Southam - Countesthorpe 21 August 2011

Left Southam at 9.30 and arrived back in Countesthorpe at 10.15.
Home - after 16 weeks and 6 days.  We had a brilliant time (most of the time anyway).


We will be adding photos to the blog now we have equipment that works so if you are interested...........


Bye and thanks for following us.

Marlborough-Banbury-Southam - 20 August 2011

We left Marlborough at 9.00 and drove the 40 miles to Banbury.  Walked into town to the local Tourist Info who checked accommodation availability but only one B & B on their "approved" list had any rooms.  However when we arived there all the rooms were taken.  On the way out of Banbury we spotted a couple of other hotels but these were not on the approved list.

Drove on to Southam where a brusque but helpful lady in the local library directed us to the "Tarsus" a 15 minute walk away just outside the village.  This had once been a small Greek taverna but had been much extended over the 20 years the owners had been there and was now a decent sized and very nice hotel.  £75 for the night.  Had a respectable meal there in the evening, Tournedos Rossini for Jane and Beef Stifado for Tony.  £57 including wine.

Shaftesbury-Amesbury-Marlborough - 19 August 2011

We woke to a Lovely sunny morning and after a lightbreakfast we took a long-delayed walk around Shaftesbury.  We walked down Gold Hill, which was used in the famous Hovis advert with the baker's lad pushing a bike up it.  It's steeper than you think and very picturesque.

We drove on to Amesbury and after a swift walk around we decided the town was not large enough to keep out interest.  The only hotel we could see did not appeal and Amesbury seems to be a tea stop on the way to visit Stonehenge 3 miles away.

Marlborough was the next town on the road and a lovely market town it is too.  We booked a room at the Sun Inn for £60 and had lunch there (sandwiches and chips).  It was a lovely sunny day and there was a wedding at the Town Hall.  Nie to see people eating outside again!

In the evening both had steak pie in a pub, simple fare but welcome after the fuss of last night.

Bayeux-Cherbourg-Poole-Shaftesbury - 18 August 2011

Left Bayeux on what appeared to be opening out into a sunny morning; blue sky and sunshine at about 8.45.  The 60 miles to Cherbourg were covered in 45 minutes and when we arrived at the ferry port intending to book tickets for Friday morning, we discovered there was a ferry due to leave in an hour, so we got that one instead.  229€ though.  Weather worsened as we got closer to Poole and on arrival, although it had stopped raining it was obvious from the size of the puddles that there had been a torrential downpour.  Feels very cool and windy. Nearly turned round and went back to France!

We stopped in Shaftesbury and have found a bed for the night at the Fleur de Lys, a restaurant with rooms for £120.  The room is very well appointed and has a laptop for our use so we updated the blog.

Went looking for a restaurant in the evening but it started to rain again so we returned to the hotel to be fed.  The cooking was excellent if a little fussy and rich.  Both had lamb and with the wine the bill came to to £85. 
Two other couples in restaurant it was all a bit sedate and hushed after what we have been used to.

Bayeaux - 17 August 2011

Got up fairly early, had hotel breakfast and then went back to see the Tapestry again.  Arrived just as they were opening up at 9.00 so we were almost first there.  It really is brilliant and this time we went into the exhibition, which we missed yesterday, showing close-ups of the embroidery and models of Norman buildings (Tower of London, Winchester Cathedral).  There was also an exhibition of Japanese story-telling scrolls.  All very interesting.

There is a market here today so had a stroll around that.  Lunch at hotel today - not brilliant.

Took a trip out to Leclerc's supermarket to purchase more wine and were asked advice on wines by a young English couple.  Drink lots was advice given!

Ate at "La Fringale" this evening where we had a lovely meal for 48€.  An American family sat at the next table and the father had escargots and they tried everything on the menu more or less - bravo to them.

Tomorrow we go to Cherbourg to check out the ferries home with a view to catching one on Friday morning.  Part of us wants to come home but part of us wants to stay - strange feeling.

