Les Loges de l'Aubergade Agen

... with us.

This was to be the pattern of wine purchase for most of the trip. Older bottle for now, the younger for storage. Additionally, we picked up some local Provencal herb sea salt for cooking and several types of olive oil to also take home. Then I got ridiculous and bought a wine carrying case because it matches the style of items I've been accumulating at home for our future downstairs pub/media area. (Side note: Jim, if you are reading, remember to pick one ...

... 8211; and what a contrast to Rome!
We left via Blu-Express, a small Italian airline that departs out of Fiumicino (Leonardo Da Vinci Airport). We took the metro and then the train out to the airport. Incredibly, we departed on time ...

... cars and lorrys. Although we stopped for many water breaks we finally made it to Agen where we drank a beer on a park bench, like a homeless, which we were.

Just outside of the city we set up camp off a foot pass next to a huge river. We cooked our food on the rocks next to the river and as the sun set we listened to some wierd animal sounds which for some reason we assumed to be aligators.

... stone villages and towns, and trying not to run over the pilgrims walking to Santiago de Campostella! A selection of Miradoux photos

It was a long day on the bus, but we finally made it to Provence. On the way we stopped in Avignon to see the Pope's Palace and then made our way to the Roman Aqueduct. After dinner in Provence, we stumbled upon a crazy street party with a DJ. It was fun experience to dance with the locals and get a feel for the flavor of the town. We are off to Barcelona tomorrow!

Through Biarritz and Bayonne, then long cross-country slog which eventually become pretty after Casteljaloux.

Funny little campsite miles from anywhere with odd but nice owner (looked like Roy Hudd in long shorts). We were the only campers ...

We flew into Paris and then spent a few days acclimatising and sightseeing . Then we headed off for Agen on the TGV and then onto St SylvestreSur Lot which was where the barge was moored. As part of the purchase process we had to have the barge surveyed in order to get it insured - so the objective for this trip was to get the survey completed, have any necessary work done and finalise the ...

Another drive day today, heading south from Lyon to Provence, via the towns of Avignon and Arles. Avignon was once the home of the Papacy from 1309 until 1377 and hence is the site of the magnificent Palais de Popes. More of a fortress than a palace, it dominates the hilltop above the town of Avignon. We wandered up through the narrow streets of the old town, to approach the Palace from behind, and as we turned the corner into the square we were greeted with the sight of about 30 horses ...

... was the day I almost got us killed. Our drive was to take us out of the Dordogne and into Le Lot, covering much of the same ground we had covered on previous days. After St Cyprien, Beynac, Le Roque Gageac and Sarlat we were in new territory. The good old D703 took us first to Souillac and it was on our way to that town that we came face to face with le mort. The road, as was usually the case in the French countryside, was narrow and we found ourselves ...

... was a steal for 1,900,000 FF (£177,000) but it was all but gutted inside and from the outside it looked like it a relic from the French Revolution. The oth** partly restored chateau went for 7 million FF (£619,500). Th**e are so many farmhouses and small stone houses around Condom waiting for an idealistic family to restore them to their quaint, form** beauty. The prices w**e neglible, the tourists few and the people arguably the friendliest in France. But then ...