Le Carabas Epinal

After hitchhiking our way across the plains of northern France, we arrived in Epinal at midnight. We waited in the cold for a while as Marion's Mum had fallen asleep when she realised she still had 20 mins before she had to pick us up. I was happy for the wait as I was well-rugged up and Marion was complaining about the cold.. It made me feel really tough and I even stole her scarf and threw water on her to complete my triumph. We spent a week catching our breath; Marion from ...

The day after the night before.. I was a bit heavy headed but it was well worth it and I was well looked after. Today we were heading to Marion's hometown of Epinal for a week at home. To get there via train it would cost an arm and a leg (they are quite traditional still, i think the exchange rate called for a forearm and two ankles.. anything?), so we decided to think outside the oblong and utilise the most powerful ...

... told us that our €6 wasn't enough to utilise the chairs and umbrellas. Defeated, I complied (curious about what I actually paid for) and headed for a grassed area that was populated by all the fat old chicks from Mennagio and surrounding villages. I was desperate to go for a swim but after the initial temp test, I got scared and decided on more sun; it was set resemble a swim in Mount Franklin, fresh, clean and ice cold. I finally plucked up the courage and braved the cold ...

... no Ducatis Roy!, and roared off down the mountain past the poor cyclists who had managed to struggle up to the top were getting quite wet in the mist the clouds were bringing on the way down. H has been loving the fact that the cyclists are everywhere in this country, even on the highest mountains in the snow, and he takes every opportunity to have a chat with them. That night we were treated to dinner of homemade quiche Lorraine - in the very ...

They make crystal in Baccarat but we didn't have long enough at the museum for me to understand how it works, much to my disappointment. We stayed with our Muslim cousin, and then his Christian children came over for Christmas, so it was very multicultural/secular. When we arrived, at about 11:30 in the evening, the table ...

So the first two weeks here.... well, just about everything was dead. Now that much of France is on vacation, there's actually stuff going on! It's like the population of Epinal increased 10x! The other night in the main square, they actually had a big platform set up for some live music and the square was full with probably about 300 people; much more than the typical 30 I use to see. There are also people actually using ...

... were; basically groups for friends with a tent just hanging out. Adam and I ended up just going for a hike around the lake as there's a trail that goes all the way around. I'd guess that it took us around an hour, maybe a bit more. Afterwards, got some food at a restaurant by the lake and then headed back to Epinal. Overall, not a bad place to go for a daytrip!

So... let me tell you a little bit about my daily meals. Start off with the breakfast buffet at the hotel and it's pretty good! There's croissants and sometimes pain au chocolat, bread, cheese, ham, eggs, cereal, fruit bowl, other fruits, yogurt, OJ, apple juice, and the person working brings you coffee and/or hot chocolate! I have no complaints. For lunch, there's a cafeteria at work where everyone eats. It reminds me of elementary ...

So... the company has us put up in the Kyriad Hotel which is a 2-star hotel, whatever that means. It has a really narrow entry-way into the really small garage. Driving the Peugeot in there requires a few three point turns. My room is pretty nice; it's a little suite. The front room has a foldout couch which takes up the entire room when it is folded out, then there's the hallway with the ...

... blinker on but numerous people were doing it. Adam and I decided to stop off in Nancy for dinner and found their centre-ville/downtown area. It's a big open square with restaurants on all sides. Lots of outdoor seating set into the open square area, like a hundred tables, for just having an appertif/drink. For actual eating, you sit next to the restaurant. One thing I had forgotten about France was that lots of ...