Foggy morning, disgusting squat toilet (and like everthing else we have a photo of that too!).
Turned off before Rochefort to Saintes and Angouleme to Perigueux where the post lady showed us the way to the information centre because she couldn't explain it, the signs in France messed us up again, pointing in both directions at an intersection when what they really meant was it was behind us! Stopped at Pierrot Gourmet and tried some of their 'black leg', smoked with sweet chestnuts (chataigne) for 36 months, 150euro per 100grams, Peter and I shared a cup of cheese and vegetables, very nice (very cheesy), the bacon was very fatty and almost slimy. Ate quiche for dinner in our pub room in Cherveix Cubas near Hautefort. We went down for a beer and the owner offered us a seat which we thought was great, then he got up and left us there! I guess some french have to live up to their unfriendly name!
Friday, January 26, 2007
St Malo 11th Dec
A very windy Monday morning. Walked the walls of the 'old city' nearly got blown away.
then the drive to Mont Saint Michel an abbey and small town perched on a small rocky outcrop. Abbey cost 7eu each entrance then we walked around the tiny town that is now mostly expensive restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops.
Started to rain, and getting dark so headed back towards Pontorson (cheaper hotels). Got a list of open hotels from the tourist office, but turns out everyone was having an earlier than usual Christmas break! After going back to the tourist office and getting the lovely (reminded me a lot of Jessica - face, hair, hands) girl there to call the rest of the list until she found a B&B out of town on a farm in a little place called Vessey. Sweet lady that didn't speak a lot of English welcomed us into her house which had an overpowering smell of apples. 30Eur for the both of us for the night including traditional French Breakfast.
Tuesday 12th Dec we headed of before sunrise hoping to see the sunrise over Mont St Michel. Almost didn't make it however as Pete was still dreaming and driving on the left side of the road (not that I was paying enough attention to notice either on the small country road!) We now have a continuous mantra after every driver change and turned corner of "stick to the right!" and Pete is banned from early morning driving.
The sun lighting the sky over the Abbey was lovely and of the hundreds of photos we took hopefully there will be a good one! Back at the B&B we had our special french breakfast that was reminiscent of every other breakfast in france, bread with jam, coffe and hot chocolate (not that I'm complaining about that bit) it was made somewhat better by the large selection of homemade jams and marmalades (hence the apples), and we had a great talk with the lady of the house. Turns out I am her first ever New Zealander in 18years of running a B&B!! Then we had a quick nosey at the cows and calves in the sheds before heading off on the long drive down to La Rochelle. Booked into the Auberge de Jeunesse (Youth Hostel) for 30eu, separate dorms for boys and girls but they gave us the wrong keys so I scared the absolute crap out of the elderly Spanish man in Peter's room when he thought he would be sharing with a girl (I wish I had a picture of the look of shock on his face he was literally speechless poor bloke!). After calming Hoshi's nerves Pete and I set off down tot he harbour to see the 3 towers (Chain, St Nicholas, Lantern) back in the day they pulled an enormous chain between 2 towers to protect the harbour. Had a lovely dinner in flash restaurant for 19eu each. I had the fish soup, steak and chips and the sorbet for dessert (delicious) and Peter had the mussels in a curry and creme fraiche sauce, cuttlefish and chocolate mousse. Also tried the house white and rose wines, which were a bit on the harsh side.
then the drive to Mont Saint Michel an abbey and small town perched on a small rocky outcrop. Abbey cost 7eu each entrance then we walked around the tiny town that is now mostly expensive restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops.
Started to rain, and getting dark so headed back towards Pontorson (cheaper hotels). Got a list of open hotels from the tourist office, but turns out everyone was having an earlier than usual Christmas break! After going back to the tourist office and getting the lovely (reminded me a lot of Jessica - face, hair, hands) girl there to call the rest of the list until she found a B&B out of town on a farm in a little place called Vessey. Sweet lady that didn't speak a lot of English welcomed us into her house which had an overpowering smell of apples. 30Eur for the both of us for the night including traditional French Breakfast.
Tuesday 12th Dec we headed of before sunrise hoping to see the sunrise over Mont St Michel. Almost didn't make it however as Pete was still dreaming and driving on the left side of the road (not that I was paying enough attention to notice either on the small country road!) We now have a continuous mantra after every driver change and turned corner of "stick to the right!" and Pete is banned from early morning driving.
The sun lighting the sky over the Abbey was lovely and of the hundreds of photos we took hopefully there will be a good one! Back at the B&B we had our special french breakfast that was reminiscent of every other breakfast in france, bread with jam, coffe and hot chocolate (not that I'm complaining about that bit) it was made somewhat better by the large selection of homemade jams and marmalades (hence the apples), and we had a great talk with the lady of the house. Turns out I am her first ever New Zealander in 18years of running a B&B!! Then we had a quick nosey at the cows and calves in the sheds before heading off on the long drive down to La Rochelle. Booked into the Auberge de Jeunesse (Youth Hostel) for 30eu, separate dorms for boys and girls but they gave us the wrong keys so I scared the absolute crap out of the elderly Spanish man in Peter's room when he thought he would be sharing with a girl (I wish I had a picture of the look of shock on his face he was literally speechless poor bloke!). After calming Hoshi's nerves Pete and I set off down tot he harbour to see the 3 towers (Chain, St Nicholas, Lantern) back in the day they pulled an enormous chain between 2 towers to protect the harbour. Had a lovely dinner in flash restaurant for 19eu each. I had the fish soup, steak and chips and the sorbet for dessert (delicious) and Peter had the mussels in a curry and creme fraiche sauce, cuttlefish and chocolate mousse. Also tried the house white and rose wines, which were a bit on the harsh side.
