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France2024

april - mei 2024
  • Dave Swanson
Een 31-daags avontuur van Dave Meer informatie
  • Dave Swanson

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  • Frankrijk Frankrijk
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  • 7,3kafgelegde kilometers
Transportmiddelen
  • Vlucht5.415kilometer
  • Lopen1.123kilometer
  • Trein221kilometer
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  • 36Footprints
  • 31dagen
  • 195foto’s
  • 1Likes
VolgenKalenderDelenBucketlist
Nieuwste eerst
  • Dave SwansonReizigerFrance2024

    Bourges to Clermont-Ferrand

    21 april 2024, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 41 °F

    An early start today with temperatures in the 30s. Not all that pleasant for waiting for the bus and the train at outside stations. But we managed. As we traveled in the train,the scenery grew from flat to hilly to small mountains. Unfortunately, the gloomy weather didn't afford us beautiful views, but we could still see some of the views. Coming into Clermont, we could tell this was volcano country, with many small, but individual peaks. The black stone cathedral also stood out from the rest of the town, it's dark silhouette against the gray skies. The trains were pretty full. I guess people headed home from the weekend. It certainly wasn't nice enough to go on a day trip somewhere, even by less cozy European standards. After a crowded bus and train ride, we were happy to get to our apartment.Meer informatie

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  • Dave SwansonReizigerFrance2024

    Clermont-Ferrand Day 1

    21 april 2024, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    I don't have much to say yet. It looks like there are some interesting things here, but the weather and a cold that Cindy picked up is definitely discouraging for an adventurous visit. We found a pharmacy that was open on Sundays, and ventured over. The wind seemed to always be in our face. There was also a bit of rain, but nothing that made us wet. So, medicine in hand, we made our way back to the apartment. We found a new fast food option not available in the US, O'Tacos, or French Tacos. They have nothing to do with taco, really, and the name implies something Irish, however that is not the case. A meat and sauce filled waffle-ish bread is the idea, served with fries, of course. We got bowls, so we didn't experience the bread part. The bowl is a filling over, you guessed it, fries. Not rice. It was different, but amazingly tasty. I wouldn't not get it again.Meer informatie

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  • Dave SwansonReizigerFrance2024

    Clermont-Ferrand Day 2

    22 april 2024, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    I don't want to say Clermont-Ferrand is a bust, but the weather is really making it suck. Cindy got to feeling better, but still isn't back to normal. We searched for some cold weather gear, to no avail, as most stores are closed here on Mondays.
    We made it out to the Visitors Center and got some good information from a great English speaking worker. So, we bought a 48 hour visit card as well as a reduced price 3 day public transport ticket. The black stone cathedral was right across the Place, so we went inside. It was cold, but at least there was no wind. It was fairly ornate, but so dark inside, it was difficult to see anything. Stopped at a nearby bakery for a couple sandwiches and ate at the apartment.
    Later, we went out to visit the old town of Montferrand. Seems like this part of town, which is quite close to the modern Michelin Stadium, has seen better days. I wouldn't call it a dump, but it was dumpy. Just a couple of half timbered buildings and the big church was crumbling inside. There's not much left of the old city walls, but some of it is still visible. Our visit there was short, and we came back to the apartment for the rest of the day.    Meer informatie

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  • Dave SwansonReizigerFrance2024