St. Lo to Bayeux - 16 August 2011

Today France re-awakes after its holidays.  Exited St. Lo on the wrong road but excellent navigation thereafter brought us to Bayeux.  Checked one or two hotels on the way to the Tourist Office - both very expensive.  From the Tourist Info list we went along to the Hotel Reine Mathilde (Mathilde was William the Conqueror's wife) which can accommodate us for two nights at 60€ per night.  Room here is small too with a sloping ceiling (ouch) and shower is also small but it's a pleasant room and 36€ cheaper than the last one.  The hotel is about a 5 minute walk from both the Bayeux Tapestry and the Cathedral so couldn't be in a better location.

Sorted ourselves out at hotel and went along to see the Tapestry.  There was a long queue made worse by having to wait for a guided tour group of Americans having priority access in front of us.  Tapestry was well worth the wait and the audio handsets with explanations was excellent.  May even go back again tomorrrow to see it all again.

Many tourists here with lots of them visiting the D Day Landing beaches which are very close by as are two War Cemeteries.  Bayeux has a busy narrrow main street and small lanes along the river, all very picturesque.  Fed up with eating baguettes we had lunch at a restaurant and sat outside as the weather is warm again.  Tony had a cheese and muchroom omelette and Jane had plat de jour of chicken with veg - very good.

After a rest went for a walk along the riverside where potential for a cricket pitch was spotted!

Then on to the Cathedral whose bells play a lovely tune on the hour.  We both know the tune but for life of us cannot think what it is.  How annoying!  The Cathedral was consecrated in 1077 by Bishop Odo, William the Conqueror's brother.

Ate at The Bellagio Italian restaurant where some a French lady at the next table was taking an interest in our bottle of Chianti.  Jane offered her a taste which was politely refused and they ended up ordering some rose wine anyway.  Food reasonable.

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Smug bastard in Bayeux

Vire to St Lo - 15th August 2011

St Lo is about 25 miles away from Vire so it did not take long to get here.  Today is a public holiday in France so nowhere is open apart from the odd bar/tabac and boulanger.  St. Lo was almost completely destroyed in WW2 so is obviously a modern place but very pleasing nevertheless.  It still has some remains of city walls and ramparts which we walked around.  Have booked into the Mercure Hotel which at 96€ is not a bargain as the room is pretty small.  Took a baguette lunch along the river and then returned to the hotel to update the blog and rest.

In the evening walked into town to check out a restaurant mentioned in the Rough Guide but it was closed so we walked down to the Cinema complex where there were two restaurants, one a baked potato place and after much debate this was where we ate.  As to be expected it was not gourmet fare but filling, so we did not starve.

I like this, for some reason.

View along the river Vire, at St Lo.

Vire - 14 August 2011

We had breakfast at the hotel this morning and decided to do the town walk.  Of course after 10 minutes it started to rain but we persevered and completed the walk in about an hour.  Vire has some interesting areas including the remains of its medieval walls and river, but it was badly damaged in WW2 and concrete replaced alot of buildings.

This being a bank holiday weekend we bought some food at a supermarket that was open for a few hours just in case we could not find a restaurant tonight.  We spent the afternoon finishing our books as the weather slowly improved.

In the evening we found a creperie open so we ate there at a cost of 38€ - a bargain really.

Although we have managed to find a computer we can use to update the blog we do not seem to be able to download the photos because of the security.

What do you see in this peculiar picture?

Domfront to Avranches to Vire - 13 August 2011

What a miserable morning!  Rain was obscuring almost everything as we drove to Avranches, not far from Mont St. Michel.  Fine drizzly rain like fog in places.  It was a mistake to go to Avranches, the only hotels we could find were full.  The girl in the Tourist Info explained this Monday is a public holiday and most of France is away for "le weekend" and hotel spaces are scarce.

