Travel In Le Troisième Âge

/ letroisiemeage

Diane came up with the name of this blog. It translates into, “travel in the third age“. The troisième âge is the french phrase for elderly or senior citizen. I think the french sounds a lot nicer. Not sure what happened to the deuxième âge. It just went by while I wasn’t watching! Anyway, tomorrow we’re finally leaving for our year in the french speaking countries of France, Belgium, and Switzerland in an attempt to, as Diane says, improve on our bad french. We’re flying Dallas to London to Nice on British Air. After 3 days in Nice, we move Sunday into an apartment near the Institut de Français, a french immersion language school in Villefranche-sur-mer, just to the east of Nice, on the Côte d’Azur. We will be in classes there 5 days a week for a month.

Diane and I have both had an interest for many years in learning french. She took french in high school and college and has a brother, Richard, who has lived in Paris for over 40 years. She has been to France almost every year since her first trip there on her 40th birthday. As for me, my heritage is Belgian. My dad was born there and french, along with flemish, the dutch language spoken in Flanders, was his native tongue. He taught my brother Phillip and me a few french phrases but unfortunately never conversed with us in french. So now I’m trying to learn it on my own.

After one month at the school we will have a rental car and travel to various regions, first in France, spending 2 to 3 weeks in each area, staying in gîtes which are similar to VRBO’s. We will try to limit our stay to small towns and villages where few people speak english. OK. Enough of this “introductory” post. Expect a new posting, hopefully with an occasional photo, about every other week.
Later,
Renie (René)

Castle of William the Conqueror in Falaise, Normandy

32 thoughts on “Travel In Le Troisième Âge”

  1. Have a wonderful adventure and please continue to use the French name 🙃🙃❗️
    I’ll be in Paris for a week , April 26-May 3…
    Would love to bump into you , but you’re spared my lack of French language skills
    to embarrass you this time.
    My dear friend from SW France is working in a small hotel near Agen. Going to find the name and share if you head that way …
    Looking forward to your adventures.
    Barb

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  2. Bob Voyage you two! We really enjoyed this and will look forward to more! Prayers for safe travels and good health. What a wonderful thing you’re doing. Toast one for us. Until next time…abiento. Lots of love, Vicki and Bill

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  4. You are an amazing couple!!! We will follow with eager hearts for your French experience and look forward to hearing from you on a regular basis. We loved our evening with you in Kansas City and know our paths will cross again! Au revoir , Patty & Harvey

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  5. Bon voyage a vous! Antoine et moi sperons que vous avete un an meravilleur en France. A toute a l’heure — l’an prochaine!!!

    Votre amis —- Paula et Antoine

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    • Hi, guys! I just sent a reply to you in very poor French, and it is right here on this page above this note saying, “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” I have no idea what that means, But what I said in it was: Bon yoyage to you! Tony and I hope you have a marvelous year in France. We will see you in a little while —-next year! Your friends, Paula and Tony

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  9. Thank you Rene for your update! I very much am looking forward to following your posts. How amazing , exciting and what an adventure you are both embarking on!
    Enjoy and thank you for sharing!
    David

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  12. Wishing Diane and Renie une vacance joyeux dans la Belle France. We will miss you but look forward to reading of your wonderful trip on this blog.
    Best wishes, Remmel Dickinson

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  20. Enfin, René et Diane, votre aventure commence! Je vous accompagne de loins par moyen de votre blog. Vous allez aimer l’institut, et vous allez parler le français couramment à votre retour. J’espère que vous m’excuserez d’avoir renommé votre blog « Voyages dans le Troisième Âge « . (J’aimes le rythme et le rime.)

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  25. Finally your dreams have come true. I am so very happy for you both. Looking forward to reading your blog and wishing “happy trails to you until we meet again”! Jane

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  26. I am SO excited about this blog to share your travels! And sorry I didn’t know when you were leaving so we could say goodbye in person!
    Diane is extremely clever—love the title of the blog!! Bon Voyage!

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  28. Que Dieu soit avec vous lors de vos voyages vous manquerez tous les deux.
    Au plaisir de lire chaque blog!
    Câlins,
    Ruby

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    • Just wanted to say I know you two are having the time of your lives. So happy this trip has finally come to fruition. And many many wishes to you Diane for a very Happy Birthday 🎉 Jane Goff

      🌹JFG honeyjanelra@aol.com 501.951.1601

      >

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