We mainly visit Victoria to see our daughter and her new husband. Mostly our time is spent just having quality time with them, and no need to entertain us. However, this visit was a whirlwind of activity. We start off with our favorite wine and hill country, Fredericksburg! It’s like the little Napa Valley in Texas. Our daughter wanted to check out a few new vineyards. The Rhinoary was unique as it housed a baby rhino as spectators sipped on their wine. Augusta Vineyard was elegant, offering both indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outside listening to the guitarist play his melodies and enjoyed the beautiful day. We couldn’t leave without visiting our favorite – Signor Vineyard. We relaxed with wine, charcuterie, and music. This time they even had a gelato vendor. Yes, we did partake. All this was done over a weekend, and we hated to leave.

The following weekend, we traveled to the Sandfest in Port Aransas. It was a gorgeous day to be outside and be in awe of these sand sculptors as they put their images to the sand as each created beautiful, delicate, and magnificent works of art. The downside to this art form is it is not everlasting unless you capture it in a photo. Which one was your favorite?

While we were there, the Port o Connor Crawfish Festival was going on. The night before, it rained, the grounds were muddy, and the wind was howling. Not a good combination, but the crowds came, and tons of crawfish were demolished. My son-in-law likes them hot and couldn’t get enough of them. This trip was eventful, and we didn’t want to leave, but the 2023 journey is calling us, and we are once again on our way!

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We decided to hightail it to our daughters, which means day driving and quick overnight stops at Harvest Hosts. Our first stop was Sweet Organic Farms. The owner Karen took us on tour, and we picked up snap peas, lettuce, and some other fresh-grown veggies. What she and her son have done with an undeveloped parcel of land in four years is truly praisable.

Next stop – one of Mitchell’s favorites – Eastbank COE campground. This would be our fourth visit, and we never tire of its serene surroundings and glorious sunsets. From there, we stopped at a golf club Harvest Host – our first! We don’t play golf, so we patronized the club by having dinner in the clubhouse. It was a great experience, and we will most likely be revisiting one along our travels.

We stopped at Vermilion Historical Museum. It is an outdoor museum spanning 23 acres along the banks of the Bayou Vermilion. It has 25 structures which nine are original, restored homes. There are artisans dressed in historical attire, demonstrating local culture and history in both French and English. We had lunch in the restaurant, and most patrons were speaking French.

Our last stop was the Equal Parts brewery. Thankfully, both our daughter and son-in-law drink beer, so we purchased a few crafted beers to bring to them. Finally, after a push to get to Victoria, Texas, we pulled into the city park for our three and half week stay. Can’t wait to share all our adventures in our next blog.

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Lyon was the last visit before heading back to Paris for our trip home. Lyon is the 3rd largest populated city in France. Our Airbnb was located on the 5th floor, and a view of the river could be seen from the balcony. There were farmer markets along the riverside, but none could come close to the Paul Bocuse market. Housed in a previous old warehouse, there are 66 vendors. A true cook’s paradise! The stalls included delectable cheeses, fine wines, fanciful bread, and desserts to an array of fish and meats. They also had small cafes which are available for the noon lunch hour. I didn’t want to leave.

Finally, a gluten-free croissant! We found a bakery serving all gluten-free treats. I was in heaven and left with several delectable treats for later. If I could, I would have stocked up and brought them all home to enjoy, but they didn’t last long.

We rode up the tram to visit the Notre Dame de Fourviere Basilica. Its architecture is magnificent, and once again, we were in awe of the time and skill that went into creating these beautiful buildings. Along one of our walking tours, we stumbled upon a unique clock. We were fortunate to have been there on the hour when it struck its bells. It was very cool.

We stayed in Lyon for three days and then hopped on a train back to Paris for our return trip to Tampa. Au revoir, France. We had a blast and won’t soon forget our 40th wedding anniversary trip.

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Montpellier was one of my favorites. Our Airbnb was located in the popular square, Place de la Comedie, which was bustling with lots of activity. The unique, colorful trams rode through the square. Each design signifies a different route. My goal was to find the streets with the umbrellas, but once again, going in the off-season made it a bust. However, walking the streets did not disappoint. They were filled with old-world charm, and some were very artistic. We enjoyed the way artists transformed their murals created on the sides of buildings into works of art.

This town has its own mini Arch de Triumph named Porte de Peyrou. The aqueducts were architectural wonders as they stood proudly over many centuries. The skill and the exorbitant amount of time it took to create these magnificent buildings and structures are amazing.

Montpellier was the first town I was able to visit a restaurant offering gluten-free entrees. La Sheri’s ambiance was delightful and charming. My meal of mushroom risotto and Mitch’s scallops was fabulous. The walk back to the Airbnb was peaceful as the street were quiet and dimly lit, but the atmosphere changed once we entered the square. It came alive as it was filled with people eating in outdoor cafes, music filling the air, and everyone just enjoying the end of another beautiful day.

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