Sounds of 'Monsoon Wedding' ....

Last day in Singapore ... last day of our holiday ... and probably last day of this blog!!!

Evening flight, with a whole day to fill in, but the weather is not good!!! Took another stroll around Little India ... such a unique place ... to the sounds of Monsoon Wedding coming from a local music shop. (You'll appreciate that Pete. Lex just grinned!! No we didn't buy it.) Top it off, it was raining. Rain comes down heavily here ... but for this morning at least, it didn't last too long, but it seems to have continued for most of the day.

We headed to the airport, as we have concerns about leaving our luggage anywhere. Big airport and more comfortable than many we've been in, so time has gone really quickly. Additional bonus is the free wifi we managed from this area. Think I am ready for home. See you all soon.



Thoughts on blogging.

Blogging ... keeping a journal, or in this case ... a public journal. Sharing our experineces... For me it's been a great way to let everyone know where we are and what we've been doing. Sharing so many photos has been a bonus ... thanks Sophie ... for the Mothers' Day gift ...premium Flickr membership!!! Hope you have found it interesting... and maybe even got a bit of a laugh/grin/smile out of some of our adventures or misadventures!!! Doing it frequently has been much easier than those 'catch up' times. And for those of you who just grinned when I said we were travelling without a laptop .... you were right .... I couldn't do it.

Computer / internet access has been a source of frustration for lots of reasons.

Surprisingly access in South America was easier. Internet cafes are everywhere ... and cheap, but you have to deal with Spanish keyboard layouts ... and keyboards so worn that the letters aren't visible. We even had free wireless access in a couple of airports.

In London, we had plenty of access, but they were so tightly controlled that we weren't able to upload any photos from the camera, CD or a USB stick. In fact, couldn't use a USB and I couldn't download photos to a CD. Expensive too ... cost me 10 pound for 90mins ... the extra was for the privilege of downloading photos!!!

Other areas of England were less set up for tourists, and the only place I could find internet access was from a town library ... after I signed the necessary agreement forms .... but again, no USB, or camera access .. and no ability to access Blogger ... it was BLOCKED!!! Even an English keyboard is different from the one we use.

In Edinburgh we had plenty of access thanks to Fiona and Stuart ... there seemed to be a number of free wifi places around also, cafes as well as hotels with wifi. Similarly in Dublin ... so we bit the bullet, and bought a laptop - does have an English keyboard, but we set it up like an Aussie (US) one ... so we just have to remember where things should be. It's especially easier uploading photos from our computer.

In France and Germany, we've had access from most of our accommodation places or nearby bars. Perfect, as both French and German keyboards are different yet again!!

Look forward to seeing you all when we get home.

Hasta Luego!!!

Last night....

In many ways, I can't believe it's almost over ... and at the same time we seem to have been away for so long. This will be our last night in Singapore ... our last night on this trip ... well almost. Tomorrow night ... we will spend in the air, so that doesn't count.

Today we spent several hours exploring Sim Lim Square ... that's 6 floors of hi-tech heaven!!! So much ... but also so repetitious! And in lots of ways it was like being in Buenos Aires .... Want a camera ... come into my shop and have a look. High pressure ... all the way. Not so pleasant, but very interesting all the same.

Then time to explore Little India (predominately Indian area with bangles, brassware, gold jewellery ... so elaborate, sari fabrics... so beautiful. Loved the flower garlands ... made by men and women using jasmine, marigolds and roses ... placed on deities as prayer offerings ... and also given to important guests at functions.

and then onto Kampong Glam, which is a mixture of cultures but seems to be predominately Middle eastern - lots and lots of fabric shops, carpets, rugs, perfumed oils, basketware and of course coffee shops. Lots to look at, but much easier when you know that you can't fit it in the bag...

Everywhere we seem to turn, there's something interesting to look at ... amazing buildings, mosques, temples, skyscrapers and these unique shophouses and food areas. So typical of all experiences on this trip really. It's been awesome.

