A wonderful old farmhouse
6 апреля 2017 г., Италия ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
Our 5 day hiatus while we dashed to Milan to renew our car was marked by fatigue and a wee bout of tummy troubles. However we don't want to forget the two big old farmhouses we stayed at on the way inЧитать далее
Back in France: Food!
7 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F
We were invited to a feast! Our hostess' 19 year old son is taking chef classes and we joined her and her sister at a dinner prepared by her son's school. Her son acted as the lead chef for theЧитать далее
Karen AndersonWow.... now that is a quick turn around time!! France hath cast a spell on you! How wonderful to return to such an invitation as a feast!
ПутешественникIt was an evening to remember. You just never know when the really great times will manifest. We were just passing through and expected only a pillow to lay our heads on.
Driving to Rieux-Minervous
8 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Country scenery. We drove west from Lyon, crossing two mountain ranges and then headed south. Much of the way south was at 3000 feet elevation in forested land.
Rieux-Minervous
8 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
Which we like to call Rieux-Marvelous. A lovely private apartment! They have thought of everything to make us comfortable!
Annanaomi Sams
Do you know what kind of tree this is? I like the he clusters of flowers.
Путешественник
You've no idea! If I could share the heady scent of the wisteria and the buzzing of a thousand bees, I would.
Photos coming
8 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Such as they are. We've been driving for 5 days to take care of renewing the car. We're pretty tired. We'll try to expand on our recent posts while we are here in Rieux Minervois for 2 days.
Flea Marche
9 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Heather had a grand time looking for a new sweater. Gordon had a grand time watching Heather and the world go by.
Heather adds: ok you see what happens when I don't censor Gordon's photos of me.
Bonnie BenedictI'm sure Gordon feels the pictures need no editing. Because, you're always beautiful to him!
ПутешественникYes he is the sweetest fellow isn't he. But really, next time I'm censoring! And by the way, I did NOT buy any of the sweaters even if they WERE "only TWO EUROS!"
Homps
9 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Homps is on a canal through the region. The barges were for rent and all of the people on the boats seemed to be British.
Annanaomi SamsI wouldn't mind barging on a river in France. Which reminds me....Sometime I'd like to go to Samois-sur-Seine for the Django Reinhardt Festival held the last week of June. Since I'm traveling vicariously this year, maybe you could go! Top off your trip to Europe!!! You DO like gypsy jazz, don't you?
ПутешественникHeck no. No festivals for us even though I'm sure gypsy jazz is our favorite music if we'd ever heard it. Carcassonne put us over our limit for crowds.
Le Church
9 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
The church is in the middle of a town with the surrounding houses only a few feet away.
Annanaomi Sams
Looks like they carved away some if the stone so a truck or heavily laden wagon could get through the street. Don't tell me their did it to accommodate Panzer tanks. (Reading WWII historical fiction right now.)
And another church ...
9 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
Various photos
Conversation with our hosts
9 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
This is Cathy and Pierre, our hosts here. The are both chefs who retired a couple of years ago. We were out enjoying a bottle of chianti gifted to us by a previous host when they poked their heads outЧитать далее
Bonnie BenedictHis eye teeth are barely showing. Must've taking a photo before the second bottle of wine :-)
ПутешественникYes, he feels he took one for the team. His eye teeth were prominently on display by the time we headed in.
Walking around Rieux
10 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Driving to Carcassonne
10 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Carcassonne
10 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Forever known in our memories as DIsneyland In South of France. We think it was perhaps that this is Easter week and many people may be holidaying here. But gosh ... you could barely walk for theЧитать далее
Bonnie BenedictIt was spring break in the states. That may be why they were more tourists.
ПутешественникPossibly. But we didn't hear any English. I think the large majority were French.
ПутешественникThey are looking more and more like Americans, both in clothing and body weight. A bit of a surprise.
But all is not lost ...
10 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Carcasonne is famous not just for its towers, but for inventing the rustic dish cassoulet. 'Nuff said.