We drove inland to a town called Vire which was Tony's original suggestion and we have an excellent room at the Hotel St. Peirre (65€) for two nights.  A bit concerned about eating out on Sunday and Monday but we will cross that bridge .......

Drizzle has continued for most the day on and off.  There is a laverie (launderette) opposite the hotel so we have caught up with the washing.

In the evening there was not much open in the way of restaurants - one pizza place was full but we got into another where Tony had sea bass and Jane had salmon - both meals fine.  It was raining so heavily some came into the restaurant and dripped on the lady below.

Jane and Horloge in Vire

We didn't discover the reason for this longboat, but it improves a traffic island somewhat.

Alençon to Domfront - 12 August 2011

No breakfast this morning - just as well - yesterday's cost us 15€ each!  Stopped en route at Carrouges which has a chateau, which we could see in the distance but could not see a way of getting to it.  On to Domfront which is a medieval hill village.  There were 3 hotels just outside the town, one full, one where no one appeared to be there and the one we were forced to settle on - the Hotel Campagnette (47€).  The room had no WC, (it was in the corridor), and a minute shower. 

Lots of English people here.  We listened unavoidably to an awful woman berating her lot when we stopped for a coffee.  Had a stroll around and Tony lost Barnaby en route!!!  We retraced our steps and eventually found him in a basket outside a shop.  We were so upset;

We ate at the Hotel de France next door which was very busy - Tony had sardines and braised beef while Jane had terrine and then black pudding and salad.  The puddings were awful - stewed apples and revolting cheese.

Have decided to head for the coast tomorrow as there are more hotels there than inland.

Barnaby and keeper in Domfront.

Barnaby discovers travelling green can be slow and prickly.

Alençon - 11 August 2011

Had breakfast at the hotel and wandered into town where there was a market.  There were several stallholders with just a small table who were obviously selling their garden surplus - a few spuds, a few carrots and the odd lettuce.

Back at the hotel we sorted out the car (again) to make room for some more wine which we purchased at Carrefour handily situated at the bottom of the road!

In the evening went back to the Haut Ministiere where this time Tony had lamb chops and Jane salad.

Chateaudun to Mamers to Alençon - 10 August 2011

Weather continues to improve as we go north-west and we had another lovely drive to our next port of call.  We stopped at Mamers for breakfast and to see if we could stay there.  However there were no hotels in the town which was a shame because it was a nice place. 

Arrived at Alençon at 11.00 and had our usual reconnaissance of the town until we found the Tourist Info.  They reserved a room for us at the Hotel des Ducs (73€) near the railway station - really nice room with a balcony.  We shopped at Carrefour for wine and lunch where we bought roast gammon and potatoes.  A more leisurely walk in the afternoon took us around the city centre and we took in some of the attractions of the place, including a marble rolling competition on a large sandcastle (I kid you not).

Extremely hot this afternoon - about time too!  After a shower and a rest we repaired to the town in search of victuals and eventually came across the "Haut Ministiere" advertised by a lifesize statue of a French waiter with a "hauteur" that has become ingrained in English attitudes towards the French. Decorated like a pub, we had a fine meal in a friendly ambience, although another English family walked out and another English couple failed to leave a tip.  It seems to me the English are the rude people nowadays.

Auxerre centre.

Oxford v Cambridge bird race.

Beady - eyed stallholder spots surrepticious photographer.

Pithiviers to Chateaudun - 9 August 2011

We left Pithiviers about 8.30 in a fresh wind that was chilly.  We drove through flat farming country - very featureless apart from windfarms.  We parked up in Chateau and walked to the Tourist Info in the main square.  We got the hotel info and booked into the St. Michel, the owner of which is a very formidable woman.  We followed the tourist trail around the town and discovered there was a fire here in 1723 that destroyed the town except for two medieval streets.  The chateau looks impressive overlooking the Loir but we decided not to go in - chateaued out!  Lunch was a baguette in the car from the No. 1 baker in the area and then we went for a walk along the river.  There was 200 steps to climb on the way back to the car!

