Back in France!

As it has been a while since I’ve posted, this one will be exceptionally long. So, apologies in advance…

Day of Arrival

After surmounting a few obstacles stateside, I arrived in Nice, where it’s pleasantly warm and humid. I hear that my old stomping ground, Montpellier, is sweltering in the heat wave that has been sweeping France. But, here, it’s in the 80’s, and, at the moment (mid-morning), nicely overcast.

A whirlwind of activity led up to this moment. I needed to change my departure date twice, the first time, because I thought I just needed a couple of extra days (ha! ONLY a couple extra days???). The second time, it was due to a dental emergency, which occurred at the most inopportune time imaginable, right in the middle of the Fourth of July holiday. Trying to find someone to fix it was the challenge of the month, as the word had gone out, evidently, that it was an excellent time for dentistry to take a long weekend.

In the end, I really needed the extra week I gave myself (beyond the three days). I found an excellent dentist who was available on the Wednesday after the Fourth. With that taken care of, I could continue to concentrate on the Herculean task of examining every item in my home, making the decision to scrap, give to charity (or friends), or keep. If “keep” was the decision, then the question became, ship to France, or store in a local facility? Thankfully, I had an incredible friend helping me through it all; if not, would I have made my third departure date? Very possibly not.

While the sorting was going on, I got my bike boxed up at a local bike shop and ordered its shipment; arranged with a different company for my boxes and suitcases to be sent to a storage facility in France; and found an outfit that would bring any remaining furniture to Habitat for Humanity. All the while, my brain was mulling over the question of what to do with my place, i.e., rent it or sell it later? I had taken it off the market some weeks earlier, due to the lack of serious interest: the market had turned suddenly from a seller’s to a buyer’s, right as I listed it. However, the day before I was set to leave for France, an offer came in! An advertising exec had seen it three weeks earlier and had decided it was perfect for her. It simply took her awhile to submit an offer. So, hooray for that to be off my plate!

My plane left on time at 7 pm from Newark. As we were boarding, I noted the presence of only one baby. Hmmm…well, it was a 25-row plane, so odds were in my favor, right? Well, they may have been, but, as it turned out, its seat (with parent) was the one directly behind me. Overall, it was OK. However, there was a crying/screaming fit (by the baby, not the parent – I think), which lasted a while as I was trying to fall asleep. I thought that a solution would have been to put it in with the pilots, as a Win-Win: the pilots would have had no chance of drifting off, and the passengers would have gained peace and quiet. I suppose, in retrospect, it was fortunate I fell asleep before being able to offer up my suggestion.

Upon arriving in Nice, I stepped off the plane, went through Passport Control, and was out of the terminal in minutes, where the taxi I had ordered awaited me, ready to whisk me to my hotel in the hills of Nice. I chose the Hotel du Petit Palais for its peaceful ambiance and distance from the hubbub of the city below, figuring that some recovery time would be needed from the frenetic activity prior to my departure. As I arrived so early, I was told that my room would not be ready until 2 pm, adding that I was welcome to partake of their breakfast, which would be available until 10:30. Having nothing else to do, except to try to stay awake, I went downstairs to find a sumptuous buffet, with every imaginable food or drink available (and beautifully presented). However, what really struck me, as I went out into the garden, was how anesthetized the guests appeared. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of people look more tranquil. There was perfect quiet, as most people were calmly and slowly enjoying their meal. If there was conversation, it was in hushed tones. It felt a bit like I had wandered onto a movie set, where the actors were waiting for the director to say, “Action”! Yes, I thought, this was the hotel for me!

Next day

My day of arrival (yesterday) was even longer than I anticipated. Around 6 pm, I wandered down the hill from my hotel into the city of Nice, had dinner and then, at a nearby shop, an ice cream cone (lemon chiffon – yummy and refreshing!). I then started my half hour walk back. The map I had was a good one, although several of the smaller streets were not on it; to make things easier, I turned to my phone’s Google Maps. The natural light was starting to fade (it was 8:30 or so), but, no matter, I was on track. At a crucial point, however, just when I was confused about which street Google was directing me to turn on, my phone abruptly quit. Aargh! I had not noticed that the map function was draining its battery so quickly. Fortunately, I had my paper map. However, as I said, it was a bit difficult to follow, and night was setting in. After several wrong turns and some backtracking, and with only a minor degree of panic, I found the small winding street that would take me back up the hill to my hotel, arriving at 9:30, drenched in sweat from the exertion in the high heat and humidity. I was very glad to see it, however, whatever state I was in! Further, lesson learned: have my separate Apple charger with me at all times!

Today, I will go to the Matisse Museum in the hills (Cimiez), and then into Nice to check out the Jazz Festival, which continues through Tuesday. In the meantime, I am relishing being in France once again, drinking in the beautiful environment; enjoying the delicious, fresh food; and appreciating the connection people make when they look one another in the eye, and say, “Bonjour.”

In Closing

Some have asked me if I have had doubts about, or fear in, essentially closing down my American life by selling my car and home  and paring my possessions down considerably. Of course, with a decision of this magnitude, I have indeed thought, “What the heck am I doing?” Truly, though, I’ve had to follow that question with: “What is there to fear exactly? That I’ll not make friends in a new country? I’ll never be able to master the language? I’ll not be able to return to my life in the U.S.? Or is it simply the unknown?” In the end, no one has absolute knowledge of the future; I believe you can only face your fears and answer the questions that arise from them, and then move forward to pursue your dreams.