Kyriad Prestige Hotel Clermont-Ferrand

... nice.

Andy told us all about how a guy in the town we're staying at invented elastic, and it had something to do with sheep’s innards, cast-offs, and a small child – I think. The place we stayed at used to be a pig farm, but it had a concrete leaping stag as an emblem. I broke their satellite decoder. It was a very strange night.

... reached the Millau Bridge, super structure and amazing piece of engineering, by late afternoon. It was no way I would make the Loire by 7 pm so we reach the little town called Issoire and stay the night at Etap hotel (like formula one). Tomorrow short drive big day.

... be unable to see it! The next day was Sunday and John spent a futile morning searching for an open supermarket to buy a few basics, but they were all closed - they certainly observe the Sabbath here more than anywhere else we've been so far! Luckily he found a small Spar open - must be owned by heathens. After lunch we visited one of the extinct ...

... opportunity to make our lunch which usually consisted of a baguette filled with pate, cheese and or meat. We would stop along the way some where for lunch in a park or a Chateau. The cruising along the canals was incredible especially going through the locks. One part took us over one of the longest viaduct in Europe at a place called Briare where we stayed for the night. The first couple of days was heavy going but my knees and legs settled down that ...

... evening, and met with many showers There was nothing much to capture our interest and the weather was offputting so we continued south, stopping in a rest area for some lunch and a break. Our journey took us via Nevers, Moulins and Thiers. It was after this that the countryside started to get dramatic. We were definitely on/in the Massif Central, and the views were spectacular at times. When we got to Olliergues, we saw a ...

... house or at La Goulais, which was our home for the beginning of the year. Friday night we went to the discotheque, The Loft in Vichy. It was a pretty fun night. Their drinks are so weird here...when you order say a vodka seven, or a rum and coke, you pay for the shot, and then the mix. It can get pretty expensive. It's time like this I really wish I drank beer, but I just can't do it. Its about a 45 minutes train ride away to get to Clermont. Thais, a girl from Brazil ...

... back to Paris tomorrow morning. It's an interesting town and it's known for its healing water. You drink the water for the healing that you need. I tried them all (digestion problems, purity, etc.) and the only one that I really drank more than a sip of was the water for Hope. Apparently I was hopeless and now I'm healed. Truthfully, I think the bowl of vanilla ice cream for dessert truly did the trick more than any bubbly warm water could do.

... and went for dinner. Walked a big round around old town looking for a dinner place for us 7 hungry asians and finally found the 'duck place' in the Jaude. Nice to get to know them and Yoon Han better in this trip. Till 11ish. Then we walked back to Maison De La Culture weher we parted ways. They wanted to rest wilst we thought we would check out the party and say our goodbyes to our friends. Took the bus shuttling us to ...

... all introduced at the beginning of the session. And all 4 were present except for the brit team. Ate dinner at Univers again. Went back at about 10ish but took a small walk up the hill. All the snow has already melted and none in sight. So different from when we came here last Sat. It's also not so cold now. Started packing. Sad that the Clermont Film Festival is ending.

... the daily festival newsletter, that had a review of 'HELLo?' in french. It was great news. Even being compared to Brian De Palma-hehe. So happy. Met Ludwig, the Austrian Director and told him about my review and he was so worried of not having his reviewed-haha. Watched Lab5, Carlos block and it was good. Carlos' anime was very well done. Great VO and graphics. Then we ate opposite at the tentage-met ...