Splendor of southern France is icing on sweet family time

AVIGNON, FRANCE >> Summer in the south of France is spectacular. The three-hour train ride from Paris to Avignon in the Provence region offered sun-kissed views of landscapes in shades of green and gold, dotted with olive and lavender fields, churches and castles.

But for this particular trip, the destination — as enchanting as it is — is not as special as the company.

We are a party of 16, gathered together from Hawaii and Sweden for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of my father-in-law’s 70th birthday.

My in-laws rented a beautiful six-bedroom villa in Rochefort-du-Gard, a quaint town near the ancient city of Avignon. We’re here for nearly three weeks with no significant plans other than a birthday bash for the family patriarch.

Leading up to the occasion, we took impromptu day trips to the surrounding tourist sites, including the Palais des Papes, or Palace of the Popes, a highlight for me. Both a palace and fortress, it is one of the biggest Gothic buildings in Europe and was the seat of the Christian world in the 14th century.

We walked along Pont Saint-Benezet, also called Pont d’Avignon, a famous medieval bridge that stretches only partway across the river Rhone. Damaged by war and flooding, the landmark was repaired and rebuilt up to the 17th century. We also stopped by Pont du Gard, a 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River and is the highest bridge the Romans ever built. All the sites we’ve visited have been breathtaking.

The birthday party itself, the main reason for our trip, was a sweet celebration. There was a wake-up serenade, a toast to the birthday boy, a candle-topped raspberry tart and presents. All seven grandchildren, ranging from 1 to 10 years old, climbed into their beloved grandfather’s balloon-covered bed and presented him with artwork they made especially for his big day. There was good eating and pool-time fun all day. As I type this, it’s late in the evening and the birthday festivities are winding down.

We have a week left in France. The remainder of our trip will include a stop in Paris, a city I visited years ago, but it will be a first for my three daughters. We’re looking forward to visiting the Louvre (the girls are excited to see Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”) and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.

Still, nothing will top time spent with family — swimming in the pool, playing on the swing set or at the ping pong table, doing arts and crafts with the kids, having al fresco meals in the veranda, celebrating moments big and small together — all of which make for an especially spectacular summer.

“She Speaks” is a weekly column by the women writers of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Reach Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@staradvertiser.com.