Audotel Carcassonne

Hey all, <br>We were in Carcassonne the other day...<br><br>We got off the night train from Paris at 7 am. it was really dark and foggy, so we stayed in the Train station a little while before adventurin out to find our hotel... the hotel was said to be far from the train station, so we decided to take a walk and try to figure out the buses... we walked quite a ways in the fog, We were on a mission to find bus 12, that was the bus that would take us to the hotel... we walked ...

... hour we realized we probably could attempt to just walk the entire way. Finally after walking for about 5 km we found our hotel! YAY!! It wasn't bad at all actually, I guess we're getting in the mode of backpacking! So once we got there it was about 9:30 and they let us check into our room right away! It was awesome! We didn't have to worry about waiting around with our bags until 2 or so when a normal check in time is. We got settled a little and then ...

... to have it's effects: hands so frozen I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hold onto the much needed brakes anymore. <br><br>But then the drop in altitude began to work it's magic. Degree by degree, the air around us warmed , clouds began to dissipate, and the sun gained intensity giving me renewed strength. <br><br>To date, this is the only rainy day we've cycled in France (and it only lasted a few hours!). With optimism ...

... every place where we have stayed for only one night. Claude and his family were very nice and we were very welcomed in their home. We took a group picture and then began the short jaunt to Carcassonne. We were their in 45 minutes. The view from the highway was spectacular!! I would have loved to have gotten a picture from there, but alas, I did not. The city started as a ...

... Unfortunately when we got to the end of the wall I found myself 6ft up and struggling to find a way down! Particularly on a windy day wearing a knee length dress! I think I left some of my dignity behind at the Carcassone Old Town &#8211; some in the public loo and some on the wall! <br><br>We found some awesome biscuit shops and also had possibly my last French crepe. This time I went for the Grand Marnier which had sugar, Grand Marnier and orange juice. Yum! <br><br>After exploring ...

... and additional fortifications were added. It was restored meticulously. <br><br>I first check into the hostel which is within the castle walls. It affords gorgeous views, has a patio area that is terrific. The inside is pretty generic but what a location, next to 5 star hotels. <br><br>I get out just in time to get into the castle itself which is a museum. They do a fairly good job of explaining the purpose of various features (eg, wholes in the floor for dropping ...

... 2 story carousel. They were painting and varnishing the floor getting it ready for the busy summer season. We had never seen a carousel with 2 floors to it. The sun shone and it was warm while we were here. When we got back to the sea side it was cloudy again and cool. It had rained at the campsite.<br><br>In the evening we go to the bar to find out what the entertainment will be, it is a rugby game on the TV.

... our home for the night. So here we are in Carcassonne. First impression? We will probably stay another night. It's great to have an appartment to ourselves, beats a hostel anytime..... Coe and I just did the shopping. We have unlimited internet so I don't think Elisah will sleep tonight. Tomorrow we are going to explore the town. Time for wine and dinner now. I put some new photo's on the flickr site. Talk again soon

A one day trip to Carcassone from Toulouse to visit the medieval city where construction started in the 4th century and ended in the 16th century. You can see the different stages of fortification and building of Carcassone as different owners took over. Very interesting despite being a very touristy location.

Ah, La vie en Provence. There in the vineyards you can see the palette of the November landscape becoming a little more muted with each passing day but still the beauty continues unabated. The country life here has only gotten better with time. In our final month here we were blessed enough to cross paths with a gentle roving Shepard and his great bleating family. They stayed in our neck of the woods for about a week and he enjoyed our ...