LifetimeOpportunity

adventure

My Once-in-a Lifetime Opportunity

by Annette Hansen PHOTOS BY Patricia Johnson

She hadn’t ventured far from her hometown of Fountain Green, Utah, but Annette Hansen had dreams of traveling to distant places. Annette was happy and content as the wife of a rancher but she lived vicariously through the stories of her dear friend, Pat Johnson. Pat was a world traveler born in France and raised in South Africa. She and her father, a high-ranking member of the French military, have dined with the country’s elite.

Pat’s frequent travels to Europe were filled with adventure. Annette would listen intently as Pat described the country with intricate detail. Annette dreamed of visiting France someday but she had her job, service callings, and her husband to care for … the stars never aligned…until someday became that day. The trip of a lifetime arrived at the right time. Together, Pat would lead Annette on a journey to see, hear, feel, taste and smell the land she never thought she’d meet.

February 28, 2012

“Pat and I spoke today about what I would see on my trip. The Eiffel tower, the Palace of Versailles and the Cathedral of Notre Dame…I think of these magnificent, historic buildings with reverence…I have seen these places represented in movies for years. The elegant and the poor, the rulers and want-to-be rulers…the boulevard where the common men marched and died for freedom...It will change me forever, setting me apart as one who has seen and been inspired.”

March 9, 2012

“Well I am finally on the plane! All week long I have been planning what needed to be done here before I left. Cub Scout day camp registrations, credit cards for foreign use, pin numbers, what clothes to take…I have been anticipating this trip since last spring.”

March 10, 2012

“The plane ride was long, the food was fine, the movies were good, and my bottom was tired!!! Our hotel is on the Champs Elyse. After check-in we walked onto the sidewalk – to the left I see the Arc De Triumph one block away. We mingled with the Parisians on the large sidewalk. Had an enchanting dinner with Colonel De Medledge and his wife…three hours of wonderful food and conversation. The Colonel wanted to visit with Daniel Nevot, Pat’s father. He is the last living member of his French army regiment from WWII. Daniel with his regiment was among the French and American soldiers who marched into Paris at the Arc De Triumph to liberate Paris from the Germans. The French Army will honor him in Colmar later this week.”

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March 11, 2012

“I could hardly wait for today! First we went to the Eiffel Tower. It is HUGE and the base is massive. Several men were selling souvenirs…bought three key chains for two euro, then discovered the police were chasing the men…sort of exiting! We saw where Marie Antoinette was jailed and beheaded, the Phantom of the Opera house, and the Seine with all of its bridges (learned that Paris started as an Island and grew outward).”

“We entered Notre Dame during Sunday mass…I was struck by the reverence and holiness of the building. I stopped and lit a candle even though I am not Catholic…I felt moved to do it. I was overcome with emotions, to think of the grandeur of the building and the Kings and Queens who had been crowned here - I had to wipe away my tears.”

“Took a taxi to Montmartre, the highest hill in Paris, to the artist square (Place du Tertre) Wow, so many great paintings! I bought a small, original, black-and-white painting of the Eiffel tower. The paint was still wet…what fun. Three men had scissors and cut our silhouettes as we were walking, of course we had to buy them.”

“Took note that walking down the Champs Elyse is done in black clothes with a scarf - I need to leave my pastel colors home.”

March 13, 2012

“Took the bullet train to Strasbourg, near the border of Germany, then drove to Meyenheim where Pat’s father, Daniel, and his wife, Helen, would stay at the military base (RMT) which we traveled on to Colmar. Colmar is a picturesque community with many houses built near the 15th century…including our hotel, which was comprised of two homes. My bedroom had wooden timbers that crisscross the ceiling and three dormer windows that look out over a small river running through the center of town.”

“Had my first Tart Flambé…tasted like a pizza but flatter and no tomato sauce…followed by dessert, mini frosted chocolate round cakes. They were smooth, creamy, light, and melted in your mouth!”

March 14, 2012

“What a day! Situated high on a hill in Colmar was Haut Koenisbourg , an incredible castle whose construction began in 1000 AD and continued to be built upon for centuries. The foundations for the walls were the mountain rock itself. The castle carries big heavy doors, numerous draw bridges, turrets, winding stair cases, suits of armor, cannons, 1066 AD stain glass windows, and everything else one could imagine in a castle!”

“We walked through the streets of Colmar and found a shop selling handmade runners and tablecloths…white, beautiful, delicate hand tatted lace with white embroidery - be still my heart!

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T H E T R AV E L I S S U E 2 0 1 2

March 15, 2012 “The purpose of our trip to France was inspired by today’s events, which would honor Pat’s father, Daniel Nevot, and the celebration of the French army. Mr. Nevot is the last remaining soldier of the original regiment of the Free French established by Charles De Gaulle in 1940. He fought in Africa, Landed at Utah Beach, fought with Patton’s 3rd Army, Liberated Paris, and a little known fact, the French were the first to enter Berchtesgaden (Hitler’s alpine mountain Retreat). In the French Army he is a ‘Rock Star’.”

There was a procession, which included many older men whom I presume were veterans, carrying French flags that waived proudly in the air. The procession marched down the narrow streets leading to an old cemetery where the men passed through countless headstones leading to a final grave where flowers were placed and tribute was paid to the dead soldier.”

“Back at the RMT in Meyenheim, we attended a military inspection of the troops who were leaving for Lebanon as part of a peacekeeping mission in conjunction with the United Nations. They were celebrating the victory of the battle of Koufra, the only battle the French won by themselves during WWII. When the free French fought and won in Africa (Libyan desert) it proved that they were worth supporting by the USA and England. Mr. Nevot is the only living soldier of that battle. He put a wreath on General Leclerc’s statue. There was a fly over by two Mirage jets…attended a reception that included many four-star generals…I stood back and tried to look insignificant.”

March 17, 2012 “Back in Paris. We traveled across the French Country side to Pat’s uncle’s house.

The country I have seen is all farmland…cultivated and growing wheat, potatoes, vegetables and grapes. I didn’t know France grew so much food. There is not any advertising signs or big ‘Taco Time’ type billboards along the road sides, just an occasional village where all the houses look very similar in size and constructions.”

“The dinner was at a mall restaurant in town…a five-course meal including appetizer, salad, main dish, cheese, dessert, coffee and three various types of wines during it all…the French really know how to prepare, serve and eat their food. And at parting everyone kisses each other on the cheek, and in this region they kissed each cheek twice.”

March 19, 2012 “Returned home after 10 1/2 hours of travel. I take with me wonderful memories of an extraordinary trip to France where I saw things that others traveling to the country would never have had the chance to experience. I will return to my life but always be able to escape in my mind to that place that I once only dreamed about but now have lived.“

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