Our bags are in Singapore ... so this must be home

Check out the pics of our neighbourhood. We are staying in a budget in the area called 'Little India'. Our taxi driver took a little time to find our hotel due to the number of one way streets, and at the time I was having visions of Lima. Less tired today ... and it's fine!

Started the day with a bit of a walk down Orchard Street ... and it is ... lots of shops. We discovered a really interesting food court. Sooo interesting. Watched them cooking for ages, before we ordered. My meal was served up on a section of banana leaf. Others were served on brown paper! Lamb, rice and a green vegetable called okra, I think. Not sure what Lex had.

Then we headed down to the river for a bum boat ride. If like me, you've ever wondered why they are called 'bum boats' ... check the photo of the guy's t-shirt. The question is on the front of the shirt ... answer on the back.

Next stop was Chinatown ... we had the booklet for the walking tour. WOW ... it's awesome. Left Lex with a beer while had a bit of a look around... We'd been told that beer would be expensive here ... so we were quite surprised to find a 'big' bottle for $6.50 ... Singapore dollars. Not so expensive ... but the Singapore Sling was!!!! I only had one.

Found Food Street, aptly named ... so we had dinner before the long walk home. BTW, this is currently Food Festival month here, and fried carrot cake ... is on the '10 must eat' foods ... so that's what I had. Interesting, tasty, but don't think I'll have it again. Carrot cake it is not!

I'm leaving on a jet plane.....

Well not yet ... just a few more hours to wait ... This airport has the most amazing viewing window to watch planes landing. Didn't see any take off but one seems to land every few minutes.

Sat near a couple of blokes who had binoculars, aircraft book and notebooks ... who watched and recorded each plane land. Don't think they were flying anywhere ... just filling in an afternoon.

Seems like some mothers also take kids there for an outing ... watch planes land or play in the playground. Seemed to be constant squealing.... Kid noises ... maybe we've forgotten that sound.

Have checked in ... through one screen /touch up point ... don't put your belt back on, there's another screening point. Nice.

A day in Frankfurt ....

at the airport .... to tired to put luggage into storage and do any more walking. We landed at the airport ... via trains and buses ... around mid-day, prepared to wait it out until our plane leaves just before midnight. We have euros to use up ... so we are.

Have managed to log into the WLAN (for a cost) ... and think we have found the only power point in this area .... huge food area with a massive kids playground ...Macdonalds of course and several bars. Lex is making the ultimate sacrifice ... keeping a beer in front of him so we don't get kicked out of this spot (well a continuous flow really). What a legend!!

More catching up

More on Dijon ... arrived by train mid-day. Short walk to the hotel from the train station ... even better. Great choice!!! Spent some time looking around the old city ... by now familiar narrow medieval streets and old buildings ... lots of churches. Bastille Day, so we joined many thousands around the lake to see the light and sound spectacular ...huge spotlighs lighting the water and the cliffs, fireworks and accompanied by the Orchestra de Bourgogne. A great spectacle ... Happy Birthday little Sophie!! But what a nightmare trying to get away from the lake with huge crowd trying to go both directions across a bridge.





We managed to take in a few museums, a art gallery (great ideas for kids' art too) ... check out the colours on bark Sophie.... you'd love them, the Botannical Gardens, the canal and local boats, and meals and local ales. Lex really wanted to souvenir the beer glass!

Plants in the Botannical Gardens were something else. Floweres or vegetables??? Who knows ... they were spectacularly colourful!!












Frankfurt ... in a nutshell ('cos we're too stuffed to explore much). Our room looks out over the canal ... great view, pity we have such a small window. We also appear to be above a 'red light' district. Who knows, there might be a reason for the small window afterall! Look for the update on that one. Hotel appears to have wifi ... but not available today, unfortunately. We leave Frankfurt around midnight tomorrow night, so I guess there won't be too much exploring with our load.





