France revisited

Crossing? La Manche @ Sangatte, France

2008-08-02T18:40:28.000Z

Whenever I talk about using the Euro Tunnel to get to mainland Europe I always hesitate to describe it as crossing the Channel. Somehow it doesn't sound right! Anyway, that's how we started our journey. We had a relatively late booking and were set to arrive in France late in the evening. Travelling through the tunnel is so quick there's barely time to settle before you are coming out the other side which is just as well as there is no scenery. So emerging from the tunnel it was pedal to the metal until we stopped where we figured was the furthest we could drive from the tunnel before fatigue stopped us. It was pouring with rain and I can tell you it's not the way I like to drive. We arrived around 11 pm and had enough time to check in and then rush into town for the first official beer of the holiday.

I believe in serendipity - Landing in Laon @ Laon, France

2008-08-02T23:43:54.000Z

Where we ended up was Laon which is a little gem which we are pleased to have visited. It has a fantastic cathedral which looked really amazing floodlit at midnight and wandering around the next day in beautiful sunshine, we thought it was very charming.

Vals les Bains @ Vals-les-Bains, France

2008-08-05T21:29:22.000Z

We had seen a glimpse of the Ardeche valley on some travel program earlier this year and something about it said "let's go..." so we set off for the big mega drive south with a pit stop planned for one of the towns in the valley. Vals les Bains seemed to draw us (we've done a few Bath towns in our time) and that was our target. Incidentally, if you are going for the activities Vals although lovely was a tad too far from everything and involved an big round trip each day for the de rigeur canoeing and other stuff.

Anyhoo we pitched up in Vals early evening and managed to check into the interesting looking hotel St Jean. They fed us and then we spilled out into the street which seemed to be full of street performers Young Woman sort of Carla Bruni-esque, Young Man (reminded me of Ricki Martin but that's just me) Line Dancing troop (Yes I did say Line Dancing) and a couple of guys who seemed to be able to do everything, all within a few metres of street - never found out the special occasion but had a great evening's entertainment

Cavalaire sur Mer @ Cavalaire-sur-Mer, France

2008-08-09T15:31:23.000Z

St Maxime @ Sainte-Maxime, France

2008-08-11T18:14:10.000Z

Monte Carlo @ Monte-Carlo, Monaco

2008-08-13T01:35:44.000Z

Aix Les Bains @ Aix-les-Bains, France

2008-08-17T13:32:35.000Z

We stayed here on our first big holiday a deux and sometimes returning is not a good idea. Aix however is still wonderful. We got all nostalgic wandering along the waterfront by the lake and even took to two wheels to explore a little further afield. We retraced our footsteps around the lakeside but this time we had a car so we drove to the other side to see what it was like and took a river cruise to see Aix from the water. When we came here before it seemed a quiet little place where locals holidayed =, now it was heaving with people. That did not detract from the beauty of the lakeside and the pleasant atmosphere and we actually got to know the town a little better than I remember before

Romans sur Isere @ Romans-sur-Isère, France

2008-08-17T18:19:20.000Z

Paris, France @ Paris, France

2008-08-20T01:33:22.000Z

Wissant, France @ Wissant, France

2008-08-23T01:34:22.000Z

Wissant, France @ Wissant, France

2008-08-24T11:03:25.000Z