As the rain continues outside and the forecast is for at least another week of rain, we can at least now look forward to Bellac. Yesterday, our passports arrived back from the French Consulate in Montreal with our new visas. This will allow us to be in and out of France from March 4, 2024 until November 3. The best part of the deal is that it is the V2 VLST visa instead of the V1 VLST visa we had last year. Last year's visa was designed for people who plan to stay in France permanently. This will save us $300.00 each as we don't have to register these visas!! More wine for the cave à vin.
Even before the visas arrived we did some travel planning. My nephew, Trevor, plays on the Canadian Ball Hockey team and they are playing in the World Championship in June of this year. Yes it is a 'thing". The tournament is being hosted by Visp, Switzerland. https://www.visp-raron2024.ch/en
It is turning into a family get together. We will all be meeting up in Visp for the week. My oldest brother, Bob and his wife, Val, are getting to Switzerland via Bellac. The four of us will drive across Europe together to our VRBO chalet located about 25 minutes outside of Visp. My younger brother, Harold and his wife, Tanya along with my niece, Allyson and Trevor's girlfriend, Emma, have a hotel reserved in Visp. We are looking forward to visiting Switzerland and doing a bit of touring around between games.
We arrive in Bellac on Monday, March 4 and return to Port Coquitlam, Sunday, October 27. We are arriving two months earlier this year. It will give me a chance to get the garden started as the season starts. I wont' miss any of the plants in their bloom. It also gives us lots of time during the spring to welcome any visitors who are out are way.
Our plans so far:
Welcome my brother and sister-in-law/ travel to Switzerland : June 20 to July 3 (all dates are tentative)
Welcome Steve's sister: August through till mid September
Welcome Steve's other sister and her friend: mid September till end of October
Let us know if south/central France is in your plans and we find some dates that work for us all.
