Reluctantly we end our "Provence Experience" taking two leisurely days to travel to Paris where we are staying three nights before returning to the UK and back home to Australia. |
Friday June 3rd: We completed pre-packing and house cleaning with the cases to be closed on Saturday morning around 8:30 a.m.
Saturday June 4th:
Well sadly it was time to say goodbye to St. Remy! Our last task was to call at the Tourist Information Center to upload what could be the last installment prior to reaching home. I could foresee problems in obtaining access to internet facilities over the coming week to allow further uploads. We left St. Remy at approximately 9:30 a.m. and took the motorway heading north towards Paris. The day was to be an easy drive and we arrived at our destination Mocon on the River Soane, some 100kms north of Lyon at approximately lunchtime. Our accommodation was in close proximity to the rail station and within the easy walk to the center of town full of charm and activity. There was a weekend market happening, and in the local Town Hall, a registry office marriage was taking place. We had an excellent meal in the restaurant attached to the hotel. We chose Mocon as a smaller town experience, and once again the local tourism office was totally professional with paid staff willing to share all that the town had to offer visitors.
Sunday June 5th:
Our destination Chablis! On out trip to date have not concentrated on the wine growing industry, and Chablis gave us the opportunity to understand some of the French wine growing traditions, the influences of regional winemaking and marketing. To ensure the quality and quantity of wine produced there are strict controls of the acreage allowed to be planted of the various varieties in the specific wine areas. This not only keeps the quality of wines high but also maintains a viable industry supporting the many traditional smaller chateau vinyards. (there are not many imported wines to be seen). We had arranged our night’s accommodation through the St. Remy tourist information office, and it was one of our accommodation highlights in France. A major wine growing family owned the hotel, and they were progressively renovating the adjoining property. We stayed in one of the new individual suites that had all the modern facilities,but retained the traditional feeling of space and luxury. Once again we dined at the restaurant run by the hotel, which had only recently been opened. This was our treat to us! definitely an upmarket experience!
Chablis is a very popular tourist destination located about an hour and a half drive south of Paris and the tourist information was a feature of the town in a modern well-equipped office displaying and selling momentums of the region.
Monday June 6 th:
Our destination Paris! We awoke to experience our first rain in France. After another fine a French breakfast and discussing tourism and wine with the hotel owner's wife we headed back to the motorway and Charles de Gaulle airport where we were to return our tourist friendly “Renault Scenic”. The trip was eventful with heavy rain at times, heavy traffic, and yours truly taking the wrong turn on the approach to the airport. This involved coming out and unfortunately taking the motorway with no exit for some 4 km. After wasting at least half an hour in gridlock traffic the car was returned and we took a cab in heavy traffic to our accommodation in central Paris for the next three nights. Our accommodation was once again a pleasant surprise as we had booked many months ago on the Internet. The choice was made knowing the hotel had undergone major renovations some three years prior. After an hour and a half strolling the nearby streets, we purchased some simple prepared food at the convenient Super Market and enjoyed this after returning to our room with a crisp dry “Vin blanch”. Tuesday June 7 th:
A day of cathedral architecture! After our hotel breakfast we purchased a two-day tourist Metro Pass and headed off to find our way around Paris underground. With the maps supplied it did not take as long to understand. Our first journey was by bus in very heavy traffic, and it was obvious the Metro would have been a better option. Tourist tip: (check the opening days for major tourist attractions) our choice of art galleries for the day was closed, so we decided to visit Notre Dame, and then later to Sacre Cour. Both of these cathedrals were steeped in architectural beauty and a French history.
Wednesday June 8 th:
Today it was art! As all who visit Paris must, we joined the throng of students and tourists at the Louvre. This was an experience of the wonders of French and European art down the ages displayed in a building that portrayed the wealth and extravagance of the Renaissance period. Back the Metro and finding a way to the other side of Paris and the village of Bercy, which has a recently constructed reproduction of an original wine cellar precinct. Several years ago this was developed as a new boutique retail outlet, but many of the shops have now been converted to restaurants, and of course it makes Bercy a destination at weekends. There are some marvelous Gardens adjoining the shopping complex.
Thursday June 9 th:
We say goodbye to France! We had a final couple of hours to stroll the exclusive Lafayette shopping precinct before checking out of the hotel at midday and returning to Charles de Gaulle airport for an afternoon flight to the UK. We flew the no-frills Easyjet way. (Tourist tip: Pre-weigh your luggage prior to registration as we were charged for 1 kg overweight in our main luggage, but could have repacked a kilo into our hand luggage which had size, but no weight restrictions) We arrived early evening at Highgate where we stayed two evenings prior to our return flight from Heathrow on Sunday.
We have had a thoroughly enjoyable months in France, but Margaret is now looking forward to returning home to our family and of course Morgy the corgi, who has been in kennels while we were away, as our families have been moving houses etc. etc. We hear he had a great time at his holiday home in Mt Evelyn.
Our two days in London were about family and friends so this brings to an end the travelogue of our French experiences.
A prologue will be added shortly for those who may be interested in our comments on the French Tourism industry and an evaluation of this as a real time travelogue exercise.
We repeat
"We loved every moment and
J'espere vous revoir bientot!"
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