Les Vacances

Since we've moved here, we keep hearing "all the locals leave in August for vacation", and while we believed this was somewhat true, we weren't quite fully prepared for the mass exodus that has seemingly happened overnight.

Here's a few clues for knowing les vacances have begun:

*The sidewalks and roads are virtually deserted (except for hoards of tourists).

*You ride a nearly deserted train to have lunch at your husbands office and all 3 people on board ask for directions and/or clarifications if they are on the correct train for where they need to be (some in English and some in French).

*Your favorite bakery, among many other stores and shops, post hand written notes stating closure until September.

*Oh yeah, remember how I talked about tourists? They now pack the metro and my closest metro station now has a temporary souvenir stand just for August!

*Even public services, like the post office, have limited hours!

*And lastly, closed shutters are a common sight as you walk along the roads. Insurance requires you to close your shutters anytime you leave for a trip. 

And so, we join the droves of Parisians leaving the city for the country, the beach, or another country. Only we get to take 3 separate trips instead of a solid 3 week one!

I'll try to update in between trips but no guarantees!  Switzerland is up first, then a weekend trip to Germany, and finally a 2 week cruise to Turkey, Greece, and Israel. Not a bad way to spend the month celebrating 5 years of marriage! :)