We were advised that French was the language of the true elite when
embarking on the Grand Tour. We were further advised that if one
was residing in the British Isles (as we were), departure should be
from Dover in order that one could go directly to Paris, where the
traveller might undertake lessons in French, and pass the time in
dancing, fencing and riding and otherwise become immersed in the
experience of 'courtly behaviour and fashion'. In the circumstances
we should have felt guilty about departing from Portsmouth and
arriving in Cherbourg with our first stop a rather seedy caravan
park. The last time I received lessons in French, was when
grappling with conjugated French verbs in a class of low-brows that
felt up-lifted when described by the teacher as a bunch of
brainless thugs. Unbeknowst at the time, we would later be given
the opportunity to dance on French soil, while acknowledging that
the cut of our dancing dress may not have passed muster by the
Paris dancing masters. As to fencing and riding, the last time this
was countenanced was the fencing undertaken to keep wandering
wildlife out of the garden and as to riding, I take poetic licence
and include the riding of my trusty cycle. Our journeys, taken in
the footsteps of those 18th Century 'young men of means', took a
variety of forms, followed a variety of routes, and were undertaken
for a variety of reasons. The reasons encompassed leisure,
business, family, curiosity, education and pleasure. The forms
included boats, planes, trains and diverse automobiles. The routes
ranged through France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany,
Belgium, Ireland, Norway, the Czech Republic and Hungary. We
sometimes forgot we were the foreigners, but as we didn't reject
the food, ignore the customs, or avoid the people, all our
experiences were positive and we hope those we met in that mosaic
of nations felt the same way. There is little doubt that travel can
influence us in a variety of ways, but often we do not acknowledge
the humility that should be embodied in travel, which underscores
what a tiny place we occupy in the world.
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