View from our bedroom window
10 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
Last day in Rieux-Minervois.
Driving to the Pyrenees
11 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
A low ceiling dampened colors and prevented our seeing the mountains til we were almost on top of them. It was a lovely drive nonetheless. Our biggest problem was finding diesel gas en route. WeЧитать далее
Lunch on the grand boulevard
12 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F
Woah! Now that's a steak! The accompanying frites were so good I had to ask about them. Hand cut with skins cooked in the Belgian way: first at low temperature, then again at high temp to finish andЧитать далее
Donna GilmanWhat a deal on the prices!! And the meals are large enough to have leftovers so even more of a bargain !!! Besides, part of the experience is indulging, eh! DonnaG
ПутешественникIt was delicious, but truly the atmosphere of sitting on the grand boulevard with the mountains in full view was what really filled me up.
Bagnere-de-Luchon
12 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F
Our method of finding an area we want to visit and then selecting a specific place based on the offerings in Airbnb is yielding some spectacular results. Who ever heard of this little dot in theЧитать далее
Annanaomi SamsNot trip related... today is Aira's 41st birthday! Thank you for being there when she was born! She is an amazing woman! If I do say so myself...
ПутешественникI felt privileged to meet the adult version. She just radiates energy and life. And she's beautiful, too.
Drive in the Pyrennes
13 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 55 °F
We drove up in to the Pyrennes. Not a long drive, but enough to get some views. We saw bicyclists going up and down the hills. One of them passed me on a downhill slope. Our town was on the 2016 TourЧитать далее
Путешественник
Yeah, we liked this photo so much we let the traffic sign pass. You have no idea how many fantastic photos have been scrapped over power wires, traffic signs, and other artifacts of modern technology (on which e freely admit we depend). Oh yes, and we scrap a number because they show Heather's wrinkles, her burgeoning waistline, or just plain are not flattering.
Annanaomi SamsOM goodness. What good photo curators you are! I actually think Heather looks thinner. I think you may be in trouble...!!!
The thermes
13 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
We poked our noses into the thermal baths building which was apparently built over some old Roman baths. It looked like it would be fabulous. There is a steady flow in and out of what look likeЧитать далее
Cherie Sohnen-MoeThat's too bad. Southern France is known for its thalassotherapy.
A few stray photos
13 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F
The first two are inside our building. All the apartments have windows or doors onto this central 3-story high open area. Our window is first on the right. I believe that glass-windowed door at theЧитать далее
La Rochelle
15 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ⛅ 55 °F
This morning we drove into La Rochelle prior to hitting the road. Little did we know that this city, selected because it was 5 hours north of where we were, is one of the most scenic and history-richЧитать далее
Karen AndersonWow.... what incredible experience to be amongst this oldness! So interesting.
ПутешественникIt's great to be in a car, too. There are historical remains around every corner. So many photos we've missed and so many others we've tossed because they just didn't come across on the camera.
On the way to Brittany
15 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 55 °F
Along with a few additional pics from La Rochelle. A lot of the cows in France that we see are laying down. Are they lazy? Or perhaps the labor laws of France require rest times every day?
Annanaomi Sams
Could it be that the temps are cooler? Cows tend to stand when warm.
Путешественник
Naah, probably just a convenient place to put the rocks they've dug up.
Just outside of Ruffiac
15 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
Boy, every place we stay we say, "This is the best place ever!" Out in the middle of nowhere this cottage is to be found on Airbnb. Once a combo living space and cider mill this renovated cottage hasЧитать далее
Lazing around
17 апреля 2017 г., Франция ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F
The most we could manage for say one was photos out our bedroom window and the back door. The donkey with the dreds is named Cannabis.
Today we ventured out just to say we did. We missed theЧитать далее
Annanaomi SamsI hope you are jotting down, or otherwise keeping track of all these lovely places so your friends could stay there too! Sometime in the future...
ПутешественникAirbnb keeps them all. We really haven't had a bad experience yet.