By Christine Swan

I love the concept of a Grand Tour conducted over an extended period, to broaden the mind and enrich the senses. After my first trip to Lyon, I came home and immediately set about painting my bathroom in the colours and shades that I had seen in the houses of the beautiful vieille ville. Peach, apricot, terracotta and sage disguised the awful 1980’s avocado coloured bathroom suite. Hanging plants completed the look. I adored it.

I forego excess in packing but a hat is essential

The sky, sea and landscapes of the South of France are a luminous palette of azure, sunny yellow, citrus orange and green. In the magnificent Esterel, Mont Vinaigre rises in rusty red-brown glory from the surrounding landscape in contrast. Every time I leave, I start plotting my return such is my love for this place. I could not have foreseen the pandemic or that my family would be visited by several losses in so short a period of heartbreak.

Mont Vinaigre from the train

So, this year, I planned to return after four years away. It was a homecoming to happier times, as a family of four, more recently with friends and latterly, as a solo traveller. I consider myself fortunate in that I delight in my own company as well as that of others and am equally at home in both. My son planned to join me for a few days which was wonderful. We are the very best of friends, which is as it should be.

The Bay of Agay as seen from the train

I adore the excitement and ritual of preparing to travel. Since I started writing this post, I have returned from France, visited London and Kent and am now preparing to travel to Amsterdam. I am very much a minimalist packer and only take what I need, and nothing more. I can pack a bag in under thirty minutes. I wear layers in cooler climates and use this strategy too when travelling in different regions. I have some favourite t-shirts, dresses and lighter-than-air cashmere sweaters that roll, scrunch and squeeze into the smallest of spaces. Mosquito spray and sun protection are essentials but multiple pairs of sandals are not. My economical packing leaves plenty of space to bring back delicious and unique produce from wherever I am visiting. On my 2019 trip, I bought some delicious nougat flavoured with lavender. It was so delicious, I regret to inform friends and family that it didn’t make it home. Neither did the Ice Tropez drink, which is a refreshing cocktail of peach and sparkling rosé wine. Unfortunately, the draw of beach, book and sunset could only be accompanied by a delicious can of fizz. If you could capture the sense of anticipation before you travel on holiday, and bottle it, it would smell like your best memories and it would be wonderful. One sniff and you would forget your worries and troubles, even if only for a short while.

A quiet street in St Tropez

Coming back can be a less happy time but, if you follow my tactic and immediately start planning your next trip, it does remove the sting. You are also armed with the new memories, images and friends to enrich your normal existence. Bring the colours, the cuisine, the joie de vivre, home with you to stay.

Coffee in Cannes

I believe that humans are built with wanderlust programmed in. All we need to do is to heed the call and see where we end up. Go somewhere you have never visited before, return to a favourite haunt, stick a pin in a map and go there. As Madonna so succinctly put it: ” You can turn the world around, bring back all of those happy days. Put your troubles down, it’s time to celebrate!”

Plage Veillat , St Raphael, looking across to Les Issambres and le Massif des Maures

The author on holiday