This is an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf) To view it as we intend (as a photo album), click on VIEW then PAGE DISPLAY then TWO-UP

Transcription

1 This is an Adobe Acrobat file (.pdf) To view it as we intend (as a photo album), click on VIEW then PAGE DISPLAY then TWO-UP

2 France 2013 This was our first major trip in our Dreamseeker. The plan had been to close the holiday cottages for the winter and leave on a 4 month holiday at the beginning of November. Unfortunately Carol s back decided to be awkward and she had to have an operation on her back. (One of the discs was bulging and pressing on the sciatic nerve). The operation was successful we wheeled her into hospital in a wheelchair in the afternoon and the next morning she walked out! It took a while to get over the effects of the anaesthetic & strong painkillers, and for everything to heal. Eventually we got away at the beginning of February for a 6 week holiday. The intention had been to miss the snow, but it snowed in January before we set off.

3 With only 6 weeks we just went to France (instead of Southern Italy as planned originally)

4 France 2013 with our Dreamseeker With only six weeks, we planned a loop around France. The advantage of having a caravan is that you can adjust your plans according to the weather! Our Snooper SatNav guided us to Paris and around the Peripherique to a caravan site close to an RER station. We went into Paris on the train (RER) to visit some places we had not been to before. The Musee d Orsay is a lovely art gallery in the beautifully restored and converted railway station the Gare d Orsay.

5 We are not great art lovers, but on this occasion we went on to have a look at the Musee Marmottan Monet. This again is a lovely old building (a Hunting Lodge). It has a lovely collection of Monet Water Lillies. It was freezing cold in Paris, so we decided to head south to Lyon where we intended to explore the old mediaeval town. Unfortunately it was even colder (-3 overnight) with snow on the ground! So we did not hang around, but headed south again.

6 On the Mediterranean coast at Antibes, it was a bit warmer, but it snowed on the hills. It was rather odd seeing a palm tree with snow capped hills in the background. We went for a drive along the Grande Corniche (Coast Road) which is fairly high up in the hills. There was a fair amount of snow!

7 The buildings were built on the rocky outcrop with little narrow streets and tunnels Along the Grande Corniche we stopped at Roquebrune, Cap Martin, a small hilltop town topped by a castle.

8 The castle was not very big but was interesting to explore. Needless to say, Carol did not venture up the towers!

9 Needless to say, there were plenty of luxury yachts around. For Paul s birthday, we went to an excellent fish restaurant

10 We then headed east and inland a bit to Avignon and the remains of its famous bridge. Sur le Pont d Avignon L'on y danse, l'on y danse Sur le Pont d Avignon L'on y danse tous en rond The city is surrounded by an impressive wall. From 1309 to 1376 seven Popes resided in Avignon The Pope s Palace is quite impressive

11

12

13 We had a drive out from Avignon, to the Roman Aquaduct at Pont du Gare

14 Our friends, Roy & Sally, bought a cottage in France about 8 years ago and were going out there for February halfterm. So we arranged to meet up with them. We left Avignon and moved on to a caravan site at Colombiers (near Beziers). Roy and Sally took us to a village for lunch and then on to Minerve

15 We had not realised, but Colombiers is on the Canal du Midi (that links the Atlantic to the Mediterranean) and there are several interesting things to see. On the outskirts of Beziers there is a ladder of 9 locks

16 A modern barge transporter was built to replace the locks but it has never been used. A bit of a white elephant!

17 Just along from the locks there is an aquaduct that carries the canal over the river

18 Beziers looked an interesting town, but it was too cold to contemplate having a look round. Instead we retreated to a warm restaurant for lunch!

19 Years ago we went to Carcassone at Christmas time. It was very cold and the central Keep was closed. So we decided to go again. Guess what it was extremely cold and the central Keep was again closed!

20 We next stayed at Monbahus, south of Bergerac. The nights were still extremely cold with a heavy frost. Bergerac was an interesting old town

21 We had wanted to see the famous cave paintings in the Lascaux Caves, but the caves are closed (to protect the paintings from damage) and you can only visit a reproduction of the caves and paintings. However, the caves at Pech- Merle are open to the public. The caves are worth seeing and have the added bonus of the cave paintings.

22

23 Chateau de Bonaguil was well worth a visit.

24

25

26 It was then time to head to the Loire Valley for some serious Chateau visiting! (We had been before, but there are so many Chateaux!) First stop Chateau d Amboise

27

28

29 Aznay le Rideau

30

31 Chateau d Usse said to be the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty and the Disneyland Castle.

32 Finally Grand Rossigny

33

34 We had a good ferry crossing back to Dover, and stayed at Wrotham Heath to visit Carol s parents & Paul s Mum. We had a blizzard that delayed our journey home by a day We managed to get home and then it snowed!