I felt frustrated with my poor French ... but it's not until faced with a really unknown language (as I am with German) that I realise how much French I did understand. I can't interpret any of the signs, or conversations ... and all TV stations are in German. I long to understand what I am watching!!


Lex did some geocaching and also found a fantastic beer garden at the end of the river walk ... great view of the river and the city skyline. We went back for a few drinks ... would have enjoyed the sunset (around 10pm) but spolit by clouds. Very warm day ... summer at last.

When is a ticket not a ticket???

We made it ... to Frankfurt .... actually we're in the airport waiting to leave ... but I have some serious catching up to do .... Firstly our departure from Dijon

All my fears...

1. where to catch the bus...As I started to explain ... we found out through a series of events that we had to catch the Eurolines bus outside a different station in Dijon. Not inspired with confidence ... even though we had checked it out earlier in the day ... the station buildings were closed and we would be waiting on the footpath in a quiet neighbourhood... Noice!!!

When we arrived, 2 hours early, there were already a couple of people there... it was starting to look a likely place. Not much language in common ... the word 'Eurolines' but other than that we seemed to be going to different locations. Should be fine.

2. Could we fit on the bus???More people started to arrive ... maybe the bus might be full. Was purchasing a bus ticket over the internet similar to purchasing airlines tickets? I had managed,
with difficulty, to print a copy of the email with our ticket number on it.

This is not a ticket ... you cannot board the bus without a ticket... NOT what I wanted to hear.

A woman arrived less than an hour before the bus was due and started checking tickets. Apparently our email would not get us on the bus. After letting us sweat for a while and telling us ... mostly in French ... what we should have done, she told us that she would be able to write us out a ticket to get us on the bus!!! Merci beaucoup!!!!

Even getting seats at midnight on a fairly crowded bus ensured the nightmare continued. More language problems .... a guy who appeared to be talking to himself ... or maybe that was to us ... situation manipulated by 'said' guy ... and a young girl, whose seat we stole. An uncomfortable bus ride indeed. Not much sleep happening that night.

To top it off ... a 'nice' official who boarded the bus after we crossed into Germany in the wee small hours and discovered that 2 young men ... of African ... and possibly French origin ... only had very poor photocopies of passports ... no passport ... no visa ... no 'carte de jour'. A situation only made worse it seemed because they appeared to change their stories. What was the truth? Or did language problems contribute to the confusion when confronted with a barrage of questions which alternated between German, French and English? Who knows. They were threatened with arrest ... before being allowed to remain on the bus on payment of a 25euro penalty.

Forgot to mention that were were the only ones from the group waiting at the station to board that bus... Was this bus going to Frankfurt???

Apparently it ws. We were bundled off the bus outside the Hauptbahnhoff ... main station .. at 7.30am. Same questions arise ... where to from here ... and how do we get there? We opted for a taxi this time ... too far to walk. Good choice ... really long way.

Does it get any better???

Sitting in a bar in a French town ... sucking on a 'bucket' of beer. You'll have to wait for the pictures. We are waiting to catch a bus to Frankfurt ... at 11.45pm ... and we think we have worked out where!!! But that's been a trial.

Originally we were told ... at the bus station, near the train station. Makes sense ... bit like the Transit Centre in Bris. But it was all locked up last night and had us wondering. Checked it out today .... no ... not there ... somewhere else (words we didn't understand) ... mentioned Eurolines ... yes that's right, we know where the office is. Also not far from our hotel and the station so we headed off


Gotta go ... taxi coming ... later

Bastille Day ... and little Sophie's birthday!!!

Happy Birthday!! We've been to the Bastille Day celebrations here in Dijon tonight ... a massive light and sound extravaganza on around the lake ... big lights, fireworks and accompanied by the Orchestra de Bourgogne ... booming out. It was very impressive, with the fireworks reflecting on the surface of the lake. We managed to find a ......

