4 days in Paris

Paris we are staying in a little apartment at St-Michel in the Latin Quarter 6th arrondissements.  The Norte Dame is two streets away.. From our window I can see the chapel, cafes are everywhere, buskers in the street music playing.

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Day 1 – wandering the streets then dinner with our lovely French friends in Paris

Day 2 – in Paris, wandered through the Notre Dame just around the corner, then the Moulin Rouge, Rue Lepic an ancient road in Paris – then the MontMartre loved the artist working on the streets -Sacre Coeur (the sacred heart of Jesus) what an amazing chapel – then we climbed the Eiffel Tower what an amazing view worth the wait

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Day 3 – Museum of Rodin- sculpture garden this is worth a visit it’s inspiring and filled with breath taking moments sculptures and gardens.

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Day 4- Last day was spent packing, some shopping and saying goodbye to Paris –

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au revoir Paris je reviendrai !!

Road trip through the north western country side of France

I spent a day playing in the French clay with Coco and Martha and Charlotte, nieces of the lady who owns the old farmhouse in Vers.

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The children didn’t speak English, I found clay has a language of its own – we managed to get by!

Unknown                     Left Vers in the South of France and drove 600km through some of the most spectacular countryside and villages tucked in the mountain side – heading west through the French Alps making our way to Paris. Stopping at Rocomadour for coffee, what a stunning place.

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After Rocomadour we traveled through more beautiful farmland before staying the night in city centre of Limoges.

Next day was another 600km mostly highway drive, before approaching the magnificent town of Dinan the first glimpse of Dinan is the harbor and old bridge, what a beautiful place we wandered around the town beautiful old tutor style buildings – Christmas decorations are starting to fill the quaint shops…

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The next destination is Le Mont Saint-Michel, we arrived around 7.30pm.

Found accommodation only 1km from Le Mont Saint-Michel, where we walked and explored that night OMG amazing!!!

 

 

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There was always something interesting to discover – quiet villages, stunning scenery, historical buildings lost in the countryside…

We have had a great time discovering the ‘real’ France.

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Our final destination Paris!

 

Adventure continues in Avignon & Vers, South of France

 Just over the bridge from Avignon located against the backdrop of Villleneuve a stunning medieval city,is brocante (flea-market) of Villeneuve is one of the best known brocantes in France , this market attracts the most serious antique dealers in Provence and the United States, who arrive early to snap up the best merchandise as did we – I managed to find some amazing treasures.

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Les Iuminessences speticular light show in the Palace des Papes, the commentary was totally in French 

The animations were breathtakingly beautiful, and perfectly tailored for the palace that acted as projector screen. The windows, crenulations, towers and even the stone gargoyles were incorporated into the show. 

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Our next adventure is Vers in the South of France our home for 10 days, its the cutest little village in the South of France just 27 k’s from Avignon. owned by a very lovely french lady who has become a wonderful friend.  She kindly offered us her home while she is working in Paris. Its like something out of a movie ‘Under the Provence (Tuscan) Sun’ Its everything and more than I could have dreamed, pinching myself.

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 We explored the little lane way just below the house that leads to the village.

 The house built in the 16th century and has a veggie garden, many small little hidden doors through out with winding old staircases. A well in the cellar, fire place, attic and an old stone barn with a loft.

 Just 2 km’s down the road is Le Point Du Gard Pont du Gard (Roman Aqueduct) is one of the oldest and most remarkable Roman hydraulic works. The bridge is 48.77m high, has three levels and was built in ca. 20 BC It crosses the river Gardon near Nimes (south of France).

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The French Riviera and The South of France

Beautiful Nice, what a wonderful city to explore, we stayed in the old city just one street back from the French Riveria, it was what I needed after the 3 weeks on tour time to relax and indulge in the magic of the City. Words can’t express how much I love this place. 

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 Explored the streets of Saint-Paul de Vence  such a beautiful medieval village with little cobblestone pathways its known for the many artist galleries.

it is well known for its contemporary art museums and galleries such as Fondation Maeght.

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We then hired a car and drove to Avignon on the 5th October, we have an appartment just across from the Popes Place in the old walled city. Music plays in the square its alive with fresh food markets and antiques. The bells of Avignon ring every half hour through out the day and night.

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 We were lucky enough to visit a ceramist Christine who has her atelier (studio) in the Popes Palace to decorate tiles so blessed, Christine’s  atelier is  through a tiny door and up a winding set of stone stairs what an interesting place, an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime..

 IMG_7466IMG_7484 IMG_7471As the sun was setting that night we walked to the ‘Sur le Pont d’ Avignon’ the bridge  dates back to the 15th century.

 The bridge is better known as the Pont d’Avignon on which one dances, as the song says.

 We toured the Palais des Papes –Construction was started in 1335 and completed in less than twenty years under the leadership of two builder popes, Benedict XII and his successor Clement VI. The Popes’ Palace is the biggest Gothic palace in all of Europe (15,000 m2 of floor space, which is the equivalent of 4 Gothic cathedrals. 

One night we watched the movie ‘Les recettes du bonheur’ in french in an old cinema near where we are staying, something I wanted to experience it was amazing.IMG_7708 2

Next day lunch with our friends who own a organic wine making and bee keeping farm in the Pont du Gard South of France. 

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We walked through the vine yards, drank wine from their farm had a wonderful lunch.Then to top of the day we visited the ‘Opera Grand’ in Avignon and experienced the ballet, Romeo et Juliette.

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