Talk about lucky! A month on the canals must have been so relaxing and the scenery!! Mike, renting a car does allow flexibility, we fly from Paris to Nice, then drive back from Nice to explore at our pace. Thank you all for the research ideas, keep them coming please. Even though we will be winging it a bit as we usually do, this trip is requiring much research in all areas, not just locations but food, wine, language...when to wear shorts and when not to, ha!