Where Oh Where?

So, my French language facility is slipping.  Oh, who am I kidding.  It has slipped.  This is shameful really.  I studied French for 8 years straight, from 7th grade all the way through high school and then for 2 years in college.  In fact, I came within just a couple of classes of minoring in French at the BY.  Due to circumstances...that were completely in my control, I decided to forgo the minor in order to finish school within 3 years.  I don't really know why I felt such a need to finish school at the time.  Well, except that I had a really good job waiting for me as soon as I graduated.  Well, what I thought was a really good job, anyway.  Turned out not to be such a great job, but it was a good experience.  Not that getting a French minor would have made any difference whatsoever in my career path.  It wouldn't have.  But, it would be cool to tell people that I have a minor in French.  Yeah, I'm a little proud....

So, having decided to enroll The Small One in a French immersion program at a nearby school, I decided to brush up on my own French skills.  The nice thing about a foreign language is that it has a tendency to stick in your brain, hanging about somewhere in the back until you put out the effort to drag it forward into the using part of your brain.  I have noticed this whenever I have the opportunity to read French, or speak it with someone. 

Happily, with my decision to brush up said skills, I was able to find an online French program to do a bit of study with.  It's the BBC language division on bbc.uk, if anyone is interested.  They have more than just French.  And they have more than one level, from beginner up.  I think it's pretty awesome.

Studying French, of course makes me think of going to Europe.  Which, as we all know, is something I REALLY want to do again.  I want to take The Small One and hie on over to the continent, drag her through cathedrals and museums.  Feed her lovely food.  Expose her to the joys of different cultures.  Well, not too different, as it is Europe.  But still.  You get my drift.  After wandering about the continent, I would, of course, head on over to Great Britain.  I cannot be in that region of the world and not do so, you know.

Ideally, I would have several months for this journey, and a great deal of money.  I would love to be able to go on a Transatlantic cruise to get there.  So much more charming than jetting over.  Not that I am opposed to flying.  I love to fly.  But, the thrill of it wanes after so many hours of being trapped in the middle of a long row and having to pee.  A nice cruise would be a deliciously romantic way to get there.  Easy, leisurely and chock full of good food and great views.  I could come ashore either in France or England, but I think I would choose France, because really, I want to end my tour with a longish stay in London, as I love that city.  Oh, how I love it.  But, I digress...

Where would you go if you could take an extended vacation somewhere?  What would you do?  Would you head for a relaxing beach?  Or museums?  Or somewhere with a completely foreign culture?  Money is no object, so where oh where would you go?