During our walk around we were looking for restaurants because it is the French holiday period and on the way down to check one out we were accosted by a young French girl asking us to help a disabled chap in a wheelchair trying to get into his house.  We ended up manhandling him onto his sofa, getting all his remote controls, phones etc together.  The young girl was nowhere to be seen - however it was an interesting experience since he spoke no English and us little French. 

We walked passed his house later that evening on our way to the restaurant and the shutters were closed and a light on inside so we presumed all was well.  The restaurant was called Les Trois Pastoureaux.  There was a difference of opinion over the meal which cost 76€!  Our second good deed of the day was pointing out to the waitress a discrepancy in the bill in our favour which added 16€ to the bill.   We floated home on angel wings.

Chateau at Chateaudun.

Monsieur Barnaby and servant in doorway typical of Chateaudun

Hotel de ville, Chateaudun.

Sepulcral figure in Ste Marie churchyard.

Sens to Pithiviers - 8 August 2011

We had to leave Sens by 8.00 as the hotel owner is closing up for two weeks today and is going on his conges (annual leave) but there was no sign of him when we left.  Drove through blustery sunny weather to Pithiviers and parked outside Hotel Relais de la Poste and then called in the Tourist Info a few yards away.  When asked, the young lady there told us there was absolutely nothing to do in Pithiviers - but we got a street map anyway, then drove out to Leclercs supermarket on the edge of town.  We had breakfast there and bought some more wine.  Came back to the town and  walked round its former ramparts and  decided this was a nice place although, it being Monday and holidays, most of it was closed.

Had lunch of baguette in hotel room and had a rest and later on in the afternoon we strolled around the town beauty spots - a phone box from its twin town Ashby de la Zouch, the local gardens and squares - contrary to the young girl in the Tourist Info, Pithiviers is a place of subtle pleasures - very subtle in places.

We dined at the hotel in the evening - food not bad.

Our hotel for the night - Pithiviers

Only 462 miles to Blighty...

Unusually English style steeple in the land of the stubby.

Sens - 7 August 2011

Sun and cloud this morning with a blustery wind, like a spring day in England. We bought a pain au chocolat and had coffee at the café in the square for breakfast.  The Tourist Info has internet access so we will update the blog this afternoon.  Jane phoned Kay and Susan on the hotel phone to let them know the mobile was out of range.  Went for an ambling stroll round town and along the river.  Had baguette for lunch sitting outside the Cathedral.

At the back of the Cathedral there was the Jardin de Orangery which kept us occupied for an hour.

For the evening meal we went to the Restaurant de la Cathedrale in the square next to the cathedral where Jane had sea bass and Tony had shank of lamb. 

La jardin de l'orangerie in Sens.

Auxerre to Sens - 6 August 2011

Departed from M. Darmon's at 8.30 having charged us 36€ for gas and electricity!  We had barely left Auxerre when the heavens opened.  We were going to stop at St. Florentin but it was still torrential so continued on to Sens.  Not so easy finding an hotel - one full, one shut for the holidays but Hotel Brennus (who also closes on Monday for his holidays) can accommodate us for two nights at 60€ per night.

We had a walk around but the rain dampened our spirits so we went back to the hotel - it's an OK sort of place.  After much planning during a wet afternoon we chanced our arms about 6.30 but five minutes after we set off, down came the rain again.  We walked across the two bridges (the river Yonne divides and rejoins creating an island) and arrived at "L'Assiette", a restaurant we looked at this morning.  Food not brilliant but some was edible at a cost of 53€.  Stocked up on biscuits and went back to the hotel.  Raining still though the forecast for Sunday is promising.

Mobile phone seems to be in a Vodafone-free area at the moment!  No phone, no computer - lost in France!

Hopefully pictures soon.

