| A mystery tour | | | | so many new experiences there - the one that |
| For many years, France was that mysterious | | | | springs most readily to mind being a great skiing |
| place over the horizon whose shadowy cliffs could | | | | holiday. |
| be faintly glimpsed from our local beach on a clear | | | | Or maybe it's simply because I enjoy the great |
| day. | | | | outdoors; there's so much more of it to go |
| Now, as an adult, I know what lies there - Calais | | | | around over there, to the extent that the French |
| and the open road beyond. Although I holiday | | | | themselves seem to have little need - or desire - |
| there most years, however, the allure remains | | | | to desert their country for foreign shores in the |
| and I always look forward to the prospect of | | | | high season. The weather is an added bonus, |
| another visit. | | | | especially after a British summer like last year's. |
| I've been camping there, stayed in all kinds of | | | | Whatever the reason, it never fails to surprise |
| accommodation in France , ranging from mobile | | | | me how many people haven't crossed the |
| homes and hotels to self-catering properties, since | | | | Channel and succumbed to the charm of a holiday |
| the early days of the Gite boom when local | | | | in France, indeed, who professes not to like the |
| farmers, not Brits, formed the backbone of | | | | place. |
| owners in the holiday rental market. | | | | If you're one of them, perhaps it's time to think |
| Why do I keep going back? Perhaps it's the | | | | again before flying over this rich and varied |
| familiarity I like; the fact that it's a foreign place, | | | | country en-route to some far-flung corner of the |
| but not too foreign. There's a particular kind of | | | | globe. There are more reasons now than ever |
| pleasure to be had from noting the similarities | | | | before to enjoy the perfect holiday destination on |
| between cultures. It helps us to appreciate the | | | | our doorstep. Perhaps I'll bump into you there this |
| differences. | | | | year! |
| Then again, perhaps it's because I've encountered | | | | |