Just checking in this ,orning to find thqt the post I creqted lqst night didnùt sqve1111 So noz I q, zriting on the hotel co,puter :::: very bqdly qs you cqn see 9if you cqn reqd this0 becquse this is q FRENCH keyboqrd qnd the letters qre in the ZRONG plqces11111

It is too hard ... takes too long to type when you have to watch all the letters _ have trouble finding some letters and symbols .... and even greater trouble getting the, to work!!!! You can laugh, but you really have to have experienced it to understand what I mean. Some keys have 3 letters/symbols on them ... and I can't get the one I want!!!! So I promise to catch up on this post soon. I also thought I uploaded pics last night ... maybe they worked. Ever Hopeful

Another day on the bike

.... well only for Lex. You didn't think I'd get back on a bike so soon did you!!!

Lex hired a bike today to try to catch some of the Tour on country roads, while I spent the day around the village. I finally got to wear my shorts ... not bad ... I have carted these everywhere for almost 11 weeks for a day like today.... a beautiful summer's day. It has been fabulous.

Lex found a good spot to view the race ... along with a group of French people ... who became his new best friends. No common language, but they managed to communicate about bike racing, cyclists, wineries and flagpoles. The young boy suggested using their umbrella as a flagpole for Lex's Aussie flag ... and they even offered to take pics of him as the race came into view. Check out the pics!!!

Race over, and Lex even had time to fit in a winery visit on the way home. Successful day I'd say.

For my day, I managed to see an art exhibition, listen to an organ recital at the Notre Dame (not intentional, but very interesting all the same. I popped in to look at the church!) Also checked out the jardin displays (gardens), sat in the village centre watching helicopters circling overhead (the cyclists must have been close to Beune too), and I also fitted in a little shop browsing. The ones I wanted to look in were closed between 12 and 2pm ... can't get used to that. And, I almost forgot, I also managed a winery visit ... different one from Lex.

Three weeks in France and I finally found one....

Toilets in South America were an experience .... memorable and forgettable! I was told ... wait till you get to France.

Well I finally found one ... clean enough ... well from what one could see in the dark. Maybe there's a reason the lights don't work. Lex had this grin on his face ...'you're not gonna like it.' And he was right .... but we were about to hop on bus and train ... 2 hours from home. *&^%&*

Made it to the TOUR!!!

What an amazing day!! We've been to see the finish of a stage of the Tour de France!!!!! Woohoo!!!!

At the small village where we changed form train to bus, we realised that the race would go through this village .... and they were ready!!! All decorated.... markets... We planned to arrive at Atun around mid-day, giving time to look around, find a spot, and settle in. We also manage to fit in a cache .... just happened to be one at a Roman Temple, near the town ... so we found it!

Then into the city centre ... which was all set up and read ... crowds were light at this stage, so we had lunch before heading out the 2 km to the finish line. People were starting to arrive and secure their vantage points with chairs... smart!

We opted for a corner spot near the 400m mark ... only 3 -4 hours to wait for the cyclists. Sounds a long time to stand waiting for a glimpse of cyclists whizzing past, but actually the time just flew by. Various sponsors were going up and down the streets handing out 'goodies' .... and there were other vehicles going up and down - seemed to be lots to look at. Then the promoters' caravan began .... what an amazing sight!!! Each promoter seemed to have several vehicles ... sometimes up to 10 ... all brightly decorated.... and most of them were throwing things out or giving things away ... we ended up with a collection of things ... caps, fans, cars, coffee, etc... and there was so much more that we didn't get.

Then there was team coaches, team vehicles etc.... there are so many people involved in this event ... it is simply stunning!!!

We'd had our Aussie flag draped over one of the sponsor's signs for ages ... before we were asked to move it! Didn't seem to mind how much we waved it around ... as long as we didn't drape it over the sign.

At last the cyclists arrived!!! (Thanks Grandma for the text messages letting us know where the riders were. There was a commentary ... in French ... so we had no idea how far away they were until we saw the helicopters near the town). Well they just FLEW past so fast!!! Had no idea who was who ... or where Aussie Robbie McKewen was ... or even who won!!! But it was such a special experience.

