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LIVING IN THE MOMENT bustled past stalls buying fresh vegetables, When I'm planning a trip anywhere, my meat, and bread--though it was near freezcomputer works overtime. I should have ing outside. Since I can't pass by a market become a travel agent because I love seeking without exploring its hidden treasures, we out the best deals, and I find them, too. For parked and joined the throng of shoppers. our two-night stay in Paris, I spent hours Soon I spotted a maroon French beret for searching through hotels in the city and on about five euro that I just had to have. the outskirts and Peter and Ross finally settled on a picked out some Marriott Vacation baked goods and Club Resort called clementines, and Village d'ile-deas we strolled along with our packages, France near Disme sporting my neyland Paris. French beret, we A time-share fancied ourselves resort, the propnatives, belonging erty rents villas to here among these the public as well, elegant Parisians. and the price in Havana Caf winter is amazacross the street ingly affordable, offered a warm considering the haven, so we left quality accomthe cold behind and modations. We entered this quaint paid 119 euro per caf, pushing aside night for a beaured velvet curtains, tifully decorated two-bedroom villa which hung in front with a full-sized of the doors to kitchen, living and keep out the cold. dining room, 2 1 2 The proprietress baths, and a launwelcomed us as dry room. Amenimellow jazz played Menton, France ties included a large in the background. We indoor pool, steam bath, and saunas. In sat at a simple wooden table with a fine summer an outdoor pool, golf, and planned view of the street, ordered a bottle of soda activities round out the options. While the for Ross and a bottle of Cote d Langeduoc property is twenty miles east of Paris, the for Peter and me, and spent the next ninety highway system is good, and with the help minutes or so lunching and living in the of the GPS system in our rental car, we had moment. no problem getting around. Ross ordered une frankfurter and We decided to give Disneyland Paris pommes frites hot dog and fries ; . I had a a miss and headed into the "City of Light" hearty Havana omelet with potatoes, cheese, on a peaceful Sunday morning. We had and ham, and Peter ordered duck filet with exactly one full day to enjoy a taste of Paris, pepper sauce. I remember looking at the and a cold day it was, bitter cold, in fact. people around us in the caf--locals, I'm Just days before we'd breakfasted on the certain because we were way out of the terrace of our villa in Vence, and now we tourist zone--and wondering about them: were bundling up in hats and scarves and the mother and son who drank coffee and mittens. chatted earnestly, the young couple who With no real itinerary in mind, we found read the newspaper without talking, a wellourselves passing an outdoor market in a dressed man eating alone. Taking the time to suburb south of the Seine, where shoppers people watch is a rare luxury for me lately, so our caf lunch was rewarding in many ways. Afterwards we visited a couple of tourist attractions: the Arc de Triomphe and Notr Dame Cathedral, but the cold became too intense, and we decided to return to our elegant villa at the Village d'Ile-de-France for some down time after a busy day. when we forgot about the car-free rule and loaded up at the grocery store with goodies for a special birthday dinner for Peter. Our friends, William and Maria would join us, and since William likes beer, we had to buy a few bottles--plus wine, steaks, bread, vegetables, and assorted other groceries. When Peter, Ross, and I returned to the park, we realized we needed to transport all of the groceries via bike to our bungalow, BIKING IN THE SNOW a 10-minute ride away. To make matters The last part of our European journey worse, snow had been falling in earnest began with a five-hour drive to the Holfor about an hour, and it was getting dark. land, where we planned to spend time with As my French beret turned white from fat Peter's mom and sister. Since neither of flakes of snow, we loaded up, balancing them had room to accommodate us, I arbags on the handlebars, filling our knapranged a stay in De Eemhof, a CenterParcs sacks and the baskets on our bikes, and bungalow park near Amsterdam. These rode gingerly through the snow, praying vacation villages are comprised of small, we wouldn't fall and break bottles of beer clean cottages equipped with all your or worse an arm or a leg. We survived the basic needs. They also feature amazing ride, groceries, beer, and dignity intact. amenities for families, such as huge indoor I only wish we'd had a camera to com"swim paradises" with slides, wave pools, memorate our snowy bike ride. palm trees, snack bars, and lots of families February in Europe may seem inconhaving fun together. Other amenities ofgruous, but in fact, we loved our winter ten include journey to bowling althe Contileys, playnent. While grounds, b a l m discos, pettemps and ting zoos, blue skies boat rentare the als, and ideal backplanned drop for activities. everyone's T h e dream vaparks are cation, busy year winter can round, have its and in the own spewinter can cial charm. be very afIf you keep Nilla takes a break during our perfume workshop. fordable. your mind One unique aspect of bungalow parks and your eyes open, surprising adventures is they tend to be car free. On check-in await any season of the year in any place and check-out days, you can bring your you go. car to your bungalow, but the rest of the For more information, visit time you park in the lot and walk in. Most azurvacation people bring bikes since the distances can valberg be a little intimidating. For instance, our galimard bungalow was a fifteen-minute walk from menton the parking lot. We rented bikes, which marriottvacationclub made things a little easier, except one day centerparcs.nl.

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