A Journey Through Belle France
Day
13 - Farewell
Today we said good-bye to France, our tour buddies, and all the wonderful experiences we have had the last two weeks. Linda and I had to catch an early flight in Nice and so we said most of our good-byes the night before. There were many tears and hugs at the restaurant and promises to keep in touch. I am happy to say that we have kept in touch with just about everyone on the tour. Through emails, holiday cards, and swapping photos, we have continued to share our wonderful French experience even though some of us live on opposite ends of the country. There is a quote by an unknown author, "The rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor." I have always found this to be true, but when you connect with people with way I have on this tour, it takes on a greater meaning. The reward is not just the pretty pictures, souvenirs, and stories that I brought home. The greatest reward is having the honor of knowing these 26 people and, whether they know it or not, having them make an impact on my life. Thank you all for making this trip one of the great experiences of my life.
~Buddy
Awards~
As an end to this scrapbook, I would now like to acknowledge the personal attributes of my travel companions that makes them all special and helped to create one very friendly and fun loving tour group. Below are my travel buddy awards, in no particular order:
Susan was always concerned about the welfare of her travel companions and provided me with an ice pack when my knee started giving me trouble.
What can I say, look at the photos, they
are just too cute! It was a tight race though, Jack and Sy came in a close
second.
Laura
Most Likely To
Get Lost
Poor Laura, she admitted that she was
likely to get lost and she didn't disappoint. I'm just glad she found us.
Katie and Emily
Best Smiles
These two always
had a smile for everyone in the group.
Harriet
Most fun to talk to on the bus
Harriet and I had some great
conversations on the bus, from how fond we are of Arizona (where she and Sy
live) to my camera and my love of taking pictures.
Lois
Most Helpful
Jack and Judy
Most fun, period!
No matter where we were or what we were
doing, Jack and Judy had me laughing and smiling and thoroughly enjoying myself.
Peter
Best Boules Partner
Peter and I wiped the floor with all the
other teams. 
Elizabeth
Best Story Teller
Being
Irish, you just knew that Elizabeth had to be a good story teller. She's
very quite, but once you get her talking, it is a joy to sit and listen. 
Linda
Best Travel Buddy
Linda
was easy to live with and let me be in
charge. 
Charlie
King of History
Charlie the professor
told me wonderful stories of history while we sat next to each other dining and
sharing wine in Vaison La Romaine. 
I have a bad knee and was reluctant to attempt the
squat toilet we encountered. Lois has a bad knee as well and, having
already used the facilities, gave me some pointers. 
Deb and Rich
Most Willing to do the Crazy Things I Asked Them to do for my Camera
Rich smelled the flowers and sipped his coffee with his pinky
properly extended and Deb put herself in the gallows, all for the sake of my
camera. There are both great sports.
Sy
Best Entertainer
Sy was always willing to stand up
and say a few words, dance, or generally entertain in any way possible to make sure
you had a good time.
Sandy
Best Dressed
Sandy always had a great hat and a great dress for
any occasion.
Elena
Likely To Buy More Postcards Than Me
I have an insatiable
appetite for postcards, but Elena has me beat by tenfold. She must have
had a two inch thick stack of postcards by the time we reached Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Dwight and Nancy
Best Parents
Not only did they take their daughters to
France, but they made arrangements with Emily's friends to collect birthday
cards for her in advance so that she could have them on her birthday, which we
celebrating during the trip.
Donna
Most Likely to Speak Spanish in France
Donna was a Spanish teacher but from what I
experienced, actually did really well with her French.
Janet
The "France Won Me Over" Award
There was a rumor going around that Janet actually didn't want to come on this
trip. Well, from the looks of things, I think France definitely won her
over.
Francois
Best Tan (oh, and Best Bus Driver)
There is actually a science to that tan (which Francois will
share with you if you ask), and one amazing driver
under that mischievous smile. 
Michaelanne
Most Fun To Hang Out With
Michaelanne
was so much fun to hang out with that you forgot she was working.
Well, there it is, my journey through Belle France. I hope you enjoyed it. Now I must end this scrapbook and move on to planning my next great adventure. Thanks again to all 26 of my tour buddies for making France even more special to me than it already was.
Sabine
Favorite Person On The Tour
Tours can range from stupendous to mediocre depending on the tour guide. Sabine's knowledge of history, combined with her own personal stories and fabulous personality, made for one amazing travel experience.
Special thanks to Harriet & Sy, Steve & Pam, Peter & Deb, Elena, Michaelanne, and of course Linda for sharing their photos with me. I also want to thank the Nash Family for sharing Katie and Emily's poem with me one more time.
Je vous adore mes amis.
Susan
Sweetest Disposition
Steve and Pam
Cutest Couple