Our time here in Grenoble is rapidly coming to an end. We are scheduled to fly home on the 10th of April; and, I must admit, we are quite excited. It is not that we do not enjoy it here- we do, tremendously so. Nor is it that we are too cramped in our apartment – it is a bit cramped; but we wanted to be in town for our first stay here to get used to the area, provide Nancy with easy access to shopping and new friends, and easily engage in exploring the history of the area. It is just that we miss our grandkids and friends; and I miss flying. (Winter is not the best time to fly in the Alps, what with mountains, low clouds, ice, etc.)
We have had the experience of a lifetime; and I hope that business relationships have been established that will prove beneficial for a long time to come.
Nancy and I had a great trip to Barcelona last week. She was able to do a bit of walking touring, some of the best of which was the zoo. She has fabulous pictures of birds that are not in North America. We had time for a bus tour of the city before leaving on Friday, and toured Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia cathedral. It is much more beautiful and overwhelmingly impressive in real life. Photos just do not do it justice. It has been over 100 years in building and has many more to go.
Along the way home we visited Carcassonne – a walled city whose ramparts still have Roman-built towers, and Beziers – a city where in 1209 all 20,000 occupants were slain for their resistance to the Pope’s legates demand that 12 Cathar (protestant) perfecti be turned over to him.
We spent the night at le Château Hospitalet near Narbonne – a winery, hotel, and fine restaurant in the countryside between the highway and the Mediterranean sea. AAAHHHH!!!
We are home this weekend; but our last weekend here we are invited to Switzerland for some sightseeing.
Detail from Sagrada Familia
Walled city of Carcassonne
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