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24.01.2022 After a very brief stop in Avignon, we drove tp L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue where we meeting Alain and Sylvie at a French restaurant. We met Alain and Sylvie several years ago after hosting son Laurent in Toowoomba whilst he went to University there for a short while. Our restaurant sat on top of a small river. Absolutely amazing! Thank you, Alain and Sylvie, for a magical day and also the presents. Laurent, we will drink the vodka when we return home.

22.01.2022 From L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue we were told about a little village called Roussillon which had amazing ochre cliffs. Sculpted by storms, these former ochre deposits today present an enchanting scenery hybridized the intentions of Man and the wishes of Nature. Cliffs, earth pillars, ochre-colored sand hillocks, after being dug out by shovels and picks, are henceforth shaped by the will of the winds and rain. Proudly perched on a hilltop, Roussillon overlooks the first quarries car...ved out over two centuries ago. The red of the cliff faces, to which responds like an echo the red of the buildings' façades, certainly explains the attraction of this village which is the only one located in the heart itself of the ochre deposits. These natural pigments have been used since prehistoric times and we can see evidence of that on the walls of caves. Then in 1780, Jean Etienne Astier from the village of Roussillon discovered that, after processing, ochre became an inalterable and non-toxic dye. He became the first ochre extractor in France and in the 19th century, the exploitation of the mineral deposits became industrial. In the Vaucluse, the open-pit quarries and the exceptional thickness of the lodes (up 15 metres) made extraction very easy and production reached impressive figures: a record of 40,000 tons was set in 1929. The pigment is used in the making of stucco for the Provençal houses, because it is heat and sun resistant, but also as a component, sometimes unexpected, of certain products: cheese rinds, linoleum, kraft paper, cardboard, ceramic, rubber, and cosmetics.

22.01.2022 Today we left Lyon and drove to Le Puy en Velay via St Etienne. St Etienne was about 50 minutes drive from Lyon and the traffic was good today although it is always navigating through big cities. I don't what I would do without GPS. A lovely little stroll and a cafe au lait before hitting the road.

21.01.2022 This is our accommodation and view for 2 nights in Pont d'Arc.

20.01.2022 Today we left the beautiful village of Gordes and drove through Venasque, Le Barroux, Vaisson-la-Romaine and onto Pont D'Arc where we will spend 2 nights. Once again it was a beautiful drive and the scenery of vineyards, lavender fields, olive groves, and lovely villages was abundant. This area is such a beautiful part of France. We stumbled upon a Chateaux in Le Barroux which we walked through. Le Barroux château is perched like an eagle’s nest right at the top of a small vi...llage called Le Barroux (population 656) in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France. HISTORY of Le Barroux Château At the time of its construction, in the 12th century, the castle of Le Barroux was a mighty keep surrounded by thick bulwarks, which was to protect the surrounding countryside for Saracen and Italian invaders. The castle was damaged during the French Revolution. In 1944 it was set on fire by German occupation troops. The Resistance fighters shot down a German soldier in an ambush. In retaliation against this shadow army, the occupying troops gathered the inhabitants of Le Barroux, with the intention of executing civilian hostages. Fortunately, the leader of the German detachment would yield and not take this vengeance, but the platoon set the castle on fire as it went away. It was on fire for 10 days. It was the 24th of August 1944, the day before the liberation of Paris The Château du Barroux was restored to its current form in the 1960’s.

18.01.2022 Today we left the beautiful La Rochelle and are spending the next 3 days before we fly back home in the magnificent Loire Valley. We are staying 2 nights in Villandry in a beautiful apartment overlooking one of the most impressive Chateau's we have seen. We will then spend a night in Tours before making our way to the airport. The chateau Villandry dates from circa 1536 when it was built by one of Francois 1’s finance ministers, Jean le Breton. Le Briton was also responsible ...for overseeing the construction of the royal ‘flight of fancy’ that is chateau Chambord. The tower which looks a little out of place is all that remains of the old fortress he demolished to make way for the chateau. As with most chateau's, the French Revolution saw Villandry being confiscated before eventually being acquired for Joseph Bonaparte (brother of the Emperor) in the early 1800’s. The chateau and gardens you see today, which combine flowers and vegetables, are courtesy of a Spaniard, Dr.Joachim Carvallo who purchased them in 1906. He poured a great deal of time and money into the project the results of which are breathtaking, especially when viewed from the top of the tower. This Chateau was breathtaking.

17.01.2022 From St Etienne, we drove to Le Puy en Velay. We are stopping overnight here for 2 reasons. The first being it is a beautiful historic town and also as it is a starting point to walk the Chemin Frances. I want to walk this Camino from Le Puy to Santiago de Compostela, about 1600 kilometres. It was a good chance to gather info. We weren't disappointed as Le Puy is absolutely stunning.

