long time.

An olive tree with the same heritage.

We jumped off a cliff right by the bridge into freezing cold water.  It was exhilarating!  Don't mind my bikini.  I am a free spirit.  At least I had my top on.

Pam and Brad jumped too.  Pam had her reservations but once she hit that water, I think she wanted to do it again.

Wonder twins.

We got dressed and mosied on over to the city of Avignon (everywhere we went it took a couple hours so I use the word mosied lightly).  Outside the city walls it was just a dirty, old city but once inside, picturesque.  We stayed at a Medieval hotel that had all the ambiance you would expect from a medieval hotel including the smell.  I am not a fan of the "old smell."  You know what I'm talking about.  At any rate, it was wonderful.

We woke the next morning and found ourselves at a town market.  I encountered a cute French basket for my mom, Pam and Brad were thrilled with their purchase of  Le Miserable, and Eric worked this lady over for a sterling silver set of 12 silverware.  It was so heavy it put our luggage over the weight limit.  He says it's something we can pass down to our children but I know it won't last long.  Everything is for sale at our house.

Pam multi tasked her glasses - one for reading and one for the sun.  She's very inventive.

This was a wall on a building inside Avignon.  The colors were vibrant and alive (obviously).

This terrain covered the hillsides.  Besides the history,  my favorite part of the trip.  While driving along we kept seeing these girls in the grape vine orchards, standing on the edge of the road.  They were all gussied up and ready to go somewhere.  We would see them a couple miles apart.  Come to find out, they were gypsy prostitutes.  When we would arrive near a town, we would see their trailers all lined up, just like on the TLC show.  Crazy!

A chocolatierie was another item on Brad's bucket list.  As you can imagine, we spent a little bit of time in here, sampling and breathing in the aroma.

I can't remember what day it is at this point so I won't be mentioning that anymore.  I do know that this is a town that we kept looking for a castle only to realize that we were in the castle/city.  It was all shut down when we arrived around 2 pm.  Take note - nothing is open between 2 - 5 pm in France.  We had to eat tuna and crackers from our backpacks.  But this little restaurant below is worth a picture.  So cute.

We walked around the town and took in all the beautiful sites.

Wish I could remember what it's called?  (The castle/city above.)

Provence is probably a region you've heard of - it's well know for its villages with world-famous olives, honey, goat cheese, soaps, and lavender.  We came across this perfume museum where Eric was hoping to make his own perfume. He didn't get to create his own scent but came home with a lovely smelling one instead.  He is into fine soaps and potions.  Another aspect of him you probably didn't know.

The perfume museum came equipped with this toilette.  You stand and pee.  I always wanted to pee standing up...

From the museum we drove to Fonteville and stayed at this charming hotel.

Eric went for a night swim, even when he wasn't supposed to.  The guy at the hotel said be really, really quiet.  Ya right.

The room had a double and a twin bed upstairs and a twin downstairs.  Eric and I carried the twin upstairs and we had a slumber party and watched the only English show we could find.  Then we all took turns snoring and keeping each other up.  At least that's what he/she said.

The grounds in the day time.  Beautiful!

Pam studying up for the day (Rick Steve's book).

All the locals told us to be sure and go to Les Beux.  It would not disappoint.  And disappoint it did not. I will let the pictures do most of the talking but here is a little background from Wikipedia.  It has a spectacular position in the Alpilles mountains, set atop a rocky outcrop crowned with a ruined castle overlooking the plans to the south.   Traces of habitation have been found dating back as far as 6000 BC, and the site was used by the Celts as a hill fort around the 2nd century.  During the Middle Ages it became the seat of a powerful feudal lordship that controlled 79 towns and villages in the vicinity.

(a little door and Eric)

A big door and Eric

We dined on the first piece of chicken we had seen on a menu.  It tasted so good.  It was their version of chicken parmesan along with rattatouie (no rats involved).  Oh and french fries.  Very apropo.

Our final destination of the day was to a castle but Brad couldn't resist feeding these horses carrots and an apple, all of which we had in our possession.  Brad is an animal lover like Pam.

We came across this church  - Sainte-Marthe Collegiate.  It's still in use today.  A little history, it is named after Saint Martha who was abandoned to the will of the waves in a boat from Palestine around 48 AD.  Arriving in the area of Avignon France, Martha was begged by the terrorized inhabitants of Tarascon to deliver them from a monster.  Supposedly Martha ordered the monster, in the name of Christ, to come to her without harming anyone.  The monster obeyed and, passing her girdle around its neck, she led it to the people who killed it.

The only original remnants of the church (1197 AD) is the crypt. The upper church was built in two different stages: 12th century - remains of the Romanesque church , and 14th and 15the centuries - Gothic part.  A little creepy but still amazing.

This it the castle we were in search of - Tarascon.  It was built between 1400 and 1435.  The castle had a military and residential function.  The fortress became a millitary prison in 1481 and stayed that way until 1926.  On Sunday, March 12, 1933, the castle opened its doors to visitors.

During World War II, the castle was taken over by Germany.  There are big chunks out of the exterior walls of the castle from mortar shells coming from American tanks.  It is the best perserved castle in France.

The view from the top.

The crappers were holes that led to the moat below.  Brad was showing us how they might have looked.

Brad's chocolate the previous day had melted nicely and Pam didn't let that stop her.  We did a lot of snacking and eating in the car.  It looked like little piggies lived in it.

Eric liked to placed the baguette on the dash to warm it up...

