28 July to 3 August 1988 - Setting up in Dijon

Things that we had to figure out included getting our Carte de Sejours and find an apartment.  Below is our apartment building - we were on the top floor and had a 3 bedroom apartment, more on that later.  We rented it as of August 1st.  We left everything that we didn't need and on 4 August headed off to travel for the month before school started.

Here is our car that took us all and all our gear.  We purchased it from a professor who was finishing up his sabbatical year.  This was quite an adventure as he left his wallet in it and had to come back for it and it broke down right away and needed to be repaired.  This is the photograph he had sent us (no  idea where it was taken.)

27 July 1988 - We arrive in Dijon

We arrived in Dijon and set up at the camp ground.  Where they had very good fries - on which I subsisted for much of the first few weeks.  There was much to do and we (read my parents) got down to getting us set up in Dijon.  Here was the tent that the five us spent much of the year living in.  Yet to be acquired were the table and chairs that everyone good European family lives with.

26 July 1988 - Metz

My parents had settled on Dijon, France as where we would spend the year.  It was centrally located and in France so that we would have the opportunity to learn more French.  So on July 26th we headed from Enkhuizen south.  We spent the night in Metz.  It was our first night camping in Europe and it was quite an experience.

First of all we were still tired from the time change and being sick.

Secondly, we hadn't quite figured out camping in Europe after a while we got the routine and all of us loved camping - as you will see as the year goes on.  The book in the photo became our indispensable companion for our travels as we searched out camp sites.  But this first night was an experience.  We were not quite prepared for the difference in washrooms and whether these were particularly bad or we got used to it after a while I can't say.

Third, Metz had two clocks near the camp ground that chimed every quarter hour but they were not in sync so first one chimed then the other.  My Dad especially was kept awake by this.

25 July 1988 - Zuiderzee Museum

Mom, Jane and Andrew who were not sick made it to the Zuiderzee Museum.

24 July 1988 - Dutch Countryside

23 July 1988 Dutch Windmills

We spent the first few days sick and very little visiting.  Our poor B&B hosts were very welcoming and took care of us.  

Amsterdam to Enkhuizen, 22 July 1988

We landed in Amsterdam on July 22nd.  We each had a bag plus a sleeping bag.  There was also a hockey bag with the tent and other assorted paraphernalia needed for camping - the best way to see Europe.  The rental car was supposed to come with a roof rack but that had not come through the request.  Remembering that this was 1988 and so communication was not great.  My mother turned to where we were standing with the mound of luggage and we ended up with a larger car at no cost.  We then drove to Enkhuizen where we had booked a bed and breakfast with a wonderful family who we didn't know but with whom we still exchange Christmas cards.

Innerd French Adventure 1988-1989

Twenty-five years ago, the Innerd family set off to spend a year in Europe.  Dad was on sabbatical for a year having finished his term as Dean of Education.  He did manage to teach a summer course before we left.  I'll be posting throughout the year our travels and experiences.   With input from my parents, sister Jane and brother Andrew.  We left from Windsor and drove up to Toronto - my Mother having managed to find a rental company that would rent us a car for one direction.  We flew into Amsterdam with our destination being Dijon, France.  Chosen for it's central location in western Europe and to provide the children with an opportunity to improve their French.  And so the adventure begins....

PS For the Windsorites this was the TBQ's Other Place sign.

Quesadilla

A bacon, apple, cheddar and caramelized onion quesadilla to be exact!