Mark

After the Vegas jewelry show, Mark and I flew to Newark and then on to Paris for a family wedding.  We were lucky enough to use points for an upgrade to Business class on the way there, and what a difference wider seats and more legroom makes on an international flight!  (especially for Mark, who is 6’ 3)  We arrived early Sunday morning and were picked up at Charles DeGaulle by our sweet nephew, Julien.  He dropped us off at Pavilion de la Reine, our hotel in Place des Voges.  It was lovely and small with a wonderful staff.  We walked around the neighborhood for a few hours before our room became available – and had just enough time to shower and change for the 2:00 wedding.

What I loved most were the little children walking around during the wedding.  There was no commotion, no crying, just kids being kids and not sitting still – and no one was the least disturbed by it.  After the ceremony, there was a congratulatory receiving line to give the bride and groom and their families kisses.  And that night, an incredible party in an event space attached to a hotel.  The party began with 2 hours of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.  There were long beautifully decorated tables with every kind of hors d’oeuvre imaginable – fried vegetable egg rolls and dumplings, lots of sushi, miniature paninis, duck foie gras, and on and on.  The band started about 9:30, and everyone walked to their assigned tables.  This band, about 12 pieces and 3 singers, was the best I’ve ever seen at an event.  The kids and adults would barely sit down to eat the scrumptious dinner.  And the band never stopped playing for four hours.  Popular American, French, and Tunisian songs kept the guests on the dance floor.  At 12:45, the dessert buffet opened, and I was in culinary heaven.  Huge slabs of mille feuilles,  ice cream with incredible chocolate and caramel sauces, bananas foster, chocolate fondue, fresh fruit, miniatures cakes and tarts – OMG.  At this point, my schedule was so off that I said to myself, who cares how full of food and caffeine I get, so I indulged to my heart’s content.  Finally at 2:30, we walked into our hotel room.  I don’t remember the last time I was out that late.  Truly, truly an unbelievable experience.  Mark’s family is remarkably warm and loving, and those feelings came abundantly through that evening.

We had decided to take 3 days and travel to Cannes, so we took the 5 hour train ride and arrived at the Carleton Hotel, now owned by the Intercontinental, about 1:00.  We checked into our room, explored the hotel, and walked across the street to enjoy the beach on lounge chairs provided by the hotel.  I was surprised that the nicer hotels charge for their chairs  ($20 each AFTER 3:00, and more before).  But, it is the French Riviera, I suppose.   That day, we split a $35 chicken club sandwich with avocado at our seats while the umbrellas shaded us.  I have to say, it was the best chicken sandwich I had ever had.  (and yes, I guess it should be for $35!).  The next 3 days we spent exploring Cannes and the incredible stores and restaurants.  The city is quite cosmopolitan, and Russians, Asians, Brits, Scandinavians, etc. were commonplace.  I was impressed at the staffs at the fine stores.  Unfailingly we were greeted with warmth and smiles and requests to help us.  Everyone at the stores spoke beautiful English and made us feel completely welcome. 

One night at dinner at La Cave, we struck up a conversation with 3 couples dining next to us.  They were from Manchester England.  We were shocked to hear that Sid said the only place he had ever been to in the US was Kansas City!  We had a lovely time with them, and they invited us to join them in an excursion the next day to St. Paul de Vence, about a 45 minute drive.  We mulled it over and told them the next day we would love to.  So we squeezed into a car and drove to this small town with incredible old architecture, wonderful little shops, and a well-known restaurant called La Colombe d’Or.  The restaurant was high on a hill, and we ate outside on a perfect day surrounded by original art and a remarkable view.  Mark and I both had the seabass – we ate fish continuously in Cannes – and it was divine.  We explored the city after lunch, and exchanged e-mails with our new friends before saying good-by at the hotel.

I think that as I’ve grown older, I am much more apt to be open to new experiences, including striking up conversations in restaurants with people.  I don’t know if it’s confidence or maturity, but I’m happy when a situation presents itself and we go with it.  Traveling has always been one of Mark’s and my greatest pleasures.  Hopefully in the years to come we’ll grab on to opportunities and continue to explore different cultures and make new friends.