The morning after....

I think today should henceforth be known as the morning after my own personal 'Tour de France!!!



Incredibly, the legs aren't sore at all ... but other parts, best left unmentioned ... definitely are!!! I've had time to reflect on the day and bike riding in general ... and I wonder why we let small children ride these things on roads!!! Lex thinks I need more practice and has promised to buy me a bike ... what a waste!!!! Can't see me riding around the 'village' at home ... or to nearby 'villages' ... or even out to the 'lake' for a picnic!!! I think he should save his money ... better still, I should spend it here!!!



Slow start to the day ... and we headed into the village centre for the local market. Much smaller than those we have experienced previously, but we did manage to get a few supplies for another picnic.



Nearby we found the Hotel-Dieu museum ... recognised the roof of the building immediately as it's featured in Beune's website!! Amazing buildings ... built as a hospice/hospital for the poor after the Hundred Years' War ... 1443. The size of the buildings and the rooms is amazing. When you look at it, you think there must be 3 levels ... but no ... it's only one!!!



Had lunch at a restaurant on the square ... and I finally got it right. I've been looking for a feed of vegetables ... and nothing seems to come with many veges. Today I had a 'fitness salad' ... and amongst other things it had green beans (yah!!!) and cauliflower.

The weather has fined up as well. Weather is hard to get used to ... cool, mostly showery (but only light showers) ... then the sun might come out for a little while and it clouds over again. This afternoon (6-45pm BTW) it looks completely clear. A couple of people have told us that Friday is expected to be sweltering! Wait to see that.

Other achievements for today ...

• we managed to work out how to use machines in a laundromat. Tricky when we can't read the language. We were a little worried when the machine started up ... and seemed to go straight into a high speed spin .... what happened to the wash and rinse cycle??? All good ... it took over and did its thing!!


• we also booked tickets on a bus from Dijon to Frankfurt ... we fly out of Europe from Frankfurt next Tuesday. That was really scarey ... all in French ... no way to print our tickets ... yet. Hope we get the seats we have paid for!!!


• So we also booked hotel accommodation in Dijon and Frankfurt ... should be OK ... that was in English. Only thing left to do is to find out how to get to Dijon when we leave here Sat ... which BTW is a public holiday ... Bastille Day (Happy Birthday little Sophie)

Like I've said before ... everything we usually take for granted is a challenge!!

Bought another hot (freshly-baked)baguette on the way home round 5pm... to go with our purchases from today... goes down really well with beer or wine ... while we watch the finish of the day's stage. Small girl in the bakery today ... school holidays ... so I asked some questions and found out that they are on the 'big' holiday ... 2 months ... but they have 2 weeks ... 3 other times throughout the year!!! Awesome. But ... school day goes from 9-12 and 2-5pm. Home for lunch ... sounds like no PGD!!! Older kids start at 8 ... and go through until 6pm with a couple of hours off for lunch also. Interesting.

Off to Autun ... to catch the finish of the next stage of the race. Hope we get there ... and home ... another adventure. Look for the Aussie flag and Aussie shirt and hat!!! We will stand out. Will be somewhere in Autun ... with a couple of kms of the finish ... if we can.

Thanks for your prayers .....

What a day ... thank you all for your prayers ... friends!!! We made it. Plan was for a 15km ride through the wine areas ... featuring chateaus, churches, beautiful views, vinyards and wineries with wine tasting.

I only hit the dirt twice ... but only once from the bike ... and less than 100m from the bike shop... ... well it was bitumen really (thinking of you Lac). Not badly injured on that one ... but I must say, a bike rider I m NOT!!!! and don't wish to be...

The ride delivered all the promised views ... but I could only appreciate them when we stopped. We had beaut bikes ... 27 gears ... front and back brakes... forgot to mention that the last time I rode a bike (about 24 years ago) my bike had pedal brakes and no gears!!! Today was certainly an experience.

