Francesca Simon’s Travelling Life
Paris. It’s prettier and more compact than London, so I walk everywhere, even
though I have no sense of direction. My favourite place is the Île St Louis
because it’s still very medieval. I love the little bistros and imagining
the Viking ships travelling down the Seine. I like places where you feel a
connection to people who’ve been there before.
Rome was fun, too, when I took a trip with my son [Joshua]. Our focus was to
walk to the best pizza, pasta and ice-cream places and if we saw any
interesting landmarks on the way – say, the Pantheon or the Colosseum – we’d
pop in. It was the best way to tour with a small child. Along the way, we
did actually see everything, and there were no complaints about his feet
hurting.
What do you need for a perfect holiday?
For a cultural holiday, I need an amazing city. For a relaxing holiday, I love
a beach, a book, swimming and a friend that I’m in tune with. I’ve had some
amazing holidays in Greece. I went to Patmos with my husband [Martin] about
20 years ago, which was extraordinarily beautiful, and we walked, cycled or
rented a moped to little beaches and monasteries. The island had a lovely
rhythm, a mystical air, to it. It was very low-key with little tavernas. The
south of France, near Nice, has also been great. And California. I grew up
by the beach at Malibu, but I’m not a lying-on-the-beach person. I just swim
a lot. I’m happy to be thrown around in the sea, having to duck the waves.
Where have you most enjoyed swimming?
I went on my honeymoon to Kauai, the least developed of the Hawaiian islands,
and snorkelling there was magical. It was like being in an aquarium – bright
yellow, blue and pink fish, and the clearest water I’ve seen. I used to swim
a long way out as a child but I’m more cautious now because I’m nervous
about things biting my legs, but I also love body-surfing, so the
combination of big waves, sandy beach and beautiful fish was great.
Kauai, the least developed of the Hawaiian islands
Most fascinating historical site?
Notre Dame. I love the fact that it was built in the 12th-century and is still
standing. I’m always stunned by the craftsmanship.
Most adventurous travel experience?
My brother was in the Peace Corps and spoke fluent Setswana, so in 1883 we we
spent a month in Botswana staying in little villages, eating by a fire and
travelling around the deltas. We saw rather frightening elephants, wonderful
giraffes and baboons. You’d hear what sounded like mooing but it was, in
fact, lions. But the others had done this a lot, so it was a case of “stay
in your tent and build a fire”. I was given a Setswana name meaning “the
mother of questions” because I asked so many. Also, I was apparently worth
five or six cows as a bride price – it was considered good that I was
university educated, but bad that I was long in the tooth at 28!
Favourite hotel?
The Hotel Lutèce and the Hotel des Deux Iles, both in Paris. When I was a
student, staying in a grotty hotel, I used to go walking on the Île St Louis
and see these two little 17th-century hotels and fantasise about staying in
them. They’re not the most glamorous or expensive hotels but they’re
quintessential Paris and I never stay anywhere else now. I always ask for a
room on the street high up so I can see the surrounding rooftops.
Worst holiday?
To Zakynthos when my son was eight months old and my parents came with us,
supposedly to help. It started with a Greek air-traffic controllers’ strike
so, rather than getting there in the afternoon, we arrived at 5am. My son
started to scream and my mother decided she had to go to bed to recover.
Then, below our tiny apartment, I saw all these barrels marked “danger:
explosives”. I demanded to be moved, though they turned out to be full of
water. Then there were earth tremors. In California, I’ve been in some bad
earthquakes so I couldn’t believe I’d gone on holiday to an island of
earthquakes. I was exhausted.
Worst experience on holiday?
On a packed train between Paris and Florence in 1978, when the only car I
could get into was filled with smokers. Then the people in there kept
inviting more people in. I thought I was going to die, and I was so grateful
when the conductor took pity on me and said he could find somewhere else –
until I realised that meant with him in his compartment. I said: “Oh, no
thank you”. So I had to slink back. I was up all night coughing and
spluttering.
Best piece of travel advice?
Syrup of Coca-Cola is very good for travel sickness. And, having been vomited
on copiously, I always take a change of clothes in my hand luggage.
What do you hate about holidays?
Unpacking at the end and that weary feeling that you need a holiday to recover
from the return trip.
Where next?
I’m off to Nice for total relaxation, where I will read lots of books, eat
lovely food and go swimming. I’m also going to Jersey for a friend’s
birthday party.
- Francesca Simon is the author of the Horrid Henry books; Horrid Henry’s
Nightmare, the latest in the series, is published by Orion Children’s
Books, priced £4.99.
Recommended further reading
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