Hotel Miramar Valras-Plage

... beach.

The crew pulled up anchor and left for Marseille around 1 PM just before we sat down for lunch. The captain wanted to get to Marseille before the approaching storm hit us and before the wind whipped up too many waves. No one was allowed to go on deck with the weather the way it was, except for the crew who were required to wear a life jacket, and a Man Over Board sensor and beacon. There are two sets of ...

... to allow rain in Italy to clear. Want to re-visit Lake Garda, see if we can't get the spot right next to the lake we last had some 15 years ago, say. Don't know if it's a good idea to go back to the site of happy memories: can you improve on them in any way, or only spoil their rosy glow?
All well with rig, thankfully - you hardly know it's there!

... bah d'accord. Et quand dois-je y être?
Bah dans 4 jours!
Ahhhhh, me dis-je intérieurement, mais non!!! Ok, donc on voit tout ça lundi.
A bientôt!"

Bon, super, je viens d'apprendre que je pars mardi en Hollande pour 4 mois et je n'ai qu'une journée pour tout organiser.

Super, bon bah sur ce, on va aller à la plage, peut-être est-ce une mauvaise blague et que il n'y aura plus rien ce soir ;)

... the Grand Canyon - we sat at the top of the waterfall wading around in the cool water.

We then travelled back to a small town called Lunas where we had dinner in the fab chateau Lunas overlooking the river through the middle of town

This was a great way to end our stay in Herepian

... why not" and headed up the hil like mountain goats with Graeme and Sam leading the way. We made it to the top and were rewarded with great views and a sense of achievement (I guess)

After we got back down it was off to the lovely town of Salasc for a couple of well earned beers before heading back to the house for a late night session of chewing the fat and reminiscing

Yep it was later start however Ethan was very pleased to have Graeme up and endulging in an early morning swim. Jen and Graeme went for a walk while we went and collected up the pastries for a late breakfast

After a lazy morning and lunch we headed up the Gorges D'Heric for a swim in the rock pools. It was fantastic and the coolest we had been in days.

Another barbeque and a considerably quieter evening all round!!!

... stadium for concerts during the summer.

Next we drove up the road to the Pont d Gard which is a huge roman aquaduct built nearly 2000 years ago to carry water from Uzes to the town of Nimes.

Graeme and Rita arrived at about 5:30 and we had a barbque and a few local wines. A lovely evening all in all

A big day today - off to Carcassonne which is a historic walled city. It took 2 hours to get there and then when we got there a walk up the hil to the walled city. Bloody hot - first time the temperature in the sun topped 40 deg.

The city was beautiful. We wandered the narrow cobble streets, saw the chateau and church. We ended up at a garden bar which was lovely and cool.

After Carcassonne we drove straight home and thankfully dived in the pool

... although it makes sense. I guess Paris gets all the credit just because it's the capital. I didn't actually do that much pottering, because I had gotten a cold in Cambridge (how tragic after making it through a long haul flight unscathed!), and the flight to Montpellier forced it into my lungs as so often happens with my childhood bronchitis legacy. But to me France is a healing place (next time you see me ask about the Magical House of Chambery) and I ...

... the course for the grand prix race. Today we hopped on a train and went to lie on the beaches of Carrens where the film festival takes place, It was 30 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Absolutely beautiiful!!! Oh the money thats in the french rivera and Nonte Carlo, absolutely huge yachts 30 million for most or them and the two and three mast sail boats were absolutely HUGE! We'll were off to Barcelona in the morning so we'll update you soon Miss you all!