Jul 19, 2017 - Sunday was a big day

Hello everyone, Sunday was so busy that I thought it deserved its own entry. It started normally with a walk but then I got an SMS from Vicky who had taken Audrey swimming in the river. She said there was a Medieval tent village set up on the St Germain bank of the river in front of the old church. Of course I had to investigate and it was fabulous! Not only were these people dressed of the time and re-enacting daily life, they were happy to teach me what life was like in those days. They all have normal jobs but on weekends they turn back...

Jul 17, 2017 - Farewell Main Land Europe

Hi Everyone The beauty of the Swiss Alps beckoned so we spent a few days just driving around Switzerland, enjoying the breath taking scenery. Into the mountains we ventured, up the Grimselpass we drove, along a narrow road that snaked its way up the mountainside, twisting and turning, with over 12 hairpin bends. Paul kept his nerve as he steered our van around these tight bends with not a barrier in sight and a sheer drop to valley floor far below. We passed cyclists on the way up the mountainside. These mad people were peddling for all...

Jul 15, 2017 - La Fête Nationale (Bastille Day)

Bonjour mes amis, It has been another lovely week in the village, although the weather has not been summery every day. At the beginning of the week we continued the grey skies and stormy weather of last week. I got caught one morning when I was leaving for my walk and assessed that the grey skies were not likely to produce rain, so off I went without an umbrella. During the walk I passed the shuffling old man and then the two women with their old black dog. After about 20 minutes I felt misty rain but I continued because there really...

Jul 15, 2017 - Day 18: In Lyon then flight home.

Day 18: In Lyon then train to the airport before flying home. Weather: 32C. Sunny all of the day. Steps: 12 000 (7.1km). After a good sleep and my final breakfast in Lyon, I packed everything up and was able to leave these items in the security store for luggage at the hotel. It was late morning by now, so I headed back up the car free street of Rue Victor Hugo heading towards the tourism office. I did pass a lovely children’s wear store (we have previously purchased from the brand/chain of stores elsewhere in France) so made just a few...

Jul 14, 2017 - Bastille Day

We decided to check our bags because it was a full flight to Philadelphia and we thought it would be dicey to find room in the overhead bin. Plus they were heavy. No problems at the Philadelphia airport. Had lunch at Legal Seafood. The plane to Paris was less than half full. People were moving around and finding 3seats together to sleep. We arrived on time in Paris and both bags arrived safely. Long walk to Train Station. We were able to exchange our 2pm tickets for 10am tickets and got into Lyon at noon. To hotel and out to eat at...

Jul 14, 2017 - Paris, well, Orly Airport

Get up early and pack our suitcases and take them to reception so they could be stored until we got back. Then down to the corner and got a cab to our meeting place near the Louvre. It was outside a gift shop so we waited a while. Cars could not get close to the museum because of Trump and the holiday, but there were groups of (mostly) Rumanian (mostly women) scammers all about. They would approach with a petition to help… any sort of cause, starving children, deaf people, all sorts of stuff. If you’d sign they’d ask for a small donation....

Jul 13, 2017 - Paris and Trumped

Up and down for some breakfast – Alice sleeps in. Then back up and head out to our walking tour. Decide to walk down to the tour site and we head along the main road and see lots of Paris – deliveries, pickups, trash, smells… A different side. We get to where we think the tour should be but realize we’re off by a bridge, and finally meet up with the group. Our tour guide is friendly enough but nowhere near as entertaining as the one from yesterday. After an architecture lecture, we head off through the streets and see “the oldest street in...

Jul 12, 2017 - From London to Paris

We slept a bit late and I went down for breakfast. Order the English breakfast but by an hour later they still hadn’t come to take my order so I asked for my money back – which they did with profuse apologies. Nice folks and a nice hotel really, just a mistake. Went back and with only a couple of complaints we headed out o Kensington Park. It was cool and windy but no rain. Wandered into the park to Prince Charles’ garden then walked along the Serpentine a bit. Came upon a flock of lorikeets that some folks were feeding – they got on you...

Jul 11, 2017 - Day 17: In Lyon

Day 17: In Lyon. Weather: 17-29C but 90% humidity. Sunny most of the day. Steps: 19 900 (12.4km). After waking during the night, I turned off the a/c and left the door open which brought some refreshing cooler air. Today was the day to visit Pérouges, a medieval walled town 30 km northeast of Lyon. I had read about it and a colleague recommended it as well so, after breakfast, I was on the tram again to go to the main station to catch a train. I saw there was one at 10:12am and hoped to catch it but after waiting in the queue to purchase...

Jul 10, 2017 - Day 16: In Lyon

Day 16: In Lyon. Weather: 17-28C but 90% humidity. There was a BIG thunderstorm early evening and it pelted down flooding streets and causing the trams to stop for a short time. Sunny and humid afterwards. Steps: 13 800 (7.5km). After breakfast I decided to use my bus pass to visit the Confluence Shopping Centre which is located on reclaimed land making a peninsula to where the two rivers meet. I walked up to Place Bellecour (FYI – the third largest square in France but the largest pedestrian only square in Europe, as others allow cars but...

Jul 9, 2017 - Day 15: In Lyon

Day 15: In Lyon all day! Weather: Pleasant in the morning with cloud and a lovely breeze but warmed up in the afternoon with the sun out – maximum reached was 30C. Steps: 21 200 (12.2km) - that's a lot of steps!!! It was a warm night so the a/c was working well, thankfully!! I ate my breakfast here, as it is convenient and the range was good and their ‘cold’ milk was ‘cold’ as it was kept in a refrigerated environment!!!! After my daily chat with Jane (NO BABY NEWS!!) I walked across to the park, Place Carnot, opposite. There is a regular...

Jul 9, 2017 - Sunflowers after the storm

Bonjour mes amis, Another week of my French sojourn and another week of hot days that don't cool much as the sun sets. Anyway, I'm not complaining because I'm having a lovely time. Although this week has tested my resolve to be relaxed and cool because of problems at home in Melbourne. The main one was that my power had been cut off due to someone (not me) cancelling it and informing my provider that I had a new provider. Obviously this was not me. If I had moved to another provider I wouldn't have had rotting food in my freezer and no...