The travel guides advise us not to miss
this site or that attraction, to secure
our tickets in advance for that or this,
insisting a vacation must be sure
to tick off most the must-sees on a list
some enterprising blogger mapped for all.
But we’re on break, agreeing to resist
the coupons, crowds, and every shopping mall.

We have a private cottage so benign
we want to spend big chunks of time in it.
We use the rental car with attitude
of exploration – routes without a sign.
No reservation is appropriate,
and all we seek from people is good food.