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144 AN EXILE OF THE MIND CHEAP WINE AND PAELLA 145

bathed on terraces, disguised by
large sunglasses to look conspicuous.
The campervan belched black ex-
haust into their strawberry daiquiris
as we passed.
The trip promised camping with-
out a tent and the convenience of our
very own transport. To sleep warm
and cosy in weather fair or foul.
Such a relief not to stand in pouring
rain to thumb a ride, or huddle in a
sleeping bag against howling winds
with the tent threatening to flutter
away into the night.
With camping sites scarce we
parked nightly by the roadside or in
darkened back streets, to rise early
for breakfast in a market nearby.
The ambience of local life chattered
noisily around us as Nicole spoke
her Québécois French to puzzled
faces.
It was exhilarating to greet a foreign
dawn in a new country. To feel the
Medieval castle of Carcassonne. thrill of teetering on the unknown and
experience different surroundings. To
Ancient villages were overrun by hear a strange language and get a whiff
these visitors. Its wizened residents, of unique smells.
bent over walking sticks, smiled The real cost of travel is time
toothless grins into the lenses of itself. Days passed pleasantly in the
cameras. The environment and its slow lane because time is what we
culture withered under this ‘invasion’. had plenty of. It allowed us to take a
We passed hilltop villas where
aristocrats and movie stars sun- The alluring city of Venice.