Oct 6, 2009 - Carcassonne

Our destination for the day was Carcassonne, in southern France. ... We had never heard of Carcassonne, but our friends in Paris told us about it, and said it was well worth the stop. ... Carcassonne was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1997. ...

Oct 4, 2009 - Barcelona to Carcassonne

6.

Oct 3, 2009 - Montagnac

We struggled to come up with ideas for a hostess gift to take for Wynne Blades and Brian Hesje, our hosts for a few days in the small town of Montagnac, about an hour’s drive outside of Montpellier. ... When she learned we would be traveling from Spain along the coast of France, she kindly invited us to join her and Brian at their rented home in Montagnac. ... Her plan was to stop along the way from Montpellier to Montagnac for a picnic lunch. ... Wynne has been following my travel journals, and she was only too willing to stop for me to take a photo for my entry about Montagnac. ... We wanted their last few days in Montagnac to be as relaxing as possible. ...

Sep 21, 2009 - Nimes, France

Nimes, France is clearly a city suffering from an identity crisis. ... Its claims to fame are denim (yes, invented in Nimes, not America), Roman ruins (among the best preserved in Europe) and Spanish bullfighting (yes, in France). ... Neither of us had ever seen a bullfight and we somehow managed to miss every opportunity in Spain and Portugal! But as we were planning our time in southern France, we discovered that Nimes, a small city in southern France, has a huge festival with Spanish-style bullfighting - ostensibly to celebrate the grape harvest but it is actually just an excuse to have a huge 4-day long party. ... In addition to the usual churches and statues of local heros, Nimes contains some incredibly well-preserved Roman ruins; in fact the bullfights are actually held in a incredibly well maintained second-century Roman Colosseum and the evening shows were in front of a temple built in the first century. ...

Aug 12, 2009 - Montpellier

Continuing along the highway southwest we head toward Montpellier. ... Montpellier was more a base for touring rather than a location in itself. ... A big university town with lots of kids and bars we took in the immediqte sites - Church, Royal Gardens and new town and headed back to the hotel for a 'hotel picnic' supper of wine, cheese, crudites, wine baguette and wine.Continuing along the highway southwest we head toward Montpellier. ... Montpellier was more a base for touring rather than a location in itself. ... A big university town with lots of kids and bars we took in the immediqte sites - Church, Royal Gardens and new town and headed back to the hotel for a 'hotel picnic' supper of wine, cheese, crudites, wine baguette and wine....

Jul 9, 2009 - Moving South !!

On the road again -- I decided to stay another day (wednesday) at the lake side sun and the constant breeze proved a great laundry opportunity !! So great day relaxing reading and HEY I GOT HOT WATER -- eating great food and finishing my wine stocks -- Need to replace ! This morning my newly invented shower dance was useless -- ( the shower dance is done when you are naked and in a 24"Long and 12 "wide shower tray that has a drain at one end and the Van is angled in such a way that the water is at teh other -- So you take your right foot and cross it over your left foot (towards teh drain ) while trying to avoid any bow wave to get over teh edge or you risk water all over teh van Anyway my bloody shower tray decided it wasn't going to drain and I had to mop it out which I realized after a wee while would take adges -- So I found a nice salad bowl and baled out teh try into teh aforementioned Mop bucket and filled it that way --- My camper neighbors must have thought I was a bit unhygenic emptying teh bucket on teh grass but I'd be buggered trying to drive to a drain with a full bucket of grey water -- I've had all the van problems I think I want and I don't want more Now leaving here to day and going down to carcassone (where I have found a mcDonalds ) and then further south almost to teh Spanish border just East of Andorra -- I'm picking my Best Buddy Jim up at Girona Airport on Friday so I'll be close to this location and avoid any lengthy drive.On the road again -- I decided to stay another day (wednesday) at the lake side sun and the constant breeze proved a great laundry opportunity !! So great day relaxing reading and HEY I GOT HOT WATER -- eating great food and finishing my wine stocks -- Need to replace ! This morning my newly invented shower dance was useless -- ( the shower dance is done when you are naked and in a 24"Long and 12 "wide shower tray that has a drain at one end and the Van is angled in such a way that the water is at teh other -- So you take your right foot and cross it over your left foot (towards teh drain ) while trying to avoid any bow wave to get over teh edge or you risk water all over teh van Anyway my bloody shower tray decided it wasn't going to drain and I had to mop it out which I realized after a wee while would take adges -- So I found a nice salad bowl and baled out teh try into teh aforementioned Mop bucket and filled it that way --- My camper neighbors must have thought I was a bit unhygenic emptying teh bucket on teh grass but I'd be buggered trying to drive to a drain with a full bucket of grey water -- I've had all the van problems I think I want and I don't want more Now leaving here to day and going down to carcassone (where I have found a mcDonalds ) and then further south almost to teh Spanish border just East of Andorra -- I'm picking my Best Buddy Jim up at Girona Airport on Friday so I'll be close to this location and avoid any lengthy drive....

