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France 2024
  • Wanderlust from Edmonton
  • Mary O'Donoghue
  • Wanderlust from Edmonton
  • Mary O'Donoghue

France 2024

Another Mary and Sandra adventure Read more
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  • Trip start
    October 27, 2024
  • France 2024
    11

    First day in Paris

    October 28, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We arrived around noon after an overnight flight and almost zero sleep but we were determined to keep going. Checked into our small hotel (lovely staff and clean albeit small rooms) and then headed out to explore the city. Wandered the streets, saw some gorgeous old buildings and salivating worthy bakeries before we stopped for a pot of mussels and coffee. There's a store near our hotel that is a stand alone foie gras shop! Wandered lots more and then the final stop was at Hugo's (under the apartment of Victor Hugo) for some amazing ice cream. An early night and readying ourselves for a big day tomorrow.Read more

  • France 2024
    1No I did not buy!
    Lunch laughterScrumptious cheese boardTiger gin bar cocktailsStreets alive with people eating and visitingAnother Canadian sightingNotre Dame1

    Day 2 Paris part 2

    October 29, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    After the Galleries Lafayette observation deck we proceeded to do some shopping. See the shoes with which I trolled my husband - no I did not really buy them. There's an amazing array of gourmet food stuffs for sale. Oh for some more room in our suitcases! Them on to a lovely cafe for lunch and the most amazing cheese board and a croquette madam for Mary. Some more shoe shopping and a trip to the Tiger gin bar. Tuesday night and the streets are alive with locals having dinner on patios in the evening. Found our second Canadian place today - this one a bar - no we did not visit. Took a walk by Notre Dame and finished the evening in a lovely little warm and covered patio with guacamole and chips.Read more

  • France 2024
    One of several gorgeous cheese shops near our hotel
    One of dozens of David Turney prints hung on the rod iron fence around city hallCity hallCity hall and the memories of the OlympicsDecorated art instituteEntrance to a metro stationCanadian shop where one can buy warm clothing not often needed in ParisOpera houseOpera houseOpera houseObservation deckObservation deckObservation deckEiffel tower in fogThe dome of Galleries Lafayette

    Day 2 Paris part 1

    October 29, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Started the day with a stop around the corner from our hotel where we had some of the best croissant ever. Walked by another cheese shop, from which I wanted to buy many things. Began our wander by city hall - a gorgeous building - where there are countless prints of David Turney hung on a rod iron fence surrounding the building. Walked by an art institute that is celebrating 50 years of operation. Apparently the building is always decorated in some way but now with a lobster, a bottle of champagne and a cow. Next on to the opera house, followed by the Galleries Lafayette and a trip to the observation deck and an almost 360 view of the city.Read more

  • France 2024

    Souillac

    October 30, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We traveled from Paris to Souillac from where we start our walk. Small little town that must see many tourists as there are at least four small hotels. Had a beautiful dinner at ours last night starting with a butternut squash salad.Read more

  • France 2024
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    And we are walking!

    October 31, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    We started our walk in Roufillac and ended the day in Sarlat. 34,000 steps up and down rocky and muddy forested hills, alongside farms and rural estates and some time on country roads. Passed many estates, a very old and falling down castle, lots of beautiful rolling green hills and some animals. We arrived at our 15th century Hotel la Coulevrine. Had an amazing dinner - foie gras and steak - before falling into bed.Read more

  • France 2024
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    Sarlat

    November 1, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    An extra day in Sarlat allowed us time to explore the medieval town and experience a great lunch with more foie gras. A little shopping as well.

  • France 2024

    Sarlat to Beynac

    November 2, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Started the day in Sarlat walking country roads and looking back on beautiful rolling hills. Walked through a lot of forested areas with lots of inclines and declines. Saw a lot of beautiful country estates. Visited the Beynac Castle before heading down into town. See a separate post for the castle visit. Ended the day with another good dinner; foie gras and duck for me and butternut squash and steak for Mary. I must get better at taking photos before we begin to eat.Read more

  • France 2024

    Beynac Castle

    November 2, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    The castle is one of the best-preserved and best known in the region.

    The castle was built in the 12th century by the barons of Beynac. The sheer cliff was designed to discourage any assault from below.