    Clermont-Ferrand Day 3

    23 april 2024, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    We tried again today for some winter gear, as the temperatures are not forecast to increase at all while we're here. We found an outdoor outfitters by the cathedral. Super nice folks that were very helpful. The girl helping us said two weeks ago the temps were in the 30s (80sF), and this morning the temp was 3 (37F). Unfortunately, it hasn't gotten much warmer than that since we e been here. But, we found some hats and gloves, so we're off to get to the top of the highest local volcano.
    After a bit of a misguided start because the bus lines weren't properly marked, we made our way up the mountain. It was definitely colder there, and while we were in the Visitors Center waiting for the cog train, it started snowing lightly.
    After a bit of a wait, we finally got on the train and made our ascent to the station on the volcano. Thankfully we had found a hat and gloves to buy, as well as hoodies in Bourges, because the winds were strong and the temperature low. We climbed up the trail with the hundreds of others, mainly school kids, who were on the train with us. First stop was the remains and partial reconstruction of the Temple to Mercury, a Roman temple built along the the road from Lyon to Saintes, which was apparently a major highway of the 2nd century.
    Then we started to walk around the radio/satellite tower, but the wind was howling and it felt like we were high in the Alps in the middle of winter. So we turned around. A quick visit to the museum finished our jaunt and we returned to the train to go back down.
    Unfortunately, once back down, we had to wait nearly 2 hours to catch the bad back to the city. We didn't realize that until we had been standing outside a long time. A few minutes of sun alternated with clouds, wind and snow. All in all, not the best of vacation outings.    Meer informatie

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  • Dave SwansonReizigerFrance2024

    Clermont-Ferrand Day 4

    24 april 2024, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    Today is dark and gloomy. Not a spot of sun to be seen. The temperature is hovering around 45 with the wind around 10 mph from the north. Cindy is still sick and the dreary skies make for a depressing setting. This makes four days in a row. By the time we leave tomorrow morning, the wind should finally be changing direction. 2 weeks of cold north wind makes for a challenging vacation.
    This afternoon we headed over to the Michelin headquarters and museum. This museum is well worth the visit. The original Michelin brothers were quite the entrepreneurs, essentially either inventing or improving much to do with the travel industry. Obviously, tires are their big thing, but the scale of the travel guides that the world has come to use as a standard definitely changed how we think about and do travel. If so mething didn't exist to support their production and testing of tires, they invented it. Very clever and industrious.
    So, a couple hours of visiting away from our apartment was good, but nothing changed in the weather, or the gloom. Upon arriving back, our key failed to unlock the door. So, after an hour or so of getting the manager to come over, then the locksmith, we were finally back in the apartment. About two hours total before the locksmith packed up. And it cost €800. Not that we had to pay, thank goodness.
    So, a mildly eventful day came to a close. I have to say I won't miss C-F when we leave tomorrow. However, I think the potential for outdoor activity here is wonderful, just in the summer...    Meer informatie

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  • Dave SwansonReizigerFrance2024

    Clermont-Ferrand to Montpellier

    25 april 2024, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    An early start found us eating breakfast from a boulangerie/viennoiserie. Cindy had a brioche bun with chocolate bits and I had a croissant filled with chocolate and a creamy almond paste covered in thinly sliced almonds. Delicious. An easy walk to the tram followed, and both tram and the bus were not crowded. That's one good thing for departing early. We had a leisurely wait at the train station and we're one of the first on board. That is a great thing about getting on a train at its originating location.
    Being under the weather and just climbing 63 stairs with luggage, we didn't do anything else this evening.    Meer informatie

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  • Dave SwansonReizigerFrance2024

    Montpellier Day 2

    26 april 2024, Frankrijk ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F

    Explored the town today in the rain and coolness. At least it isn't cold.We checked out the cathedral and walked the Promenade de Perou. Lovely garden areas in the typical French style, as well as a large rotunda which covers the original Roman cistern that held water brought in via aqueduct from the mountains.
    We found lunch at a Argentinian empanadas restaurant. Just a few tables were packed because of the rain. Quite a tasty lunch and a very busy but helpful owner server.    Meer informatie

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  • Dave SwansonReizigerFrance2024

    Montpellier Day 3 - Nimes

    27 april 2024, Frankrijk ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

    Today is a better weather day, but we're both still not feeling our best. We thought it would be wise to take advantage of the probable best weather during this leg to go over to Nimes and check out that city.
    There's a lot of well maintained Roman ruins here. We visited the arena, which is probably 75 percent intact. There is also a Temple remaining, although it's seen many iterations of fun tion throughout it's 1000 years of existence. We found a nice pizza lunch and headed up the large hill, with a Roman tower on top. There is a large park with ponds and statuary here before you go up the hill. It's quite beautiful and the day was perfect for viewing the sites.    Meer informatie

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