Ross Howard

Europe Ross Howard

We were advised that French was the language of the true elite when embarking on the Grand Tour. We were further advised that if one was residing in the British Isles (as we were), departure should be from Dover in order that one could go directly to Paris, where the traveller might undertake lessons in French, and pass the time in dancing, fencing and riding and otherwise become immersed in the experience of 'courtly behaviour and fashion'. In the circumstances we should have felt guilty about departing from Portsmouth and arriving in Cherbourg with our first stop a rather seedy caravan park. The last time I received lessons in French, was when grappling with conjugated French verbs in a class of low-brows that felt up-lifted when described by the teacher as a bunch of brainless thugs. Unbeknowst at the time, we would later be given the opportunity to dance on French soil, while acknowledging that the cut of our dancing dress may not have passed muster by the Paris dancing masters. As to fencing and riding, the last time this was countenanced was the fencing undertaken to keep wandering wildlife out of the garden and as to riding, I take poetic licence and include the riding of my trusty cycle. Our journeys, taken in the footsteps of those 18th Century 'young men of means', took a variety of forms, followed a variety of routes, and were undertaken for a variety of reasons. The reasons encompassed leisure, business, family, curiosity, education and pleasure. The forms included boats, planes, trains and diverse automobiles. The routes ranged through France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, the Czech Republic and Hungary. We sometimes forgot we were the foreigners, but as we didn't reject the food, ignore the customs, or avoid the people, all our experiences were positive and we hope those we met in that mosaic of nations felt the same way. There is little doubt that travel can influence us in a variety of ways, but often we do not acknowledge the humility that should be embodied in travel, which underscores what a tiny place we occupy in the world.