panoramas, smells and internet

Well, here I am. Was so excited that would have Internet in the flat, only to find out that the system in France is really crap. I wonder how they survive. How they operate their businesses... THe system is totally erratic. It works every 5 minutes or so and this goes for the phone too. We can call for free from here and I was hoping to keep in touch with my mum and dad in Brasil, but system just goes off without any warning. Very odd.

Am reading loads of books on people that have moved to France and the experience seems to be the same, no matter what. The indications are that the French are not that inbto new technology. This might explain the poor connections. Worst than 3rd world countries.

We went to Grasse, the perfum capital??? Was very diasppointed. Reading on it indicated that you'd know you got there just by the sweet smells in the air. Well, I wouldn't call dog and horse poo, sweet smelling... Maybe it is like Venice, I absolute adore it and never experienced the smells that people talk about. Maybe I just got to Grasse at the wrong time. The old town is compact but run down, dirty, graffiti and all that, and the rest, is just a massive sprawl....
The old town was the set for the film Parfum, which was quite an odd, but good film. Actually I must see it again.

Anyway, I can now say that I have been there and it was worth going through it as it is on the way to Gourdon. Now, that is an amazing place and hurray, I have had a really good meal for a really reasonable price. Anywhere else in the world and you'd pay double for the views. Had a really great time.

The landscape here is really odd. Goes from very dry and barren to very lush, especially in the mountains. I am finding it very built up as well. The old and beautiful is still there, but the outskirts,like any big place is run down and dirty as you approach most of the big places - Cannes, etc.

We are having a rest today. The driving is beautiful but tasking on hubby, with all the twist and turns of the roads. We are hoping to brave part fo the way to the Gorge of Verdun, but everything we read about it, warns about vertigo driving. Not for the faint hearted, Alan or I , for that matter.

Relaxed day, home cooking. Fed up of restaurant food and, weather permitting, tomorrow I want to see the lavender fields, before the flowers are over.
Au revoir....

VIP or what?

Just joking, but am near St. Tropez - an hour to get there though. Arrived in Roquebrunne Sur Argens yesterday afternoon. Apartment is nice, although to sleep 4 would not be very comfortable. Only draw back is having to park quite a distance away and we are carrying a load of boxes, etc. But once you have got the stuff in, easy peasy.

We are resting today, because even with the stopover in Sete, a holiday resort near Beziers, still took us 4 hours to get here ( and it was 4 hours to get to Sete, using the B roads though, which are more scenic.

Landscape has changed again and now is mountainous and green, having crossed the Camargue that is flat and more barren.

I think we are going to like it here. Medieval village, but lots of turists, so lots of restaurants and a couple of shops too. Plenty of people moving around during the day. At long last, I might be able to people watch just sitting at a cafe. Drunk the local Rose wine yesterday, pretty good. Rose is growing on us, very popular in France for the Summer. Will post more from here as I have wifi - HURRAYYYYYYY.

on top of the world and public toilettes

Well, what can I say, I am almost moving on again - this Friday and have not written anything about the current place.
We moved down from Lot and Garonne on the 24th July, a day earlier so that we could break the journey up and see Carcassonne, a place I dreamed of since watching programs on France and reading the book Labyrinth. It certainly was worth stopping over although when I first got there, I was slightly disappointed. You build mental images of places and when they are not exactly as you imagined, it shocks you. However, as we visited the walled city mid afternoon, again in the evening and first thing in the morning, it grew on me. It is very turisty, but actually quite beautiful and I would return.
Anyway, from there was on and upwards, literally, to our next place in the Pyrenees. If you've seen the pictures in Facebook, you can see how beautiful it is. However, after 6 kilometres up the mountain ( which honestly, feels like 20), I felt I would never come down again until the day to move on. It is steep and narrow and by the time we get either up or down on our travels, my knuckles are white and my shoulders tight from fear....

But, we have got used to it and it is paradise on earth. The studio is small but perfectly formed and the views are amazing. If I was doing it again, I'd only do a week up there as everything else is down and I'd rather not have to do that road every time.

