Half the fun of taking a vacation is the anticipation that naturally builds leading up to it.  You know, the excitement of booking your flight, car, hotel, dinner reservation…

My upcoming vacation is now less than one month away.  As usual, there is a story attached to it.

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At six years old, my Grandmother promised to take me to Paris.  I studied French in High School, learned to cook (and enjoy) French food, wine, and cheese and waited.  My grandmother passed away about four years ago, but we never took the trip.  Last fall, I changed jobs and planned some time off in-between them.  Using some of the money my grandmother left me, I finally went to LACE w:st="on">ParisLACE>.  

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I fell in love with LACE w:st="on">FranceLACE> that week.  In LACE w:st="on">ParisLACE> I succumbed to the city's beauty, flaws, food, lights, architecture, magic.  I did not want to leave.  From the moment I boarded the plane home, all I could think about was planning my next trip to LACE w:st="on">FranceLACE>.  

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Ironically, the very next day, I attended a charity auction at the Culinary Institute of America.  They had a trip to LACE w:st="on">ProvenceLACE> on the auction.  Specifically, the trip featured a week of one-on-one cooking lessons with Chef and Author Lydie Marshall  in her home — which just happens to be a medieval castle  in the town of Nyon.

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I never entertained the idea of actually winning this auction.  At this event, there were so many doctors and other affluent people with more disposal income than me and I had a limited budget for such extravagances.  Imagine my surprise when I won the auction!  

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Now, my anticipation is building as I book my train tickets from Paris to LACE w:st="on">AvignonLACE> and my rental car (yes, I'm a bit intimidated by driving in another country).

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In planning this trip with Lydie, she revealed to me that I would be her last student before she retires.  So, at the beginning of June, I will travel to Province to cook with Lydie.  I promise to keep a daily journal and take lots of photographs.  I'm so excited!