France

Typically I write about a where I want to go, I do this because it helps me keep track of the amazing places in the world I want to find my way to some day, I am lucky today because I get to write about a place I will be traveling to in May 2013.  I'm going to FRANCE!!!!  I will be spending five days in Paris and then flying to Toulouse where I am renting a Penichette, a house boat, for a seven day cruise along the Canal du Midi in the South of France. 



Penichette in a lock on the Canal

I have wanted to go to Paris for a very long time and am excited for this opportunity, I am even more excited about exposing my eight year old daughter to my love of traveling and fulfilling her dream of going to Paris and seeing the Eiffel Tower.  I am carefully planning a fine balance between adult interests and those of an eight year old, to include the Louvre, the Eiffle Tower, and Euro Disney.



We are renting a Penichette from Locaboat, on the boat will be my parents, my daughter and me, we will live on this boat as we slowly drift along the Canal du Midi stopping at the small medieval villages along the way, riding our bicycles on the tow paths which parallel the canal and of course enjoying fine French cuisine.  This way of traveling will force us to slow down and enjoy the moment since the boats have a maximum speed of 5 mph.  I am in love with the idea mooring along the edge of the canal anytime we see something interesting or when we pass a small town with a beautiful church worth visiting.  I look forward to rising early in the morning and riding our bicycles into town to buy fresh made bread and pastries for breakfast and laying back sipping wine in the French afternoon spring sun.

Barge on the Canal du Midi

We will cruise through and visit towns such as Carcesonne and Castelnaudry, the home of Cassoulette. This is definitely a place I would like travel and I am thankful I only have to wait six more months!