Day 307, Uzes & St. Victor-la-Coste, France
Cali’s has spent her birthdays in many locations. Each location reflected the culture in which we were living at the time.
There were the Guatemalan birthdays, probably about four of them. These came with one or two pinatas per party and a tres leches cake. Those birthday parties happened at school, since having a party at your house meant an open invitation for the invitees extended family to attend–providing a meal would be necessary. Inviting ten kids from class could yield more than 100+ people to feed for supper. We learned quickly that you send a cake to school, and a pinata if the rules permit.
The Canadian birthdays were done with precision. Coveted birthday venues had to be booked sometimes half a year in advance, invitations sent 10-14 days before the party, parents referenced about food allergies, properly created goodie bags issued. There were standards.
Her Florida birthday parties were having a pool party in our backyard with and renting a huge two-storey inflatable slide, along with a cotton candy machine.
During this year of travel, Cali would often ask us, “Where do you think we will be on my birthday?” We knew we would be back in Europe, but didn’t know where. I asked where she would she want to spend it, if she had the choice, and she didn’t hesitate blurting out, “The castle in St. Victor!”
We started staying in the small town of St. Victor-la-Coste when she was two months old, and returned there many summers. She had fond memories of playing in the castle ruins that were behind our house. The last time we were there was six years ago.
The problem with that request was that we were thinking of being in Spain around her birthday, geographically, that’s what made sense. But we don’t often do what makes sense, so we rejigged our itinerary to swing down to Southern France and surprise her with her castle birthday.
We decided to stay in Uzes, a town we’ve always loved, and only about a 20 minute drive from St. Vic. By staying a short distance from the village we could surprise her on her birthday. She had also talked about wanting to go to the Haribo Museum again, something she remembered from when she was little. The Haribo Museum was on the outskirts of Uzes, so we started making our plans.
This is the first birthday for any of the girls, in which we didn’t have any actual presents to open. We’ve been looking for something, but have been unable to find the right item. So the experiences are the present. Something else may come later if we find it, maybe a piece of jewelry from the area. We will see.
On her birthday, she got breakfast in bed, which is our custom. This year they were all French pastries and fresh strawberries from the market. She was pleased. We bought these yesterday.
Next we made her close her eyes until we were at the front door of the Haribo Museum. We got all of these samples for free, after the price of admission. The last time we were in this museum we got through it so quickly because the girls just wanted to get to the candy shop at the end. This time they were actually interested in the explanations and displays.
This is the only museum we’ve been to where when you buy your admission ticket, they give you candy and encourage you to eat while looking at their displays. A most excellent idea.
All the different varieties they make.
In this interactive part you get to use tokens to package your own treats. We ended up with many more bags that we could eat. Here were our 20 bags of free loot, minus a few bags needed for testing.
We also picked up a few candy items in the gift shop.
Then we went home, packed my new basket with goodies, and set off for our birthday picnic in the castle. It was so unexpected to her, and she was so delighted when the castle came into view. She just smiled and smiled! Rejigging of the itinerary, so worth it.
The drive from Uzes to St. Vic is one of the most quintessential southern France drives I know. There are vineyards, tree gauntlets, little white bridges, wee ancient towns of stone houses, rivers, hills as far as you can see, just a beautiful, beautiful drive. I find it interesting how vineyards right next to each other can look so different in how they are kept.
The town hasn’t changed. All of us remarked that there is a certain smell there, a combination of the trees, plants, stones, air, vineyards, everything, that makes it smell like St. Victor. We just stood outside the car breathing in the nostalgic scent, that we all recognized with great fondness. If only we could bottle it, it’s my favorite scent in the world.
This is what we saw and smelled when we got out of the car.
These are the stairs leading up to the house where we used to stay. Now, someone lives in the house permanently and it’s no longer leased out. The girls always slid down these banisters when we would walk into town. 
This is the entrance to the path that goes up to the castle ruins.
A warning due to the sentimental location, I’ve taken and posted an excessive amount of photos. But I had such difficulty choosing, because they all make me so happy.
Here we are on the hike up.
Here she is, the birthday girl, at the top in her birthday castle.
We spent hours up at the castle, eating our picnic, sitting in the sun. We talked about all the different memories we have of this castle, things that they played in all the different corners.
There is a beautiful courtyard with trees that they would run in, and still do.
It was the first time when the girls could climb some of the more challenging areas that were off limits when they were younger. I do believe that’s why they were spending so much time up there on the upper level, because for so many years only their dad could get up there. They didn’t seem to want to come down.
That being said, there is still one area, the top window, I still won’t let them do. I’ve never been able to deter Paul from doing it, but the girls will have to do it when I’m not around. There are parts of that climb that are way too risky for me to stomach when it comes to the girls. If you look closely in these pictures, you can see Paul in the background making his way to the famous window, and just how precarious the climb is. For the girls that can wait, until never.
We took our time walking down, it was a beautiful day, in the most beautiful place we know.
One last banister slide for the road.
After our afternoon at the castle, we went out for dinner in this adorable, oh so very French restaurant.
After dinner, Madi blew up our French balloons that were in Spanish. Cali pointed out that they read 41 more often than 14. This photo seems to prove her point.Then we bd-skyped with Kier and Derek and Cali had her birthday cake, and the promises of gifts not yet realized. Cali put it best saying this whole year has been a gift, and she really doesn’t want or need anything else. That was classic Cali, always grateful. But can’t help it, I’d still like a necklace to go with that. I do think turning 14 is a birthday she will always remember.
