Plane tickets

We're getting closer to purchasing plane tickets.  It didn't happen for Mother's Day (you can't have everyhting you want, can you?) but we at least talked about them so that's one step forward.  Current thinking is to fly into Barcelona and fly out of Paris.  While Rich is there at the end of the trip we'll rent a car and do a day trip to Spain.  Then we'll travel by train to Paris and stay there a few days before heading back to the US.  It's all going to go so quickly, isn't it?

How can this be?

Dad!  I can not believe the travel section of the NYTimes.  I tried to keep a stiff upper lip while we were speaking, but when I actually read the article on the Baedeker trip, I was speechless and not in a good way.

For those who are unaware, I came upon some wonderful Baedeker travel guides from the 1800s at an estate sale.  I've always been drawn to that time and the way families of a certain class could pack up their household and head to Europe for the summer season.  In fact, it was that which I was trying to recreate with this summer's trip taking the kids to Languedoc for the month.  A few months back I asked friends and family to keep their eyes open for a Baedeker's Guide to France from that era so I could attempt finding some of the places mentioned to see if they still exist and how they've changed.

This morning, PopPop calls to tell me the travel section in the Times has a lead article about Languedoc AND inside there's an article on a Baedeker's tour through Scotland.  My plan is no longer original.

Nevertheless, I plan to proceed.  I love the guide and the romance of it all.  Who cares if the Times scooped me?

Mother's Day

All I want for Mother's Day are our plane tickets.  I'll feel lot more relaxed when they are in my hands.

One step closer to France

The trip to France became more of a reality today as I sent off the final payment on the house.  I've got this low-level background feeling of stress about taking everyone someplace I've not been in years.  In truth, it's someplace I've never been since this is my first time in Languedoc..