On your marks...

Starting any project is the most difficult part. In the case of a travel blog you cannot wait until you have the time or the desire - the determining factor is wifi connection. It is strangely difficult to attain in some places.

On Thursday June 30 we began our journey to the south of France to celebrate Jon and Justine's wedding, then enjoy an extended European vacation. This trip has I have already met up with my first alterego Joy and my less favorite friend, frustration - I shall call him Tensy. I have travelled with these two before but I had forgotten how much they add to our vacations! Note, these are my personal companions, they in no way resemble my true travel companions- my 3 amazing sons and my wonder-hubby. They have learned to recognize Joy and Tensy in me but they love me anyways.

Tensy jumped on board right away in Calgary to delay our first flight. Joy of course ever the optimist tried to convince us that delays to fix mechanical problems on the plane are ultimately valuable and mean that the trip will be safe. Teensy made those silly faces and I chose to ignore his silliness. However, one delay, leads to a sprint through the Toronto airport, to another delay, to no plane available to us in Munich to get to Marseille. Apparently the Prince of Monaco is also getting married this weekend and all 4 flights to Marseille are booked solid. Rerouting us to Frankfurt will give us the best opportunity to all arrive in Marseille this week! yes Tensy is enjoying this - 6 hour delay: your rental car will
be gone and the office closed when you get there, your hotel will be given to someone else there is no way your bags are going to make it to Marseille. Joy is struggling for positive outcomes - You get to see Frankfurt, airports have wifi To contact the rental car place and the hotel. There will be a place to stretch out and sleep.
In the end we arrived in Arles 12 hours later than expected; in a car, with our luggage to a fabulous hotelier Eric at the hotel Regence with keys to our rooms a warm shower and a clean bed. Joy is being fairly smug, Tensy has gone to sleep but is sure jet lag wil rush in the room any minute.
Rehearsal BBQ at Estiennes tomorrow.