    We had an amazing little lunch at the castle - a bruschetta with creamed asparagus, prosciutto, brie, sun dried tomatoes, walnuts and honey. And we were treated to several hot air balloons flying overhead.    Read more

  • France 2024
    11Pomegranates121

    Beynac to Domme

    November 3, 2024 in France ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We departed Beynac this morning, walking along the beautiful bamboo lined Dordogne River, with the castle overlooking the town. We saw several castles and estates high in the hills as we walked through the day. Our plan was to stop for lunch in La Roque Gageac, which had been highly recommended. Sadly there were only two restaurants open and neither could accommodate us so we went to the Riverside park and ate potato chips and candy for lunch. After an almost vertical climb up to the old town of Domme we arrived at our hotel 1 Logis a Domme, a beautiful large old home B&B with incredible rooms. It is the last place open for the season and we are their last guests. And they have three adorable Jack Russell terriers and a cat! We went for dinner at the last restaurant open on their last weekend. Tomorrow we leave for Carsac after we do a loop around the old town here in Domme.Read more

  • France 2024
    2

    Touring and Departing Domme

    November 4, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    We started the day with the jack Russell Terriers, a cat and a beautiful breakfast. Next we wandered around the town - found another cat - and viewed the amazing view into the valley and gorgeous old buildings.Read more

  • France 2024

    Domme to Carsac

    November 4, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    A good walk today up and down forested pathways, on paths beside farms and through a couple of small villages. We saw fields of corn stretching as far as the eye could see. Sadly many stretched as far as the eye could see and some of them were never harvested. Stopped in Vitrac for a coffee and some chips seasoned with herb de provence. Saw a cool cemetery. We finished the last couple hours on a pathway that used to be a rail line. We landed in our beautiful hotel where we were greeted at the front desk with a cat. After a rest we had an amazing dinner - duck for me, fish for Mary. For dessert we had lemon tart and chocolate mousse.Read more

  • France 2024

    Carsac to Souillac

    November 5, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We departed the beautiful La Villa Romaine and headed out on the last leg of our walk. We walked along the corner rail bed turned walking path. Saw a gorgeous chateau in the hills and some peaceful looking farms. Along the way we came across the coolest thing - a baguette vending machine. Thinking you might want to put one of these out front of the Boissevein Bakeshop, Alex Moody.

    Finally in the outskirts of Souillac we spied a house with chickens playing in the driveway and shortly after a beautiful shop selling foie gras as bs truffles. And then we arrived at our hotel for the night.

    Tomorrow we head out by train for Bordeaux.    Read more

  • France 2024
    12

    Souillac to Bordeaux

    November 6, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Starting the day with the news of the Trump win was awful. Yet we carried on by train to Bordeaux. On arrival we wandered the city, had yummy cocktails in the intercontinental hotel (which I forgot to photograph) and finished up with a casual dinner in a little bar/restaurant. Here foie gras for dinner still counts as casual! Then we returned to our very cool apartment for the night in the center of the city.Read more

  • France 2024
    11

    Bordeaux

    November 7, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Our second day in Bordeaux. Lots of walking the city, a little shopping, eating and drinking. A movie theatre (even theatres are in historic and beautiful buildings), a statue of a former prime minister and mayor of Bordeaux, watching macarons being made, spotting a kitchen I want in a design window, a statue of a "steward" of the 18th century, macarons and pain de raisin (yes we indulged) and the grande Cloche tower near "Wine More Time" where we had a couple glasses of wine.Read more

  • France 2024
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    Aix en Provence and Arles

    November 10, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌬 16 °C

    We started the day by renting a car in Avignon and driving to Aux en Provence.

