We met a more tired looking Lara the next day outside our apartment and caught the 11am train to her parents’ house for the weekend in Malesherbes, about an hour and a half south of Paris.

Malesherbes is in the Loire Valley region of France and most well-known for some large Château’s such as Fontainebleau, however we were here just to enjoy the company rather than wanting to go sightseeing.  Lara’s parents Philippe and Elizabeth greeted us warmly and we were made to feel very welcome in their comfortable family home.

Philippe is a GP and has his practise in the front two rooms of the family home.  Elizabeth spoiled us with lovely meals each day  ….

School work was put on hold (again) as we enjoyed the time with Lara’s family, and the girls  thought all their Christmas’s had come at once when they found an assortment of Lara’s and her sisters childhood toys – including a whole box of Polly pockets. Oh, they were beyond happy!

Both afternoons were spent taking long walks altogether through the peaceful surrounding forests with the family dog ‘Noushka’  enjoying the fresh country air. Ahhh, the simple pleasures in life ….

After a delightful few days with a lovely family, we were back on the train late Monday afternoon bound for Orly airport  and thankful for the directions Philippe printed for us to make the train and bus connection to get there! We had a late arrival into Berlin at 11pm and a rendezvous with German Juli for four days.

Thank you Lara, Elizabeth and Philippe we hope you continue onto Australia next time you go to Vietnam so we can repay your kindness!!

“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”  ― William Arthur Ward