From Mar. 2, 2008 to Mar. 15, 2008

第一天 台北（或高雄）－香港 HONGKONG─巴黎 PARIS（法國）
第二天 巴黎－尼斯 NICE（蒙地卡羅 MONTE CARLO）
第三天 尼斯－聖保羅 ST.PAUL－格拉斯 GRASSE－坎城 CANNES－馬賽 MARSEILLE
第四天 馬賽－艾克斯 AIX－亞爾 ARLES－亞維農 AVIGNON
第五天 亞維農－嘉德橋 PONT DU GARD－阿爾卑斯山城（梅婕芙 MEGEVE / 霞慕尼 CHAMONIX）
第六天 梅婕芙－霞慕尼 CHAMONIX（白朗峰 MT.BLANC）－日內瓦 GENEVA+++（子彈列車）巴黎 PARIS
第七天 巴黎 PARIS（藝術寶庫－羅浮宮；花都漫遊；蒙巴那斯大廈）
第八天 巴黎 PARIS（凡爾賽宮；塞納河遊船)－香緹莉 CHANTILLY
第九天 巴黎－香港
第十天 香港－澳門
第十一天 澳門
第十二天 澳門－香港
第十三天 香港
第十四天 香港－台北

Day 2: 3 Mar, 2008(Mon.)
Never feeling this way until the moment the plane took off, we were more than happy to look into the other’s eyes in most affection, with both wedding bands on the ring fingers, for the fresh start as a FAMILY. After 13 hours in the air, 7 hours of time difference gave us additional time to fit in France, although a missing couple did cost us quite long waiting and worrying.

Our journey began with the city Nice, both elegant and simple. Its charm comes from its exceptional climate as well as its beauty. It was early spring, very close to the best season to visit this lovely city, to enjoy the sun with very good chance to get a table of a good restaurant. Along the beach, people were lying in relaxation, companied by a lazy doggy, reading or watching the amazingly clearest sky, as if it never and ever drew any clouds over, as if it was all fake as a background scene in a studio. It was still way beyond our believe that there are people living in style, right the way like this, in some place like this, even in a city literally called Nice. How nice it could ever be like in the city Nice?



Day 3: 4 Mar, 2008(Tue.)
7 am in the morning, waking up wasn’t that bad as in our country, thanks to the time difference again, though it is very likely that we would hate the time zone arrangement while we get back home next week, struggling to get up early for work. Today was another incredible day, with warm sunshine, soft breeze, fresh and clean air, and moods for exploration.

…”Saint Paul de Vence is a charming hilltop fortified village in Provence, filled with art galleries, boutiques and sidewalk cafes. It's hard to find something ugly about this quaint village. A walk through its winding streets reveals elegant fountains, vine-covered stone walls and statues tucked into nooks in the walls. There are breathtaking views of mountains and sea. Even the ground below is attractive, as the cobblestones are laid into the shapes of flowers….” Which was perfectly true, especially added on that, we were the only visitors on that day, that kept us from the annoying crowds. This was followed by Musee international de la parfumerie de Grasse, where there was a lady showing us around the factory with awkwardly speaking Chinese. After perfume spread all over us, we headed to the Cannes to took pictures right in front of the building where film makers cried and screamed as they were nominated the best actors or something like that. We’ve done all the tourists things including photos and ice creams on the street before trip to Marseille.

It should also be mentioned that never forget to do the locals do! Only after a nice cup of cappuccino at a cafe in Aix en Provence did we finally feel like in France, laid-back, in style. Ce’st la vie! Is the only way to express.
Today was ended up with dinner at the Bistro Romain, this was when people in this group started to get to know one another better. And it turned out that there were up to 5 couples joining together for honeymoon. How sweet!



Day 4: 5 Mar, 2008(Wed)
Today was a day for one of the renowned artists in the history, Van Gogh.
We’ve been to the major sites Van Gogh painted during his stay in Arles in 1888-1889. At each site, we found a reproduction of a Van Gogh painting on an easel, bearing striking resemblance to the actual scene before us. These relevantly short stay has left us with a comprehensive overview of the buildings, squares, parks, and views that inspired Van Gogh ‘s work including the Night Cafe in the Place du Forum, the Jardin Ete, a bridge over the Rhone, a scene from the Arena, and, most importantly, the courtyard where he lopped off his ear.



Day 5 _ 6 Mar, 2008(Thu)
Pont du Gard in the morning
“The Pont du Gard is iconic; truly one of the “must see” monuments of any trip to Provence. A 2,000-year-old Roman span near Remoulins, it was built to carry the aqueduct of Nimes across the Gardon. Three tiers of arches – the topmost being the aqueduct itself – stand about 165 feet above the river bed. In 1985, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing it as a technical and artistic masterpiece. More than a million visitors a year make this one of France’s most popular historic sites.”

6-hour-trip on bus heading for Megeve in the afternoon
Megeve, truly a fairy-tale town, with people traveling in horse-drawn carriage, gave us a breathtaking view outside the window, falling snow, and loud tranquility, as if dream from childhood has come true.
It was absolutely amazing to stay in a little cottage like this, wooden-made, well-furnitured, exactly a home away from home. It snowed all night, leaving all outside painted in snow-white. For us, the mere fact that we used “it’s snowing” has provided us with too much of excitement to take in. Until then that we realize that there was rather a balance between cold and warm, the most magnificent contrast on earth.



Day 6: 7 Mar, 2008(Fri)
It was freezing! You would hate it that the wind was stabbing you on the surface of skin while you were enjoying every piece of the wonder world, on the ride of a traditional carriage. At the end, it’s worth it, admittedly!

This trip has come to the ultimate destination – Mount Blanc.
“At 4807 meters as it stands, Mt. Blanc is the highest peak in the Alps and indeed all of Europe. … Its peak, perpetually covered in snow, soars above 100 square kilometers of glaciers that periodically flow to the bottom of nearby Chamonix valley.”
Mission Impossible done - That was quite a close call that all of us were making the best effort to catch the TGV train towards Paris. Although 5 minutes late, thanks to the French habit of relaxing way of life, we made it on train, all safe and sound. However, we didn’t feel comfortable to have a bumpy ride during the four-hour trip on board, added on the crying baby next to you.