French Sunsets

I don't know what made me think of this, but one thing that may surprise you is that it's going to get dark very late during the time we're in France, or at least later than you're used to.

We'll be there during the days of the year when there's the most daylight. I'm pretty sure we'll be flying home right around the time of the summer solstice--the longest day of the year (well, they're all 24 hours long, but you know what I mean).

Teri and I have been in France at the same time of year in past trips, and I remember how late it was when it finally got dark. This will come in handy as we have evening bonding time on deck.

Of course it will eventually get dark. Teri and I were in Russia during "white nights", several years back. White nights are what the Russians call the time around the summer solstice and they call it that because it never gets dark.

It was so weird going to the ballet in Saint Petersburg and emerging from the dark theater around 10 p.m.into a world of bright sunlight. It literally seemed like it was still mid-afternoon. Completely disorienting for those of us who are used to it actually getting dark at night.

We won't face that problem on this trip, but we will be far enough north that we'll be blessed with extra hours of daylight while we're in France which will give us more time for all kinds of things.

Lucky us!