Steam Engine

Oct. 7, 2006 We have been staying at the summer home of Peter and Helga Beij. They live in or around Voorburg, and Peter is an administrator in the public schools. A few years back Peter and I were trying to setup an exchange with his school (and its EU consortium of schools) with Chaparral HS. CHS would have been the first American school in the group. I thought it was a done deal, but the district declined and to this day I consider it a major advantage lost. Peter stayed with Carol and I in the country at that time, as well as in town last spring. During this last time, Peter came with administrator friends, and I arranged for them to tour high schools, district and county offices of education as well as some college and university visits. At that time, Peter offered his summer home in southern France to us in October. As you can see, we took him up on that offer. We are certainly grateful to Peter and Helga for their generosity.






Today we cleaned the house in preparation for leaving tomorrow. In the afternoon, we traveled to Anduze, where we had lunch and toured the back streets in the old part of town. It was really unique- and in a good way. Later, we took the steam engine train to the village of Saint-Jean du Gard. It was a trip through the beautiful French countryside along the edge of their National Park, Cevennes. As usual we had a wonderful time and So. Cal. weather!!
We are back to Paris tomorrow, preparing for our trip back to the states. Where did the time go? But, we have been to so many wonderful places.......a trip of a life time- until the next one!!