The very spooky St Eusebie in Auxerre

Auxerre - 5 August 2011

Woke at 7.00 and then promptly fell back to sleep for an hour.  Fetched fresh bread and had boiled egg for breakfast.  M. Darmon has left a bottle of rosè on the doorstep for us.  We sorted out clothes for departure tomorrow and then did some shopping for tonight's meal.  Had baguette for lunch in the square and bought some flowers for Madame Darmon.  Returned home to rest after all this activity!

We cleaned the house up a bit and Jane finished the book.  Gordon Ramsey prepared lamb chops, ratatouille and baked potato, followed by fruit salad for dinner.

Tony is covered in mozzie bites!

Auxerre - 4 August 2011

Got up in a better frame of mind.  It's annoying but not having a computer is not the end of the world.  Sun was shining so went for a walk along the river and watched the boats navigating the locks and had a walk around the local park.

Went to Leclerc's for some bits and bobs and had our lunch there.  Amazing restaurant considering it's the equivalent of Asda or Tesco.  Tony had melon and prosciutto and Jane had mortadella salad.  Carafes of wine and water available!

Tony bored in the afternoon and had to go out and buy a sudoku book.  Jane is re-reading Captain Corelli's Mandolin. 

We bought some sardines and had them for a starter followed by a poussin (little cock) peas and potatoes, then fruit salad.  Wine from Monoprix costing 5€ is tres bon.

View of traffic on the river Yonne

Cut out to make your own jigsaw

Auxerre - 3 August 2011

During the night we had a thunderstorm so we woke up to a wet morning.  Decided to find some wine to take home so headed for a large supermarket "Casino Geant" and bought 15 bottles!  Continued to rain all morning, very heavily on occasions.  We shared a baguette for lunch from the local boulangerie.  During the afternoon the rain slowly petered out enabling us to walk down to an internet cafe to download the blog.  We walked back to the gite when it transpired that the cafe owner also repaired computers.  Took the computer back to him but he could not do anything with it, so went back home disappointed.

Strolled around during the evening hunting for a meal and actually dined at the hotel next to the internet cafe so we now know that end of town very well.  The meal was not brilliant and cost us 56€.  Home at 10.15.

Auxerre church I've forgotten the name of.



Rear of cathedral Notre Dame



Old houses holding each other up on the riverbank

Unable to publish photos at moment.

Auxerre - 2 August 2011

Jane surfaced at 7.15 and went out for fresh bread.  We had boiled egg for breakfast and they seemed to have more yolk than albumen.  We walked down to the Citreon garage to investigate having the Berlingo serviced.  Had half an hour of comedy trying to make ourselves understood and when we achieved this we were told - impossible this week.  Did some shopping at Monoprix for dinner tonight and came home for a rest.  We had a lazy day really but we did do the washing.  We went out about 2.30 to visit the Abbey - big mistake - it was far too hot and the place was closed on Tuesdays!

We came home to find the computer's hard drive had failed.  Merde!  We drove out to a large commercial centre with huge supermarkets to look at either getting it repaired or maybe buy a new one.  New computer far too expensive in France and a repair takes weeks even if they dare touch an English one. Came home and cooked fillet steak and salad for dinner with a very nice wine that cost 5 euros at a local supermarket.



Grumpy old man at gite window




Lady Jane in her element




Quite nice!

 Further updates on the blog will be more intermittent from now on as we will be relying on the availability of Internet Cafes.

Chatillion sur Seine to Auxerre – 1 August 2011

We left Chatillion without breakfast (which did not seem up to much) at 8.45 and thanks to the usual empty roads we were in Tonnerre at 9.15 having encountered a deer in a field along the way. (40 miles)  We parked outside the Tourist Info qnd bought croissants to eat whilst we waited for it to open at 9.30.  Tonnerre looks like a pleasant little place with a river running through it but we decided to carry on to Auxerre to try and find a gite for 4 or 5 days.  This is wine country and the roads are lined with miles and miles of vines and wine producing establishments.

