In 2007, my wife, Genevieve, and I spent 21 days in France (and Amsterdam). This was our fourth European vacation and I must say we are addicted! France was amazing -- from the big city of Paris, across the country side to Normandy, Mont St. Michel, the Loire, Provence, and the Cote d'Azur! The food, the shopping, the sights -- it was all wonderful, especially as the trip was over our 10 year wedding anniversary.

Dinner in Amboise. These guys know how to have fun! From left to right: Jean, John, Pat, Monte, Pam, and Dick.

We had been to Paris once before and had loved it, so we decided to do a tour across all of France. So for our 10 year anniversary the Best of France tour was perfect! Not only did we sign up, but a few people we met on the Best of Ireland tour (KC and Julia) the year before also wanted to visit France so they signed up as well. We got to planning and decided to make this a trip to remember. We flew into Amsterdam almost the week before the tour started, stayed there three days, took the Thalys train to Paris, hung out and Paris a few days, and then met up with the tour on the scheduled day.

John bone-jour-ing his way through France. The French people are friendly despite what you may have heard. The vast majority of people that John bone-joured (emphasis on the bon part) were friendly back.

We spent time in Amsterdam and France. Rick is right -- American's don't spend enough time on vacation! I've been working for my company for 10 years and only have 4 weeks of vacation per year -- we signed up for the 15 day Best of France tour and but started in Amsterdam.

Our itinerary was:
8/31/07:  Leave Seattle!
9/1/07:    Arrive Amsterdam
9/2/07:    Rijksmuseum and van Gogh museum
9/3/07:    Canal boat tour, shopping, Red Light
                district
9/4/07:    Train to Paris
9/5/07:    Louvre
9/6/07:    Notre Dam
9/7/07:    Meet with tour group
9/8/07:    Paris: Notre Dam and the Louvre
9/9/07:    Orsay Museum bus to Arromanches
                (Normandy)
9/10/07:  D-Day beach tour with Ellwood and
                U.S. cemetery
9/11/07:  Drive to Bayeux and Mont St. Michel
9/12/07:  Tour Mont St. Michel; drive to Amboise
9/13/07:  Visit chateaus around Amboise
9/14/07:  Visit Oradour-sur-Glane onto Sarlat
9/15/07:  Sarlat and its Saturday market!
9/16/07:  Grotte de Rouffignac; canoe ride
9/17/07:  Canal ride onto medieval Carcassonne
9/18/07:  Wine tasting lunch; Pont du Gard;
                Drive to ancient Roman town Arles
9/19/07:  Tour of Arles and Roman ruins
9/20/07:  Drive to Nice
9/21/07:  Spend day in Nice and goodbye dinner
9/22/07:  Leisurely day in Nice
9/23/07:  Fly home :(