Occasionally we ate healthy.

Brad and Pam were two little love birds in the back seat.  However,

it was a little (okay a lot) cramped back there.  We were definitely in each others space.

A sight to behold after a long day of sight seeing, exploring and driving.  Banyul Sur Mer (city of our resort).

A view of the harbor in the morning.

The resort had a spa attached that specialized in Thalassotherapy.  This is the medical use of seawater as a form of therapy.  It is based on the systematic use of seawater, sea products and shore climate.  The properties of seawater are believed to have beneficial effects upon the pore of skin (Wikipedia).

The spa had a rule that the men had to wear speedos, no board shorts.  We searched high and low for one for Eric with no luck.  He settled on some underwear that are going to stay hidden under that robe for this post. I just about passed out when Eric came out to the pool in them.  Pam informed him that they were see through as well.  While "hanging out" in that robe in the waiting room (which barely covered his tushy), things were showing and I was telling his to covert himself and this older lady just looked at me and waved her hand like no big deal.  When in Rome, I mean France.

One of the treatments was to soak in this tub for 20 minutes.  It had jets coming at you from every angle.  My mom would've loved it but I am not a bath taker so I just tried to relax (something I'm not very good at).  Another treatment involved algae being rubbed all over your body, then wrapped in saran wrap, followed up with a hot plastic blanket.  It was very different and stinky.

Swim caps were mandatory as well.  Aren't we quite the good looking bunch?

These are fish that give you a pedicure.  I stuck my foot in there and the fish immediately swarmed and starting sucking and pulled it right out, splashing water everywhere.  That was too much for me.  Eric loved it.  Figures.

Pam and Brad were so relaxed from their treatments that evening they decided to stay in.  Eric and I had to do some laundry so we gathered up a baguette, cheese, and tomato and dined right out side the laundry mat.  

Of course a sandwich didn't quite cut it for Eric.  He had to get a pizza too.

We had one more road trip to make but before then we headed to the beach to swim in the Mediterranean.  It was a lot colder than I remember it being back in 2000 when we lived in Sitges, Spain.

We swam out to this dock and laid out while the waves rocked us.  Eric could've stayed there all day but we had things to do and places to see.

On the road again, we're headed to Sarlat.  These next couple pictures are of the drive there.  The scenery was breath taking.

Random picture here but you can't have a baguette without butter.  Someone left teeth marks in the butter??

We found ourselves a hotel for the night (twin beds for Eric and I).

The village of Sarlat was quaint and full of fun shops and night life.  Pam said it reminded her of Prague.

We got a good laugh out of this baby mannequin.  He looks like he's going to the bathroom.

This street show started out like Circe De Solei and ended with the girl in a bra and panties on a pole.  We were all clapping along (children and parents too).  I was like, what just happened?  When in France...

Our adventure the next day took us on a self guided canoe ride down the Dondo River.  We were to see a quaint village and castles on each side of the river, one for the English and one for the French where the 100 year war took place.

Unfortunately it started to rain once we hit the village.  We had planned to eat lunch there and do a little sight seeing but we nestled in with hot chocolate and waited for the rains to subside.  The rains kept coming so we succumbed to the weather and called the canoe company to come pick us up.  That's okay.  What we did see via canoe was memorable and romantic.  We saw the castles through the car window.

Foie Gras is duck liver ground up and a major delicatessen in these parts.  Eric brought some home for his dad.  A little jar of it cost $35.  Disgusting if you ask me.

It was our last night with Brad and Pam as they were staying a second week.  30 years of marriage deserves two weeks of vacation.

We went back to Colliere to eat dinner.  Eric is now on a first name basis with Elizabeth (the owner of the pizza place) and was telling her how to make a good pie.  She listened and Eric was pleased as could be.

I think Brad and Pam are excited they're going to have each other to themselves at this point.  The next morning (I think it's Saturday), we all drove to Barcelona to drop us off at the airport and Brad and Pam picked up a different rental car.  We said our goodbyes and wished them well.  Eric and I were excited to eat airport food and headed to where else, McDonald's.  Crazy how that tastes so good because it's familiar.

We didn't have a phone with service the whole time (Brad had his but we only texted my mom a couple times to give an update) so Eric wanted to call the kids.  We looked at this pay phone like it was an alien.  We had to ask how to use it.

Our flight was leaving Barcelona at 8 pm to arrive Paris at 10:30 pm.  We had to stay over night in Paris and be back to the airport at 6 am.  The flight to Paris was the best one because we were able to sit in the exit row.  The stewardess told us she had one for us but we couldn't move from our initial seats until we were in the air because if Eric moved it would throw the balance of the airplane off.  Really?  He really knows how to make an impact I guess:)

We make an executive decision to get a taxi and see Paris that night.  The taxi picked us at at 11 pm and he gave us a tour until 2 am.  We didn't get to bed until 2:30 and were back up at 5.  The above picture is in front of The Louve,

The red light district - Moulin Rouge.

I'm really not sure... it was late.

Notre Dame - celebrating 850 years

Basilique Du Sacre Coeur De MontMartre

We got to the Eiffel Tower just as the lights went out so no pics of that.  I wish we had more time in Paris as the architecture was amazing.  Maybe in another life.  After 30 hours of travel to get home, I can't imagine traveling, ever again.  Or maybe moving and then traveling.  At any rate, we had the time of our life and feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to go with amazing friends.

Viva la France!