17.01.2022 Another day just seeing the sights of La Rochelle and then ending up at a jazz festival.

16.01.2022 Today we left Pont d'Arc and headed for Lyon some 250 kilometres away. A drive that took about 5 hours as we climbed up and over the alps and watched the temperature drop too low teens and then once we arrived in Lyon reach 30 again. Once we arrived in Lyon we swapped the car for our feet and took off and saw some of the sights of Lyon. The Notre Dame Cathedral was absolutely stunning and in amazing condition. The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière (French: Basilique Notre-D...ame de Fourvière) is a minor basilica in Lyon. It was built with private funds between 1872 and 1884 in a dominant position overlooking the city. The site it occupies was once the Roman forum of Trajan, the forum vetus (old forum), thus its name (as an inverted corruption of the French Vieux-Forum). Fourvière is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to whom is attributed the salvation of the city of Lyon from the bubonic plague that swept Europe in 1643.[1] Each year in early December (December 8, day of the Immaculate Conception), Lyon thanks the Virgin for saving the city by lighting candles throughout the city, in what is called the Fête des Lumières or the Festival of Lights.[2] The Virgin is also credited with saving the city a number of other times, such as from a Cholera epidemic in 1832, and from Prussian invasion in 1870.[1] During the Franco-Prussian War (18701), Prussian forces, having taken Paris, were progressing south towards Lyon. Their halt and retreat were, once again, attributed by the Church to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. Speculating on the reasons for the construction of such an elaborate and expensive building, one author makes the statement that: "The reaction to the communes of Paris and Lyon were triumphalist monuments, the Sacré-Coeur of Montmartre and the basilica of Fourvière, dominating both cities. These buildings were erected with private funds, as gigantic ex-votos, to thank God for victory over the socialists and in expiation of the sins of modern France. Perched on top of the Fourvière hill, the basilica looms impressively over the city of Lyon, from where it can be seen from many vantage points; not unintentionally, the Basilica of Fourvière has become a symbol of the city. The Basilica, which offers guided tours and contains a Museum of Sacred Art, receives 2 million visitors annually. At certain times, members of the public may access the basilica's north tower for a spectacular 180-degree view of Lyon and its suburbs. On a clear day, Mont Blanc, the highest point in Europe, can be seen in the distance.

13.01.2022 I cannot leave today without sharing our apartment. It is right in the middle of the historic part of Le Puy. We are on the 4th floor overlooking a square. Unfortunately, we have no lift and have to carry everything up 4 floors but such is life.

12.01.2022 As you do in France, we were driving along a road and came across a Chateaux which advertised a blacksmith and a live show with the largest catapult in the world. So why not, we said!!

12.01.2022 Today we began the day with a quick visit to Vallon Pont D'Arc before visiting the caves of Aven d'Orgnac. They were unbelievable. The Aven d’Orgnac grottes (caves), also known as Le Grand Site de l’Aven d’Orgnac, were only discovered in 1935 by Robert de Joly, a famous French cave explorer (1887-1968) and it has been open to the public since 1939. Stalagmites, on the other hand, grow up and can either reach the roof of the cave or meet the tip of the stalactite which is very high up. These formations are brought to life with the excellent lighting system that has been installed as well as a son et lumière (sound and light show) which is in the deepest part of the cave in the Salle Rouge.

12.01.2022 We thought it was hot?????

10.01.2022 Tonight we sat outside for dinner and it was a beautiful moon

08.01.2022 Today is Bastille Day and we celebrated by driving through many small villages in rural France and visiting a Chateau. Tonight we are off to fireworks. The French National Day is the anniversary of Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, a turning point of the French Revolution, as well as the Fête de la Fédération which celebrated the unity of the French people on 14 July 1790.

07.01.2022 Today was the beginning of a new chapter of our journey through France. We left Le Puy en Velay very early this morning around 7.15 (that is early in France, trust me) We headed for Toulouse 360 kilometres away and about 5 hours drive through small villages. We had a train to catch at 2.15 to Marmande where my cousins would pick us up and drive us to their rural house close to Serignac-Peboudou. To cut a long story short, we are here and have just enjoyed a refreshing swim in... the pool. We will be here until next Wednesday when we will train to La Rochelle to meet friends we had met in Chile about 12 years ago. So for the next 10 days, we will be taking it easy and relaxing in rural France. I have included photos of my cousin's place where we will be enjoying life for the next few days. Thank you, Katherine and Charles, for your kind hospitality. See more

07.01.2022 Jackie and Aline also have a Renault Clio electric car which is so quiet to drive around in, and very energy efficient.

06.01.2022 This one is for "Jeff the Chef" Chocolate cakes the size of a loaf of bread.

06.01.2022 We are now in La Rochelle and staying in a rural setting about 20 minutes drive from the beach. La Rochelle is a beautiful spot and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting France. The weather is in the mid-'20s but another heatwave is on its way.