Since being there though, we have visited a couple of beach resorts, just returned from Argeles Sur Mare, which I really enjoyed today and we also visited Collioure, where Matisse lived for a time and I really like that one. There are photos in Facebook.
Yesterday we visited Roses/Rosas in Spain. Weird to cross the border and not to be checked at all. The place was not that interesting, just a large built resort, but the coastal road there was something. Hairpin bends again but very dramatic. Like it.
We move on Friday to the Cote D'Azur and I will have wi-fi - hurray. Will write more then.

As an aside, I just want to mention public toilettes in France - not all, mind you. They still have loads of those that simply have a hole on the floor. Very weird and quite unhygienic, don't like them at all. Prefer to cross my legs for a time....

Will be in touch. Au revoir

canoeing on the Dordogne

Just had a most fab day yesterday and felt really adventurous - for me anyway, since I am not very good with water.. We went canoeing down the Dordogne and it was amazing. Tons of people doing the same obviously. The pace is so gentle and the scenery just incredible, gives you another view point of the castles and the landscape in general. Our time in the Dordogne is coming to an end. We move on Friday to Carcassonne for one night and then the Pyrenees. We loved this area and would recommend it.

Food definitely improving, getting a bit tastier and with more options. This is the area for fois gras and duck in general, but good.

I haven't mentioned the market. Villereal has two a week and they are quite colourful. You can buy clothes, fresh food and even wine. A few of the local domaines set up stall and sell the ones by the bottle or boxes and you can taste them too!!!!

We visited the Chateau Montbazillac we also did some "degustation" and you could get quite drunk on it if you were that way inclined. Unfortunately I can't take it and Alan is driving, so just a small taste each. Happy days.

landscapes

Just thought I should put something in about the changing landscape as we move on from region to region in France. Whilst the Loire area was truly beautiful, it was mainly flat and covered in vineyards. As we moved along to Pointou Charente, the landscape became slightly hillier and more crop plantations start to appear with the vineyards almost disappearing from the map. Corn seems to be big here.

Now, in the Lot and Garonne, the landscape is becoming more and more mountainous with the first gorges and valleys starting to appear. There are a lot more vineyards again, particularly around the Bergerac area -well know for it- with a prevalence of sweet wines ( Montbazillac is very near us). There are lot more crops too - corn, walnuts and the sunflowers are just beginning to open. Absolute amazing to see hills covered in bright yellow. It does wake you up. Gorgeous. Haven't got photos yet.

The food is also improving and we can say we have had more good meals around here than in the last two places put together. Nothing memorable yet. Duck is big here as is fois gras - duck's liver pate for those of you than don't know. Haven't tried it yet as I am not in favour of the force feeding of the birds to enlarge their livers...

Anyway, we have another week here. Have seen loads of beautiful things and have loved the landscape too. It is our favourite so far. Am really relaxing now and getting into the holiday/retirement mode.

What can i say: England is out, Brasil is out and even Argentina ( am not crying over this one). All I can do is to support Germany now? they have played the best so far...
Weather still wonderful here and I am truly getting into this retiree life. Loving it really. Already thinking about the next and the next, and the next trip... Let's hope the money lasts. France is quite expensive and the more I travel the more I realize that England is a bargain for cost of living. Although, much cheaper the entrance fees here for castles and stuff...

I have now seen a few social housing projects and like England, they build them all the same - pretty bungalows with lots of land though (in the rural areas) and believe it or not, all painted in "magnolia". Whomever invented that coulour, must be a very rich person by now.

Food still improving or am getting used to it??? We potter around here and there and try to go out most days. I get bored if I don't. I have loads of pictures to post, but still can't get the hang of doing it in this blog. Can't wait until i get to Roquebrunne, where we will have broadband at the apartment. Will allow ustime to play. I might still cahnge my blog to the facebook one as it seems easier to use and I have lots more travel to do in future. I hope...

Must go. Miss my chums.

another day in paradise.....

Well, am really getting into the French way of living. Went to Castelnaud in the Dordogne Valley the day before and it was fab..... Food is improving slowly. Also went to Bergerac yesterday and what a nice surprise it was. lovely town. Even bought 2 dresses.... Was having withdrawal symptoms from lack of shopping, but quickly recovering.

Am running out of adjectives to describe France. It is great really, if you are into medieval villages, countryside, wild flowers, rivers. right up my street.

Ready for the Brazilian football tonight. Will watch at home. Had lunch at the Square today and pretty good it was too.

Will post more tomorrow.
Vive la Coup de Monde and vive le Bresil....