If it’s Friday, it must be France …
Spring is coming. At least, on Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil predicted it would be early and who would argue with him?
The declaration was made:
“There is no shadow to be cast! An early spring is my forecast!”
Needing no more encouragement, I’ll take it as my signal that it’s time to plan our stay in France for this year. I love studying maps and thinking about the possibilities. Is that how you begin your travel planning?
Of course, you know where we always spend part of our time in France. Do you recognize it from the air?
I like to spend time studying maps, even when I’m not going anywhere. Do you?
Hi Patricia,
Happy Friday!! Since Spring is getting closer, do you have a date for the release of your new book yet? I will be going to Nice in May and am hoping to have your book by then to take with me to read on my trip…..Looking forward to it!!:))
Hi Leslie ~~ Thanks for stopping by. I Promise You This will be released May 17th so you may get to read it in Nice! Have a wonderful time there. Have you ever eaten at La Merenda? It’s one of my favourites! Excellent cuisine and always an interesting experience! http://lamerenda.net/La_Merenda_Site_Officiel/La_Merenda_Nice_Eng.html
Hi Patricia
I love looking at maps and I always look up the places mentioned in books I read. I even have bought maps when I have been reading some books e.g. by Annie Hawes”Extra Virgin” and “Ripe for the picking” set in Liguria Italy and “Journey to the South” Sicily and ” A handful of honey” in Northern Africa(Algeria).
They are well worth reading.
Gerda, I like to look at maps when I’m reading certain books too. We are having some maps in Book #3 as so many readers have said they want to see the places Kat visits. Thanks so much for the book recommendations! I love receiving them! And thanks for taking the time to stop here and comment. It’s always appreciated!
Yes, I love maps too, and especially when navigating. Where’s the fun in a Satnav, particularly when it seems to have very odd ideas of its own which it chooses not to reveal until you’re in the middle of another fine mess?
Margaret, I couldn’t agree with you more. No matter what our GPS is planning, I always have a map in hand to make certain we really are going where we want. You are so right about landing in a fine mess from time to time, thanks to modern technology!
Thank you for your wonderful facebook comments about the life in provence. They helped me through the cold winter here in Iceland. I am staying in Provence for three weeks this summer. I am staying for one week in Mougins and two weeks in Antibes. I am really looking forward to this summer. And your comments have given me some points on what to do, see, eat and drink.
Your facebook friend
Sigthor
Sigthor, how lovely to meet you here! You will have a wonderful stay in the south of France this summer, I can assure you of that! I write a bit about Mougins in Book 3 and visit that town often … there are fabulous restaurants and galleries and the town itself is beautiful. It’s so small you can ‘t miss all it has to offer and I’m sure you know that Pablo Picasso once lived there … as did Edith Piaf. I love the photography museum there . http://www.mougins-tourisme.fr/en/content/museum-photography-andr%C3%A9-villers I will be in Antibes for the month of July. When will you be there?
Dear Patricia
We are six couples that will be staying in Mougins for a week. I will visit the photography museum, thank you for the tip. After Mougins, my sister her husband, my wife and me, will stay the first two weeks in Antibes. We will be staying in an Air bnb house in the old part of the town. It has a great veranda. So we will use the local markets alot for food and wine to cook at home.
What fun! You will have a wonderful time. Once you are in Antibes it’s easy to hop on the coastal train to visit other places if you don’t want to bother with traffic. The daily market in Antibes is fabulous (and, of course, where Kat met Philippe 🙂 ! ) and the old town a delight in so many ways. Enjoy!
Maps are awesome! I love to look at old maps and imagine what things must have looked like when the map was current.
And I travel plan all year round. Sometimes I don’t even know where I’m going, but I’ll be making plans to see everything.
I’m looking forward to your trip.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
I love that you travel plan all year round! You’re my kind of person! I’m looking forward to taking you along on our travels this year. It’s always fun having friends keeping us company. 🙂 How’s Mardi Gras?
Mardi Gras is short-lived in Vicksburg – basically one long (silly) parade and a gumbo cook-off. Today, it’s all about the football.
I imagine New Orleans is crazy this weekend.
Patricia
Yes, yes. I love looking at maps. It’s very soothing. Happy planning to you!
I like your use of the word “soothing” for maps. I agree. It is reassuring to see where you are, where you’ve been and where you might be going! D’accord!
Maps are a great way to plan and make the possibility of travel seem real!
Meg, you are so right. GPS will never replace them!