2013 has been a year of
travels. We started the year with a wonderful visit from Jeanne from Paris, who spent 10 days with us as part of
her US tour. We visited San Francisco,
and made a whirlwind tour of Monterey and Carmel with Susan’s mother Marge,
plus a bonus visit to Muir Woods and Point Reyes.
Our first international
adventure was a trip to Russia, with a stop in Paris on the way back. We spent 12 jam-packed days in Moscow and St.
Petersburg with Road Scholar tours. We had
prepared for the usual cold temperatures, but were rewarded with a heat wave! Susan
took hundreds of photos, including many of the amazing chandeliers.
After the exhausting Russia
tour we stopped in Paris for two weeks, the first three days of which were
spent sleeping and resting. As soon as
we emerged, we entered another whirl of activity, visiting friends and enjoying
the activities they had planned for us. We
so enjoyed the local neighborhood tours, a trip to Chantilly, the visits with
Jeanne, Francoise, Suzy, Anne, Berengere, Claudine and even more. Thanks to all for making it such a terrific
visit.
In the fall we also prepared
for yet another epic 2 month trip to France and Turkey. It
started with a tranquil week in the French countryside with Jeanne and her
sisters Ann and Claire, and friend Anne.
We talked and ate, and drank in Jeanne’s warm hospitality.
The Turkey leg of the trip
started with another excellent Road Scholar tour, 17 days long. We wanted to see many of the sites in the
interior that we had missed on our first trip 15 years ago. It was an experience of a lifetime, capped
off with an extra 8 days in Istanbul on our own.
After Turkey we returned to
Paris for four weeks. Again we were
overwhelmed by the hospitality from our wonderful French friends who toured us
and hosted us and joined us all over town.
It was a very special visit, and we are very grateful for their
friendship.
We were no sooner back from
Paris than we took a long weekend to visit Stacy and her boys in Reno, then
left again for our annual Maui Thanksgiving.
That left a few days to get all the photos organized and our Christmas
letter written!
For the first time in years
we start 2014 with no plans or schedules, so the year will surprise us. We wish you a year filled with surprises as
well, after a Mele Kalikimaka, Joyeux Noel, Mutlur Noeller, С Рождеством, and Merry Christmas!
