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Bonjour La France
  • Alex and Julie Beijen
  • Alex and Julie Beijen

Bonjour La France

26 years after the first attempt to get to France, we're finally on our way. A few days in Vietnam and then London on the way,... and then, "Bonjour Paris !" Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 7, 2025
  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    London

    September 24, 2025 in England ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Beautiful autumn day in London. Some hustle and bustle, roof top bus sightseeing, fabulous quiet moments in cool little café, a purchase from the gorgous Liberty shop . But best of all, a long overdue catchup with friends Tina and Mark in Richmond.
    Further good news ( fingers crossed 🤞) our bag has decided to join us after its extended stopover in Kuwait.    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    London

    September 25, 2025 in England ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Little bit of culture at the V&A. Gate crashed the Maire Antoinette exhibition by ignoring the exit only door,... gal knew how to live it up!

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler
    1

    Nantes, France.

    September 26, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We're here! Great Le Mans style driving by Alex in our bright red roller-skate car, no horns blaring or fists shaking, so we figure we did ok. Obligatory long lunch in the town square. Fabulous to be here. Lovely boloungerie next to the hotel,.. might need to go check it out.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler
    1

    Exploring. Vallet & Clisson

    September 27, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Oh dear,... first villages we explore, and we're in love! We loved the Fromagerie, the boulangerie, the bouchère, the macaroons,...
    Off to Loches tomorrow to start our house hunt. We will, however, return to this area for further exploring, Loved Nantes and the surrounding areas.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Loches, Nouvelle Aquitaine

    September 28, 2025 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Oh dear, oh dear,... we were in love on day one, .. day three, and we're head over heels.! Drive from Nantes to Loche was beautiful. Every village we passed through was enchanting. Settled into our ancient and very quirky little Gite, then headed into town. The French take the sabbath seriously,.. nothing is open on a Sunday - vending machine Pizza for dinner!Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Le Blanc & Fontgombault

    September 29, 2025 in France ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Repeat commentory from previous days, just loving France! Explored villages and towns of the Central/Loire Valley region - won't reveal what we discovered on the house front just yet, but we found a contender. Supermarket shop stocked up the pantry. Day finished with a lovely €1.39 wine back at the Gite - surprisingly drinkable.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Fitting right in.

    September 30, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Alex was a Frenchman in a previous life! He can parle français and boire du café all day ( his french driving needs some refinement following a talking to by the gendarmerie ). Fun day viewing properties and trying to stick to speaking French. Another drive through the achingly beautiful countryside.Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Jour de marché à Loches

    October 1, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C

    It's market day in Loches today, so we popped down to do our weekly veggie shop. Such a fun way to think about preparing the meals for the week. Lovely fresh produce and a chance to practice our French ( who knew buying 1/2 a kilo of green beans could be so much fun!). In our shopping bag;
    Jersey benne potatoes, foraged mushrooms, green beans, shallots and garlic, a truffle salami, thick cut aged steaks, a soft goats cheese, bananas and a tea cake!    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Limousin region

    October 4, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Traveled further south/east, entering the Limousin region. Beautiful rolling pastoral country, very rural - kinda wondered whether we'd been timetraveled back into the 18th century.
    Staying in the tiny remote village of Saint Hilare la Treille. Like all villages, the town square has a soilders memorial, extraordinary that 48 lives lost from a village of maybe 25-30 dwellingsRead more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler

    Limoges and surrounds

    October 5, 2025 in France ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    A Sunday drive in the Limousin countryside. Sticky beak at ⁦Les Halles Centrales (yum!) and nearby historic precinct of Maison Traditionnelle de la Boucherie in Limoges. Quick look at a couple of older properties dating from 1601! Loved the market,... perfectly acceptable to partake of a glass or two of wine mid-morning whilst having a good gossip ( Dogs welcome).Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler
    1

    Oradour-sur-Glane, Limousin

    October 6, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    Today, we visited Oradour-sur-Glane, known as the martyr village. It was difficult to consider the atrocities of WII in the peaceful beauty of the Limousin countryside. On June 10 1944, 642 villagers were massacred by Nazi SS soldiers in a matter of hours. The village itself was bombed and destroyed by tanks.
    The village is now a national monument to the lives lost. Plaques around the village mark the spots where groups of people were slaughtered. The woman and children sought refuge in the Church, all but one were shot.
    An extraordinary place, beautiful, sad, and important, least we forget.    Read more

  • Alex and Julie BeijenBonjour La FranceTraveler
    1

    Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat

    October 7, 2025 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Today we visited the beautiful medieval village/town of Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat ( St Leon to locals). Gorgeous village with lots of interesting properties for sale. We'll be back for another sticky beak. If you love a good entrance door, this is the village for you!
    Love Frances equivalent of Pink Ribbon day,... pink umbrella day to support Breast Cancer Research.    Read more

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