Long Exposure #8 : My holidays

I have been married to Celine since 2006, and for the first time, we are going to be in France at the same time, together. In the past it was a hassle to leave the US and we preferred to stick to all the things we wanted to do there. Now that we can travel freely, we opted to spend our holidays among family.

Issue is, my parents live in Alsace (ie East of France) and Celine’s family is basically everywhere but there. It means we will travel a lot while we’re there and Celine has been working like hell to create a schedule that will accommodate most people. Here are the big steps of our trip:

• We fly from NYC to Paris
• We drive from Paris to Mulhouse to see my parents
• We drive from Mulhouse to Rennes for Christmas
• We drive from Rennes to Marseille
• We drive from Marseille to Paris for New Year’s eve.
• We fly from Paris to NYC.

I’m curious to see how these holidays will shape up. Last time I was in France was in 2008 for work. I can’t recall the last time I was in Alsace but I’m pretty sure it was before 2005. I want to show Celine where I grew up and why I am who I am. I wonder if she will like it, show me stuff I’ve never seen, thought of before. Then she will do the same for me plus will show me her friends and family. It will be a trip of “first”.

• First time my parents meet my wife since our wedding
• First time we will share where we used to live
• First time my parents and brother will meet her mother, brother and sisters
• First time I will meet her family and friends
• First time in Rennes, Marseille
• First time out of the US since 2008…

I can’t wait for these holidays to start, can’t wait for them to be over too, back in my home sweet home with my crazy cats and my loving wife.

Wherever and whenever you go, I wish you happy holidays and a safe trip. See you in 2014!