We arrived in Auxerre and again parked outside the Tourist Info by the side of the river Yonne and we were fortunate enough to book a gite in the town for 300 euros until Saturday.  The Tourist Info booked it all for us and we move in at 3.00.

We took a walk and were assisted in our map reading by an English woman who lives here.  Very helpful and chatty.  She has lived here for 11 years.  We finally escaped her clutches and had lunch in the restaurant she recommended,  then we went to the supermarket for provisions.

The gite is fine, well equipped and in an old building in a courtyard.  M. Darmon the proprietor showed us around and hopefully we understood all his instructions which were in French.

We had salad, ham, mortadella and potatoes for dinner and just talked away the evening with a bottle of Chablis left for us by M. Darmon.

The ghost in the window

Courtyard of gite

Ditto

Jane in her element apart from no glass

Auxerre Cathedral

Langres to Chatillon-sur-Seine – 31 July 2011

Chatted briefly to Oscar’s dad while we were checking out.  They are on their way to St. Tropez for a week in a Range Rover.  Left Langres just after breakfast and drove along almost empty roads through deserted villages to Chatillon-sur-Seine, a delightful little town not far from the source of the Seine which meanders through and around the town.  Many little bridges across bedecked with flowers.  Parked easily and found the Hotel de la Cote d’Or (65€).

Picked up some local info from the Office de Tourisme and then went for a walk to the source of another river, the Douix.  Walk took us through a cemetery, to the remains of a castle and along some charming narrow streets.  Bought a baguette and cheese for lunch which we ate in the park. It’s warm today and the legs have been uncovered once more!

After a rest we went to the Museum to see the Treasures of Vix, which consists of items excavated from the tomb of an Iron Age lady.  Main items were a gold torque and a bronze urn about 5ft high and nearly as round.  All very interesting.  Could not take any photos though as there were cameras everywhere and museum staff on the prowl. Walking away from the museum, we spotted an 18^th century arch across a road which had been moved from Chaumont, and instead of throwing it away, reassembled it here in Chatilllon. we had dinner at our at our hotel and the food, for €20 each, was delicious. We had 3 courses of two types of terrine, chicken in mushroom sauce, navarin (leg) of lamb plus a choice of 12 local cheeses from a cheeseboard. It’s been a lovely day all day!              

The source of the Douix.



Jigsaw - style picture of Chatillon - sur - Seine.



Tony on the main road up to the church. (honestly!)

Our lovely hotel.

Langres – 30 July 2011

Had breakfast at the hotel and strode out at 9.30 to see why the road will be closed today.  Practically half the town has become a giant flea market with what must be about 200 stalls set up along the roads, selling (or trying to) the usual rubbish you get at car boot sales.  Especially in evidence was the amount of electronic equipment not 10 years old but all obsolete.  We spent 1 ½ hours looking around at it all, then coffee and then finished our tour of the ramparts.  Our lunch was two baguettes from the patisserie with the chatty lady “au bon pain”.

During the afternoon we uploaded onto the blog to keep our fans happy. 

There is a festival of Hallebardiers ? tonight to look at.  These turned out to be a group of about 50 people dressed in traditional old clothes who walked around the town singing and generally having a good time.

We ate at the hotel and the food was excellent – Tony had Beef Bourguignonne and Jane had lamb shank and we shared a gateau avec crème anglais for pudding.  An English family came into the restaurant while we were there and as one of the little lads, about 5 years old, passed our table he helped himself to a piece of our bread.  His parents were mortified that Oscar (yes Oscar!) had done such a thing.  Lovely evening.

Our hotel. Good food here.

Chaumont to Langres – 29 July 2011

Before we left Chaumont we drove about a mile outside of town to see a viaduct 650 metres long and 50 metres high.  It was foggy this morning so it was quite haunting. 