Jul 7, 2009 - Le Tour De France

Hi from Le Tour De France! We got a surprise when we arrived at the car hire place in Paris and were told there was only one car available (and we had booked and paid 6 months ahead!!!). It was a teeny weeny two seater smart car- you can probably imagine the looks on our faces! We had little option but to take it, and luckily our luggage fitted in- just! Aaron has done a brilliant job driving us safely from Paris to Lyon (where we stayed overnight), then onto Marseille for two nights, and Montpellier for two nights. ... Today was different though as we were at the team time trials in Montpellier. ... It was awesome as we got to see every rider in their teams.Hi from Le Tour De France! We got a surprise when we arrived at the car hire place in Paris and were told there was only one car available (and we had booked and paid 6 months ahead!!!). It was a teeny weeny two seater smart car- you can probably imagine the looks on our faces! We had little option but to take it, and luckily our luggage fitted in- just! Aaron has done a brilliant job driving us safely from Paris to Lyon (where we stayed overnight), then onto Marseille for two nights, and Montpellier for two nights. ... Today was different though as we were at the team time trials in Montpellier. ... It was awesome as we got to see every rider in their teams....

May 18, 2009 - Serignan to Langogne

Today we headed north, mostly using good regional roads. Drove up the mountains to arrive at Langogne. ... Found a nice Bed and Breakfast just outside of town.Today we headed north, mostly using good regional roads. Drove up the mountains to arrive at Langogne. ... Found a nice Bed and Breakfast just outside of town....

May 17, 2009 - Serignan, Cap d'agde

Today was supposed to be another beach day and after breakfast we headed back to the same spot we had yesterday. Headed to Cap d'agde which has a number of excellent beaches strung around the cape. ... Just north of the cape is Village Naturiste.Today was supposed to be another beach day and after breakfast we headed back to the same spot we had yesterday. Headed to Cap d'agde which has a number of excellent beaches strung around the cape. ... Just north of the cape is Village Naturiste....

May 15, 2009 - to Serignan

When we woke this morning it was still raining lightly.When we woke this morning it was still raining lightly....

May 4, 2009 - Il faut que je voyage plus souvent!

En effet, je vais devoir voyager plus souvent. Je n’avait pas vu Montpellier. ... Une très jolie ville.En effet, je vais devoir voyager plus souvent. Je n’avait pas vu Montpellier. ... Une très jolie ville....

Oct 9, 2008 - Carcassone Medieval La Cite

A comfortable three hour drive takes us into the Languedoc Roussillon region of France- famous for its castles, wines, and of course Carcassone. ... We explore La Cite, but also enjoy the beauty of our room which overlooks not only the ramparts but also the valley and town of Carcassone itself. ... We cannot by-pass the beautiful shop selling all manner of cookies next to our hotel, selecting one of each but decide that the pistachio macaroons are tops.A comfortable three hour drive takes us into the Languedoc Roussillon region of France- famous for its castles, wines, and of course Carcassone. ... We explore La Cite, but also enjoy the beauty of our room which overlooks not only the ramparts but also the valley and town of Carcassone itself. ... We cannot by-pass the beautiful shop selling all manner of cookies next to our hotel, selecting one of each but decide that the pistachio macaroons are tops....