Six of us spent twelve days together in an idyllic setting a few miles from the French village of Tavernes. Although terrace views of green fields, hills and forests made our location appear remote, a short drive in any direction led us to historic towns, pristine parks and bustling markets. The road north led us to the Verdon Gorge, rated as one of the most beautiful natural areas in Europe. An hour south, and we were at the Mediterranean. Avignon, Orange and Aix-en-Provence were all an easy drive to the west, and the Italian border was less than two hours east. This central location made it the perfect spot for a dialysis holiday. It was easy to get home to prep for Ken’s dialysis run.

Beating Barcelona Traffic

After we said goodbye to friends and family who were heading home, we packed up the van to drive to Spain with Josh, as part of his graduation holiday. The year prior Ken and I fought the heavy traffic in Barcelona, so we decided to stay in the smaller northern city of Girona this time. Parking is always a big deal for us. We have to be able to unload the machine and supplies without causing a traffic jam. We found the perfect spot on Airbnb. There was secure parking and it was across the street from the train station. The next morning, we boarded the fast train and were in Barcelona in under an hour. The following day we explored Girona, which is a phenomenal city; stunning historic sites and the best paella I’ve had anywhere, for a fraction of what we’ve paid elsewhere.

A Sweet Village Near Charles De Gaulle

From Girona, we drove to Paris via Clermont-Ferrand. Instead of staying in the center of Paris for our last three nights, we found a small suite in Roissy-en-France, a sweet village close to Charles De Gaulle airport. The restaurants were some of the best we’d encountered, the lodgings were spacious, and it was a short train ride from Charles De Gaulle to the center of Paris and an easy drive to Versailles.

Canadian Wine Country

In July, the family that hosted us in France traveled to our home just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia. Doing a summer exchange gave Ken and me an excuse to holiday near home. A few years ago, we traded in a fifth-wheel trailer for an older motorhome. Our NxStage System One fits perfectly into a closet intended for a stackable washer and dryer. Since then we’ve made many trips through western Canada and the U.S.

This time we packed up and headed to South Okanagan, in beautiful BC wine country. Between swimming, exploring restaurants and off-leash dog parks, attending wine tastings and musical performances, and making some time for remote office work, there hasn’t been a dull moment. Every time we visit this part of the province, we wonder why we don’t do this more often.

Published January 2019

Home hemodialysis with NxStage systems involves risks, and you may not experience the potential benefits of such therapy. NxStage systems require a prescription for use. If your doctor prescribes more frequent therapy, your vascular access is exposed to more frequent use which may lead to access related complications, including infection of the site. Patient Advocates are compensated for their time.

_{APM3358 Rev. B}