Blois
Went for an early morning walk to check out Blois at sunrise (about 8am so not that early).
Bought the best bread sticks (still) at a little bakery round the corner from the hotel, then went back for more, they were only 0.75eu each with ham and cheese and they were warm!!
Headed back to Chambord, got an audi tour, interesting helical staircase but such a huge place and a lot of the rooms not used and others not as impressive as Chenonceau. Pity about the fog as the views from the top of the Chateau would have been great.
Then it was off on the big drive to Saint Malo on the coast. Again struggling to find the hostel, drove right past it (wish the book had told us the name of the complex!). 30.80 euro 3 bed dorm with private bathroom and breakfast included.
Bought the best bread sticks (still) at a little bakery round the corner from the hotel, then went back for more, they were only 0.75eu each with ham and cheese and they were warm!!
Headed back to Chambord, got an audi tour, interesting helical staircase but such a huge place and a lot of the rooms not used and others not as impressive as Chenonceau. Pity about the fog as the views from the top of the Chateau would have been great.
Then it was off on the big drive to Saint Malo on the coast. Again struggling to find the hostel, drove right past it (wish the book had told us the name of the complex!). 30.80 euro 3 bed dorm with private bathroom and breakfast included.
Paris - Tours
Took the train (my dicount card 50% off).
Went for a walk around Tours at night quite a nice 'old city'. Had really bad pizza at a cheap restaurant, booked a hire car over the internet and called home. Hotel 27euro for a twin room
Saturday 9th December
11am picked up car from Europecar - Toyota Yaris
stick to the right!
Headed straight out of town towards Chenonceau Chateau expensive at 9eu each but pretty impressive built over the river Cher.
Stopped in the town of Montrichard then on to the Chambord Chateau to watch the sunset (too late to go inside). Struggled a bit to find a hotel in Blois as it was dark, the ones near the train station expensive so drove round trying to follow signs that just dont work the same as at home. Seriously, if the sign is not at the intersecion, but a bit before, if you are supposed to go straight ahead the arrow points to the left (the sign's on the right hand side of the road), so sometimes we're just not sure if it means left or not! Stayed at Hotel Belany 37euro with 2 double beds.
Went for a walk around Tours at night quite a nice 'old city'. Had really bad pizza at a cheap restaurant, booked a hire car over the internet and called home. Hotel 27euro for a twin room
Saturday 9th December
11am picked up car from Europecar - Toyota Yaris
stick to the right!
Headed straight out of town towards Chenonceau Chateau expensive at 9eu each but pretty impressive built over the river Cher.
Stopped in the town of Montrichard then on to the Chambord Chateau to watch the sunset (too late to go inside). Struggled a bit to find a hotel in Blois as it was dark, the ones near the train station expensive so drove round trying to follow signs that just dont work the same as at home. Seriously, if the sign is not at the intersecion, but a bit before, if you are supposed to go straight ahead the arrow points to the left (the sign's on the right hand side of the road), so sometimes we're just not sure if it means left or not! Stayed at Hotel Belany 37euro with 2 double beds.
Reims and back to Paris
Said like 'rance'
Stayed in very nice hostel that's not really a hostel, more long term people from the school.
Met nice Canadian girl that leant me her computer so I could call home via skype.
Pommery Champagne tour and tasting, need to get me some of that - unfortunately not in NZ (yet). Good explaination of how champagne made at their website www.pommery.com
Stayed in very nice hostel that's not really a hostel, more long term people from the school.
Met nice Canadian girl that leant me her computer so I could call home via skype.
Pommery Champagne tour and tasting, need to get me some of that - unfortunately not in NZ (yet). Good explaination of how champagne made at their website www.pommery.com
Champagne bottles, marked with a code number, will sit here for 6+ years.
5th Dec Train from Reims to Paris, headed to diff hostel, Peter already there (Aussie I met in Brussels)
6th Dec Peter and I went walking to see some sights, I had the best hot chocolate in the world (with a price to match) at Angelina's near the Louvre. Dragged Peter to the Musee D'Orsay then climbed the Eiffel Tower - stairs to the second level then lift to the top, were there early but luckily could go inside out of the fierce wind, watched the sun set and all the lights in town come on, pretty impressive.
7th Dec Did the Green bus tour of the city, 4 loops all connected, headphones to listen to the commentary in your chosen language, raining lots in the morning so stuck inside the bus - not worth it as can't see a lot. But cleared up in the afternoon so while still cold wind and wet seats managed to see a bit more from the top, also made for a good video of the Arc de Triomphe.
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