    Christmas tree in the main square
    Beautiful buildings around the city
    A shop that sells nothing but cheese
    Statues, fountains and great streets
    Chocolate shops and a bakery with massive meringues
    Cathedrale Saint-Sauveur

    We then traveled to Arles
    An old colesium - Arles Arena
    Church of Saunt Trophime
    Le Jardin d'ete    Read more

  • France 2024
    2Show this to your collector client LauriAnd this too LauriFoie gras with fig and onion jam2

    Around Avignon

    November 11, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    Armistice day in Avignon

    Opera house on the square across from our hotel
    Saint Agricol church
    Lunch at Les Festival Comptoir Gourmand - sadly I neglected to take a photo of the gorgeous cheese board
    Musee Calvet
    Musee Petit Palais
    Another view of the Palais du Papes
    Dinner at Eat - a lovely little restaurant in an alley - delicious foie gras followed by seafood stew with coconut and leeks broth - amazing. And he has a great collection of knives proudly displayed on his magnetic strip in the open kitchen    Read more

  • France 2024
    1

    Marseilles Adventure

    November 12, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Yesterday we had quite the adventure trying to visit Marseilles. We departed Avignon on the train which was delayed more than a half hour. Then at some point the train was stopped for over an hour due to an "incident". Next we were diverted to another town and had to wait for a new train to Marseilles. In the end our half hour train trip took 4.5 hours. When we arrived it was cold, windy and raining and most restaurants were closed after lunch. We found one open and had a pretty terrible snack. Walked around some more, took photos at the port, laughed at our circumstances, stopped for coffee and a pastry and headed back to the train station for another circuitous route back to Avignon. Finished the day with a stop at Pinochio restaurant for some prosecco to toast John Horgan and some pasta.Read more

  • France 2024
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    Orange

    November 13, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌬 11 °C

    Visited Orange, a small city close to Avignon
    Arc du Triomphe, built under Tiberius in homage to the veterans of Caesar's 2nd Gallic Legion
    Notre Dame du Nazareth
    Coliseum built in the 1st century
    Lunch at Le Parvis - a lovely french restaurant - porc filet with pureed carrots and parsnips
    Parc de la Colline Saint-Eutrope overlooking the city of Orange    Read more

  • France 2024

    Farewell Avignon

    November 14, 2024 in France ⋅ 🌙 7 °C

    A lovely city. So glad we came. Finished our last night with a great dinner at Arlequin. Now we are about to take the high speed train to Paris.

  • France 2024
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    Back in Paris

    November 15, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    We arrived back in Paris yesterday and wandered the city. So many fabulous buildings and sights. I loved the fountain in a square with all the moving characters. The performing arts centre is an interesting looking and reportedly controversial building.Read more

  • France 2024
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    Second last day in Paris

    November 15, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Lots of walking. Some fun discoveries and disappointments. We started our day at an amazing patisserie around the corner from our hotel. Beautiful pastries and coffee for breakfast. Then we walked for an hour to the Catacombs only to find that we had to have purchased tickets online to enter and the next were not available for a couple of days. Oh well. We wandered next to the Abbey bookstore, owned by a Canadian who moved to Paris about 20 years back and decided to open a second Abbey bookstore, the first being in Toronto. 42,000 titles the owner told us, in a very narrow space with books up to the high ceiling. The best part however - Mary found two books, written long ago for which she has been searching for about a year.

    Next we walked to the Pantheon. A beautiful building, paintings and crypts down below of many noteworthy people.

    We next travelled to Saint Chapelle, a beautiful basilica to find it surrounded with a heavy police presence and again tickets were required but not available for the day. Turns out it is next to the courts - another gorgeous building - and something big must have been going on.

    We did stop in the Saint Severin church however and saw the incredible stained glass work.

    Next we decided it was time for a cocktail. A French Negroni for me - very good and made me think of my old colleague Hristijan Gjorgievski - and a white Spritz for Mary.

    We returned to the hotel for a while and then headed out for dinner at a place recommended by Shelley Wilson. We discovered a cool neighborhood in which the restaurant was located but arrived only to discover the restaurant closed Friday nights and Saturday. Sorry Shelley, we tried!

    We then started to wander up and down streets to find somewhere else to eat. We happened upon this fun looking place, with an appealing menu. The waiter beckoned us and he thought he would seat us on the other, less crowded part of the restaurant. Once we were seated Mary recognized it was the same place we visited earlier for a cocktail! We had a good laugh about that. Very good music selection and it turns out Jimi Hendrix is still very popular in Paris. And the onion soup at Comptoir Rivoli is amazing should you visit Paris in the future

    Tomorrow for a couple museums and the opening of the Christmas market.    Read more

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