Drove to Langres, a fortified hill town with nearly complete walls and ramparts.  Parked easily next to the Tourist Office and collected a map of the town along with list of hotels.  The nearest hotel was the Grade Hotel d’Europe, a 2 star Logis, so we walked there.  Reception was very busy with people checking and out and we chatted to an English guy whose credit cards had been blocked and he was having trouble paying for his room.  We booked a room for 2 nights but the room would not be ready until 3.00pm.  We had a petit dejeuner in a patisserie where the proprietress did not stop talking.  We had a walk around the market and also a tour of half the ramparts.  We bought a roti poulet and baguette for lunch which we ate in the car.

We went back to the hotel to see about parking the car and discovered we were only booked in for one night.  We were not best pleased but with the hotel full it was a fait accompli.  Parked the car in the hotel garage and went round to the Hotel de la Poste, which we had seen on our walk and booked a room for the second night.

We resumed walking around the ramparts and on going back to the Hotel d’Europe found we had to move the car before 8.00 in the morning as the road was being closed.  We were then given the key to the room but found the room still not ready.  We were told by Reception there would be another half hour wait.  By this time we had had enough of the Hotel d’Europe so we decided to see if the Hotel de la Poste could accommodate us.  They could so we returned yet again to d’Europe to say au revoir.

Hotel de la Poste is being decorated inside so it is a bit shambolic – ye olde hotel Francaise! 

We ate out at an “Italian” restaurant.  Ha Ha!  Service had to be experienced to be believed.  Youngsters posing as waiting staff running around like blue arsed flies – people walking out and complaining – we stuck it out and were served crappish food for 35€.  C’est la vie.  We will look back on this day in the future with interest.



Viaduct at Chaumont



Viaduct with train

View through viaduct piers

Church in Langres



M. Barnaby enjoying some rare sunshine



Hotel de la Poste, Langres

Nancy – Neufchateau – Chaumont – 28 July 2011

We had breakfast and left the hotel at about 8.30.  Found our way out of Nancy without any trouble onto the open French roads.  Stopped briefly at a large supermarket just outside Neufchateau and bought 3 bottles of wine.  On arrival in Chaumont we found a parking space right outside the Office de Tourisme on one side of the street and a hotel on the other.  Booked into Hotel des Remparts at 94€.  Tony’s head still not right – has taken 2 Anadins. 

Brief wander around Chaumont and then back to the hotel so Tony could sleep.  It rained the rest of the afternoon so we updated the blog and made plans for the evening.  We ate at a local restaurant “L’Affiche” where Tony had turkey salad followed by rabbit with rice and Jane picked at a lamb kebab with a jacket potato. 

Every year in Chaumont they have a “manifestation” of poster and graphic art so all around the town there are examples of this type of “affiche”.

View of Chaumont

This tower is really called this!

Nancy – 27 July 2011

Up at 7.00 and had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel including home made boiled eggs.  We set out just before 9.00 to explore Nancy and did not return to the hotel until 1.00.  Lovely gardens, churches and other ancient monuments are to be seen here just by following your nose.  The old part of Nancy was particularly interesting.  Weather today is warm but a bit cloudy and the forecast is for a thunderstorm later.

Eventually foot sore, we bought two baguettes and ate them outside.  We went to a supermarket called Monoprix and bought some English tea. After rather an idle afternoon, we rearranged the clothes storage in the Berlingo with large bags bought from Monoprix in order to accommodate more wine purchases. We then walked around the old city looking for a restaurant and eventually ate at “La table du Bacchus”. Jane had a French style tapas while Tony tried a lamb tagine, which wasn’t brilliant, but after the usual wine, water and pression the world was (again!) a better place.

Near the end of the meal Tony felt a little peculiar so we went back to the hotel.

Bidet control a little fierce. Parc de la Pepiniere.

L'eglise du St Epvre

L'entrepreneur M. Barnaby opens restaurant in Nancy. It's a small world!

The petit Arc de Triomphe by the same sculptor.