I think we rode about 20kms ... although I did give my walking muscles some exercise as well. We went to the top of a hill for the panoramic views ... warned that it was steep and we would have to walk bikes up. Well it was steep ... and it was much safer for me to walk my bike down as well!!! Stop laughing!!!

We stopped at a motor museum ... bikes, farm amchinery, cars, planes ... and a chateau!!! So many ... and models as well ... but why? What drives someone to collect such items and sooooo many!!! This is where I hit the dirt again. Shakey legs and a twisted ankle ... more skin off! Now I really had jelly legs ... and no confidence. Still had to get home ... via the narrow country lanes and the busier roads!!! Freaking out all the way!!! It was not a pretty sight by this stage!!!
Ohhh I forgot to mention that all this was taking place ... in the rain!!!! We started off in cloudy conditions ... but had light rain for most of the day.

Have uploded LOTS of pics... no doubt you will get a laugh out of them. They tell so much more of the tale than I can ... in my exhausted state.

Hot bath to nusre my bruises ... then staple food ... bread and wine while Lex enjoys the finish of another Tour stage ... Compeigne ... made all the more special because we stayed there and walked the streets that the race would finish on ... including the cobblestones!!!

Lex says ...does it get any better than this ... drinking beer and watching the Tour de France ... in France!!!!

We're about to go bike riding .... pray for me

nothing else to say

Lots of achievments to count today ...

Firstly we managed to organise a change of rooms ... brilliant ... now we have internet access from our room.

Secondly we managed to return the car without any trouble at all. All good!! The EuropCar office is on the outskirts of town, and we'd passed it on the way in so we had an easy run. Decided to walk home via a different route, as you do .... through the vinyards. That was delightful. They seem to go on forever. Go back into town ... on another side, where we found a beautiful park. Such big trees and really clear water!

Home via a supermarket we'd been told about. Biggest in town, I think. lthough we didn't get long to look around, it was probably only a bit bigger than the one at home. Fairly big carpark ... but so few cars in it. Nobody in the shop at all. Headed straight for the 'grog' aisle ... blown away by the prices. 500mL cans of beer for 37c and an 8% variety for 74c each. Several different varieties. Wines were also very cheap. BUT we got a bit of a hurry-up ...the shop is closing .. it was 12.30 and was due to close for lunch and reopen at 2pm. A really common practice here. We had seen it before, but not as consistently as here. I grabbed 2 bottles of read ... a cheapie 97c and a more expensive ... can't remember the price ... but we walked out with a 6 pack of small bottles of beer, 2 big cans of beer, 2 bottles of red wine, packet of chips and packet of peanuts ... for less than 10 euros!! Bargain!! BTW Soph, the bag you made me hold 2 bottles of wine comfortably!! Didn't have any bags withus ... so we had to buy one - you are charged for all plastic bags here. Good idea.

Home in time to watch some of the Tour on TV .... and enjoy our purchases.

Later this afternoon, we managed to purchase tickets we hope will get us to Autun on Thursday for the finish of a Tour de France stage. We think it involves a train ride ... then a bus ride. nd we think our ticket will get us home before sometime after 9pm... We hope!!!

Next we investigated 'bicycle hire' .... from a very jovial Frenchman. Kindly added that he would keep one with the 'softest' seat for me!!! I would be very appreciative!! Should be some adventure!!!

Last legs ....

This is our last driving leg …. to our Beune destination. An early start again hoping to follow some of the country roads that we think the race will follow. Found our way into Autun successfully ... parked, found a tourist info centre and a map showing where the race would pass through the town. We were set!! Have checked it out ... and Lex has decided on a vantage point ... if we can get from Beune to Autun on that day!!! On the road again...

Ooops, missed the turn again … and we are headed directly for Beune. But look what’s around this corner … the top of a magnificent chateau!!! We headed towards it, as you do … to discover a beautiful, narrow winding road crowded with beautiful old buildings … many of them wine cellars. Too early for that … and not a good plan when we’re driving … so we continue up to the chateau .. which just happens to be open .

