In the planning stage

Even though it's not until September, we're excited about our next trip for a number of reasons. One is that friends from Connecticut will join us much of the way, arriving in Paris two days after we do and traveling together for 10 days. Here's the itinerary as it now stands:

Paris for five nights, then two nights in Puligny-Montrachet, Burgundy. That's Ron and John Nicholls in the photo (I know, we look like brothers), at the waste pile where the village winemakers bring their crushings. They've installed a still nearby to make marc, which is like grappa. John and his wife Celine run Domaine des Anges where we will stay and they've quickly become friends as well as hosts.

After that we head to Geneva overnight - less than three hours by car - then to Provence for two nights, driving through the French Alps to get there. Still debating where to stay, but likely in or near Lourmarin, the present hometown of Peter Mayle, who caused tourists to descend on the region like locusts after the publication of A Year in Provence.

Finally we'll spend six nights in Barcelona.

Of course we'll be staying in and checking out apartments in Paris and Barcelona. We have a great inventory in the latter, so it will be more like touching base with owners while meeting a couple of new ones. Paris continues to be somewhat of a challenge, but we have places to go and people to see. And we'll make sure there's an appropriate balance of work and play.