... with luggage. Quite a feat. Drove to Luton Airport, just north of Harpenden, and battled our way through check-in, immigration, and miles of underground corridor to our Ryan Air flight to Nimes.
Very cheap flight, but they get you on baggage charges, airport fees, and every imaginable incidental. Arriving in Nimes, we were impressed by the difference between French and English immigration officials, the French all laid-back, in rumpled uniforms--and all "bonjour m'sieur-'dame" and big smiles.
Once through immigration and bag claim, we were met by Diane's father, Leslie, who drove Ellie and me to our hotel in Palavas-les-Flots while Matthew waited in line for a minivan rental and drove his family back to Helena and Leslie's house in Villeneuve-les-Maguelone, not far from Palavas. (That "les" should have an accent grave--and old French word meaning "near"--not "les" as in "the."
Our hotel room is small but spotless, looking directly out over the beach to the Mediterranean. Very lovely, and a fifteen-minute drive to Villeneuve, where we drove for a buffet supper en famille. Helena had prepared a wonderful soup with homemade bread and multiple other dishes, which we enjoyed with a good Bordeaux wine. After dinner, Ellie produced her gifts for the family...
... baseball caps from Laguna Beach, which seemed much appreciated and enjoyed by all.
And back in good time for a read in bed and a comfortable night's sleep.
More later...
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