Holidays / Escapades / Day Trips

One or two things are booked already but most of the plan is simply a plan at this stage. I shall obviously not divulge for safety reasons when each trip is planned. So here are in no particular order our thoughts for 2020.

• Holiday – Skying at Les Angles (Pyrenees) 

A few friends have booked a few days early next year so there is no reason why we should not join the fun

• Holiday – Morocco

Made it to Agadir earlier this year and we liked the atmosphere and the weather. This time we want to add Marrakesh for a few days and coach it from there to Agadir.

Marrakesh town

Agadir beach

• Holiday – Italy – Florence

Beautiful Florence

Despite my many trips, mainly business, to Italy, I never had the opportunity to visit Florence. This I intend to remedy next year. In fact my friends C&J have already rented a gîte for a few weeks and we shall join them there for a while. It is quite a drive away but very conveniently located mid-way is the apartment in Cavalaire so overnight stops on the way there and back will make the trip a doodle

• Holiday – Ireland – Dublin & Cork

Looking forward to the pubs in Dublin

Again this is a country I have never been to. I went a few times on business to Northern Ireland in the 80’s at the height of the “Troubles” and never really felt to happy there and that did not give me the desire to visit the south. In the meantime, blame Brexit for that one, my spouse has obtained the Irish nationality and passport on top of her British one.

Furthermore we can fly directly to either Cork and Dublin for our little airport in Carcassonne. It is a mere 250 kms between the two towns. Everybody we know who have been there simply loved it. So we have no choice but to get there ourselves in 2020.

• Holiday – Germany – Hannover / Gehrden / Algermissen & Munich

It is clear that we must go back to Germany which was our home for 30 years and where our children and grandchildren still live in Hannover and Region. So and as usual 2 trips of  around a week each are planned. It is always a pleasure to meet family and friends.

Some friends used to live in Munich before moving to the South of France a couple of years ago. They return regularly to visit friends and in fact were there, coinciding with the Oktoberfest, a couple of weeks ago. I think that a few of us have agreed to join them next year. Not a new experience for me but I do not mind doing it again.

• Paris

There are a couple of shows and exhibitions I am interested in. So I plan to train it there and add a few days to visit family and friends. Always a pleasure to visit my growing up home town.

• Holiday – Croatia – Split

Every year we try and visit a town that none of us (my wife and I) have been before. It is always at the same time of year to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Next year we might be looking at Croatia (Split).

• France – Côte d’Azur / Marseille

Region PACA

This is part of a ritual I cannot ignore. I have a few friends living on the coast in places like Bandol, Hyeres, Cavalaire, St Tropez etc. So a couple times a year I jump in the car and head there. Next year will be no exception.

• Brittany

Every year we have a friend’s reunion. Friends from the 60’s I might add. It has already been decided next year will be in Brittany. Obviously one needs a few days.

• Occitanie

And of course I still need to discover many places in my new region so there will be for sure a fair amount of day trips and/or long weekends doing just that.

– Montpellier is only 150 kms away. I passed through it quite a lot of times but never stopped. A short escapade there is planned to discover this vibrant coastal town.

• Saint Tropez

I really fancy going to the year end of summer sailing boat event called “Les Voiles de St Tropez”. Not only do I have accommodation possibilities round the corner, I have a few friends to visit on the way there.

• Spain – Roses / L’Escala

Living so close to the Spanish border, it is easy to go there even if it is just for the day. It always feels like a holiday. On top of this, some good friends from Carcassonne are now mooring their boat in L’Escala SO no doubt we shall enjoy a few days there in the summer.

Roses

L’Escala

It looks like we might be quite busy. Not too sure how we shall fit it all in.

Happy times