Today was a day of “goodbyes” and “hellos.”
Goodbye
It was hard to say goodbye to Beaujolais—mostly because of the people (and the dog).
Olivier, the ultimate gentleman, was always making sure we didn’t miss anything, suggesting places to see. Even this morning, on the way to the train station, he detoured through downtown Mâcon just so we could have one last look.
His wife, Stéphanie, is the picture of elegance—so gentle and graceful, never wearing makeup, yet exuding that effortless French aura.
Their daughter, little Louise, was a mischievous sprite. On our last night, she somehow managed to get us—despite the language barrier—to play round after round of silly games under her “instruction.”
And of course, Baco. Olivier didn’t plan to bring him along when dropping us off, but the pup leapt into the car and refused to get out. I think he wanted to see us off too.
Hello
After leaving Beaujolais, we had a layover in Paris with about three free hours. My travel buddy Jolie had a choice: two hours in Paris—go sightseeing, or go eat Chinese food? Without hesitation, she chose food. (Classic.) At a certain level of exhaustion, though, you stop being picky. We had planned on northeastern Chinese cuisine, but when we spotted a Japanese restaurant near the station, we bolted straight in.
Then, after a 90-minute train ride, we arrived in Champagne and met our new host, Florance. She’s quite the character—dramatic, stylish, and full of energy. The type who acts the instant inspiration strikes. Which is how, before we’d even unpacked our bags, she whisked us off to an exhibition.
What did I say before? Every French person seems to love art!
The exhibition itself was so-so, but the guided tour was excellent. And at the end? Champagne tasting. Definitely a win. 🍾
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