Dear Liza,
I still have my cold, which means I am napping about five hours a day. But in between cups of tea, chicken soup and the naps, I am thinking about our next trip to Europe.
The last time we were in Europe was the winter of 2014 -2015. We spent a cold, bright Christmas in Paris and took the train north through Ghent and into Amsterdam for New Year’s Eve. We visited the Christmas market in Cologne and wandered sparkly streets in Strasbourg.
That cold winter trip had been an experiment. Grandpa Nelson’s company was planning on sending him to Europe long term, and we had to know: Would we be happy in that sort of cold? Turns out, we would, but the company changed its mind and we came to Portland instead.
Since then, I retired, Grandpa Nelson got sick and is better, and we are settled here. It’s time to venture back.
This will be a fall trip, warmer and brighter than winter, but not as crowded as summer. We are blocking out our route. We are thinking of landing in Dublin (where Grandpa Nelson and Auntie Bridgett scoped out the good pubs a few years ago). We could rent a car and drive on the wrong side of the road to see ancient burial monuments and 16th century castles, eating lots of seafood pie on the way to the very southeast corner of Ireland to catch a ferry.
The ferry, which looks more like a cruise ship, would be our hotel and transport overnight to Cherbourg, France. From there we would visit Bayeux, home of the magnificent Tapestry I studied (and partially copied) in Junior High School.
Afterwards, we would take the train to Paris to complete our trip and celebrate Auntie Bridgett’s birthday in her favorite city.
But for now, I am drinking tea and spending a lot of time in the couch, looking at maps. I love illustrated daydreams!
Love,
Grandma Judy
Dear Liza 