It was stunning …. from the outside as well as on the inside. We were able to wander around some parts on our own but needed to join a guided tour (in French) to see the main buildings. Amazing to hear that something so grand was built in one year (somewhere in the 1200s I think) was substantially demolished after the revolution … and reinstated to its former glory in the 1800. Dates may be incorrect, but you get the idea.
Driving on from there … there’s just miles and miles of vineyards. What a sight. Couldn’t believe our eyes. Vineyards and ‘caves’ (cellars) with degustation (tasting) everywhere!!!! But we were driving so didn’t stop.
Into Beaune … another medieval city with narrow winding streets and a ring road going around the old city walls. Our hotel is just outside the old city part. Wireless access … only from the foyer, but better than nothing.

We arrived at our hotel in time to see live coverage of stage one of the race on TV … with English commentary!!! Lex sat riveted to the TV at the final stages as Aussie, Robbie McEwen fell in a crash, but got up to eventually rejoin the breakaway (supported by his team) and come from nowhere to win the stage!!! How awesome. True Robbie McEwen fashion. Lex sat glued to the TV, watching for Robbie who is a known sprinter and also known to be invisible until right at the end. The commentators missed him until he rocketed to the front, but Lex didn’t. What a finish.

We had also watched some of the prologue from London on TV at Chissey en Morvan the day before, recognising all the buildings, monuments etc along the route because we had walked most of it. Great to recognise so much from personal experience.
Photos uploaded to Flickr...

On the road again …. Best laid plans foiled!!!!

Planned for another early start …7am… down to the underground carpark to work out how to pay and get out before the traffic. Managed the paying part …. only to find out the doors were locked and not due to open until 8am …. another hour!!!! Settled in for a wait …time to catch up on the diary. Suddenly the doors opened (early) and we shot out of there…. unfortunately, not by the exit we had planned so once again we were doing loops through the narrow streets of another medieval city!! Another 15 minutes later annd we were finally on the road again.

Target for the day was to get close to Beaune (where we will be staying from Sunday for 6 days) ... or better still Atun, which will be another race finish, preferably if we can ... by driving along some sections of the road to be used for the race .... and all this means ... getting off the highways onto the back roads. Villers Gettorets was to be a race start ... so we headed off the highway in that direction. Several 'road deviations' later and we were still no closer to Villers .... in fact every sign we saw said it was 17km away. Seemed like we were attached to a 17km rope ... circling Villers Gotterets ... unable to break free....

We did hawever finally make it to somewhere else ... lots of beautiful, gentle sloping farm land with wildflowers growing all along the roadsides.

One of our 'alternative' turns took us to a beautiful small village called Longpont, where we came across some amazing ruins and beautiful old buildings.

Mid afternoon, we started looking for a bed for the night (knowing that if all else failed we had sleeping bags and a car to sleep in). Sailieu is a beautiful old town.... missed the markets though ... but no room at the inn(s)... so we moved on. We did manage to find a room at a hotel in a very small village called Chissey on Morvan. Very old place, and I think we were the only people in the place. More of an inn than a hotel ... good rooms, great country view, good food. Another great spot.

Feecamp onwards ... revealing the mystery!!!

Left Fecamp early to avoid major traffic problems. First BIG achievement for today was working out how the ‘toll roads’ work. (TIP for future travellers … you take a ticket on your way through the toll gates … indication the location you entered the toll road… when you leave the toll road … you give your ticket to a cashier who works out the cost. Costs vary depending on the distance travelled on the toll roads. Seems fair.) All sounds so simple … but when you can’t read the signs .. it is somewhat more stressful. Some queues are for card holders or those who want to use credit cards … tried to avoid those. Much preferred to try to talk to a person … who couldn’t understand us anyway!!! We successfully negotiated 2 toll gates!!! and avoided any others for the next 2 days … Woohoo!!!

