Flying...

It is watered-down Business.  Our tickets are marked "Business Z."  I don't think you can go any farther than Z.... 

When we fly "our" airline (MAA) and get Business or First, I know that we are going to pay a steeply discounted rate.  Since I love a sale, this is as good as finding a $200 outfit, marked down to $50.  Accordingly I eat everything offered to me and I swill down the alcohol like there's no tomorrow. 

Today I will have to curb my enthusiasm because it for damned sure isn't free AND when we arrive at Charles De Gaulle, and go through Customs, we then have to wend our way to the high-speed train station at the next gate over from where we come in.  There we wait for the 5 p.m. TGV (Train de Grande Vitesse) to Marseilles.  It's a chance for a three hour nap which will, by that point, be welcome.

Hertz has a booth at the Marseilles station and thence we wend our way to the hotel.  ETA is 10 p.m.  All of this will have taken place from 6:45 p.m. LA time Monday to a 2:15 p.m. landing in France and then all of the rest of it.

Wednesday - I doubt we'll be in shape for more than lunch in Aix-en-Provence and a browse through the market.  The weather is to range in the 90s during our visit.
Thursday - we want to drive to Arles and see the bird sanctuary and the horses in the Camargue.
Friday - family starts drifting in for the wedding on Saturday
Saturday - 4 p.m. mayor's office for the French  marriage; 5 p.m. for the church wedding in the small town where the couple live and then at 6 p.m., a dinner in the Old Port of Marseilles.  Very picturesque.
Sunday - the groom's mother is doing "Sunday lunch" which is an ancient tradition in French life.    Our hosts, Genevieve and Jean-Louis are total party animals - when they built their house, they put in a permanent bar of pour concrete and tile, not far from the fireplace and the doors to the yard where J-L has his own fish pond. 
Monday - we take the TGV back to Charles DeGaulle, arriving about 3 p.m.  I picked a Hilton to start the return to America - indoor pool, exercise room, wi-fi -- all of those "American" things.
Tuesday - Flight leaves at 10:30 a.m. and arries LAX at 1:10 p.m.  Same Day Service!

A bientot!  (See you soon)