As an aside, if you’re wondering, Hawaii in the summertime is HOT. And humid, especially if you’re staying on the widward side of Oahu. The wedding was beautiful, of course; but best of all, the reception was held indoors in a building with air conditioning.

Anyway, I know you’re only there for a limited time, but may I take this opportunity to beseech you to take a weekend jaunt to Sarlat, in the Dordogne valley? Ben and I went there while we were in Europe, and it was one of my very favorite European towns. A couple years ago, my boss went to France, and spent a couple days in Sarlat. It was the highlight of their trip. It’s a picturesque country town with amazing food and wine, friendly, and with a major bonus: the Grotte de Faunt de Gaume (forgive my mutilated French — I’m writing that from memory), the only cave open to the public that has original neolithic cave paintings in it. You have to make reservations in advance for the cave though, since they only let a set amount of people in every day. Just something to consider!