Francesco's house
25 марта 2017 г., Италия ⋅ 🌫 55 °F
Francesco and his two lively children, Matthew and Beatricia, showed us to our spacious apartment. It's a daylight basement with peekaboo views of the mountains. The main room is heated with a pelletЧитать далее
Driving out and about today
27 марта 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 52 °F
Mostly photos of the drive up to The Matterhorn.
The Matterhorn
27 марта 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 39 °F
Or Monte Cervino as the Italians call it. The alps up here are so rugged and craggy they are unreal. We both felt they looked almost photoshopped against the bright blue of the sky. Awe inspiring.
Rosemary EngleI am in awe of all that you are seeing, and these mountains are just wow.
And the drive back
27 марта 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F
I'm reminded of Mark Twain's apology, "I'd have written a shorter letter but I didn't have time."
View from our window this morning
28 марта 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 43 °F
French Alps
28 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F
After driving through the Mount Blanc tunnel (11 kilometers long), we emerged into France. The Alps were very imposing. We would have gotten more photos, but most of the time the sun was in the way.Читать далее
Annanaomi Sams
I don't think my heart would let me drive on. This is too beautiful to see and then leave.
Annanaomi SamsHave we/I become overly demanding re: pictures? Probably... These are beyond words. I am grateful for each one! Thank you!
Drive to Avignon
28 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
The air was very extremely hazy during most of the drive so it was difficult to get photos of the huge marble massifs along the way.
Avignon
29 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 50 °F
Views from our 14th floor apartment that we are sharing with our very nice French hostess, Annick, and a university student, Ahmed, from Tunisia.
ПутешественникIt's a lovely condo artfully decorated. It's the hostess' home so we interact with her every day. She has travelled a lot on her own. My French is getting a workout though. Whew!
Wandering around Avignon
29 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
An old walled city that was home to the Popes in the 13th and 14th centuries. The city is on the Rhine River.
The photo of the bike shows how the mail is delivered in the city.
Путешественник
Not this one. The one in the next post. Our photo doesn't show it but the poor bridge has been cut off. It only goes half way across. (But you can still dance on it 👯)
Walking in Avignon Il
30 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F
Getting lost
30 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
A closed road set us off on the side roads in apple growing country.
Annanaomi Sams
Looks like spring there. No blossoms on the orchard trees around here.
Village Des Bories
30 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F
From mid 17th century, these were homes of the homesteaders given rights to land if they farm as a way to stave off famine and revolution. No mortar. Just flat limestone lying around. I'll tell ya,Читать далее
Gordes
30 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
We're in the Luberon in the heart of Provence. Wow who knew there were so many hill towns in FRANCE!
Annanaomi Sams
Oh! Well it SHOULD be a house. I think some in other places were converted...
Roussillon
30 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F
A worldwide source of red and yellow ocher was mined here for centuries. Til they ran out. All house exteriors must, by law, be painted in one of a narrow range of ochre-like colors.
Annanaomi Sams
I like these colors, but can understand wanting a splash of Dublin Blue every once in a while!
Driving around
30 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F
Saintes Maries de la Mer
31 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
La Camargue
31 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Mark FoardI've always wanted to go to the Camargue. It's been a dream since I was a kid. I'm very jealous.
ПутешественникI was surprised by how Spanish Stes Maries seemed. Brilliant white houses, paella, bullfights. Everything but the moules frites which seem quite Belgian to me. The scenery was unlike anything I've seen in France. Wild and marshy. The parts that weren't being farmed that is. Interesting thatched structures. I was disappointed only in that their famous wild white horses were mostly to be seen in front of a feed bin in a corral.
54 mpg
31 марта 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
We got diesel today and for once I had kept track of the mileage. We are pleased that our little Fiat Panda is getting 54 mpg on a mix of highway and city driving.
Driving thru France
1 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ 🌧 48 °F
We really enjoy getting off the major freeways (they are toll roads here), and driving through the country side. As we say: "we hate the freeways." It lets us admire the places and houses that peopleЧитать далее
Karen AndersonI would venture to say that you and Gordon earn the badge of being professional travelers! I am amazed at your pace and all the sites you manage to see as well as the great places you find to stay. Thanks so much for posting all the photos and notes about your trip thus far.
ПутешественникThanks for sharing them. It means a lot to both of us to have friends and family following along with us.
Entrecasteaux
1 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F
We have a small apartment in an old building in a old town in France. It is glorious, old plumbing and all.
ПутешественникVery! Very rustic, but surprisingly well appointed. They even have a washing machine. Not a minute too soon. Not only were we down to our last stitch, but Gordon was going into withdrawal.
Out shopping
3 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
Most of the village shops are closed Mondays so we walked the quarter mile to the car and went to the supermarket in the next town. Photos are coming back into the village and walking to the house.
Karen AndersonWhat a gorgeous place! The oldness of the towns you visit is so fascinating and rich with history and charm. I am so enjoying your trip!
ПутешественникAirbnb is a fantastic tool. We start looking in an area and when we find something that looks good, we go THERE and just see what there is to see!
Another walk around town
4 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Entrecasteaux is a Unesco World Heritage site. The town was first established in the 11th century. Current population 1000. One house on our street has a date over the door in the 1600s, but we didn'tЧитать далее
Heading back to Milano
5 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F
We have to go back to Milan to renew our car lease. Why, you may ask didn't we get a long term rental and why can they renew the lease without returning? Don't ask. I don't want to talk about it.Читать далее
Car rental completed
6 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
We have the car for another month.
Headed back to France
6 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
Annanaomi Sams
I love the green and the snowy mountains!
Путешественник
It was beautiful. Very alpine.