Our goal for the day (which I had avoided identifying) was to get to Villers Bretonneux. We managed that very early … after all it isn’t very far from Fecamp. We took some time to visit the Adelaide cemetery and the memorial for the 11000 Australians missing in France during the First World War . Another emotional experience…. so may graves … so many very young men … and a memorial which was erected just before the second World War … and damaged during that war … still shows the signs of damage.
Visited the Franco-Australian Museum above the Victoria School which was reconstructed with contributions from the children of Victoria. Looking at the photos of the devastation which occurred in those villages … how did they ever recover!!! We could see a large sign on the wall in the school grounds, ‘Never forget Australia’ … and they have pictures of Australian animals on the walls and windows. What a sight!
Too early to stop so we pushed on… next goal … CLERMONT … not Clermont Ferrand. But we found Clermont on the map … somewhere south of Villers Bretonneux. We drove in … but took a wrong turn … and we were suddenly out of Clermont heading for the next town … Compeigne. Haf thought we might stop in Clermont, but not to be. Compeigne turned out to be another gem. A finishing stage for the our de France … preparations in full swing .. a great atmosphere.
Achievements in Compiegne … found our way into the town (you have to count these as achievements … especially these medieval towns with really narrow streets, and all signs in a foreign language!!) … got into a parking station (not sure at this stage how to get out of it) … got some accommodation for the night … and found a cache with a geocoin!!!

The fun of ordering a meal ....

when you can read very little of the menu .... even the English edition. Just wish I could remember the phrases to tell you . Have often thought of asking if someone will give me a menu to bring home ... but that presents a whole new dimension of understanding/misunderstanding. They just wouldn't understand me ... remember the KISS principle!



We know a few things ... like how to get a beer ... and now how to get a cider. Also know meat (viande), mussels (moules), poulet (chicken), poisson (fish)... but after that we don't know what they do with it or how it is being served. And just to confuse us further ... they often use other words ... saummon (salmon ... I guessed that one) but also other varieties of fish, meat etc. Then we are lost.



Tonight Lex opted for moules again, 'cos we mighn't get them as we head further inland. HUGE bowl of moules in cream and wine sauce ... lots of work in eating them ... and he had to give up before the bowl was empty ... about 2 dozen left in the bottom. Such a lot of moules for 11 euros. I ordered salmon ... and was pleasantly surprised with salmon with pasta and a cream and herb sauce. Very tasty!!



Last night was another adventure. Lex had a 'gallete' or maybe it is 'galette' ... but it's a savoury crepe ... ham, cheese and egg. I had a salad with 'chevre' in it ... neither waitress was able to tell us what it was (one was French with limited English ... the other is English with very limited French)... chevre is goat. It did have diced meat of some kind in it ... thought it was bacon at the time ... but not sure. Often see goat cheese on menus ... but don't think there was any cheese in it so it's a mystery!!!



Part of the adventure ... getting through each day. Don't seem to have lost any weight, so must be doing OK!! Keep looking for buffet-style ... like we experienced in Hamburg ... but haven't seen any around here. I'm also hanging out for some veges!!! Haven't seen many veges on menus ... well not words that I recognise anyway.



Trying for an early night tonight ...10pm now ... and an early start tomorrow.

Last day in Fecamp

Time for a look around here... maritime museum, the harbour and a bit of the town. Lots of history about boats and the local fishing industry in the museum. We got an English copy of the information to read ... the part about the fishing industry was very interesting ... and really helped when we watched the video, which was all in French. What a hard life fishing must have been years ago!!! Lex really liked all the info about old wooden boats, naturally, and boat building tools and techniques.



We watched a ship go out through the harbour and stood for ages watching the power of the ocean. Cloudy and very windy again today. There are 5 big wind generators (for power) on a hill near the town ... so I'm guessing wind is a fact of life here. Tried to capture wave forms on camera ... not as successful as we had hoped.



Back home early to plan the route for tomorrow ... as we DRIVE away from here. Who knows where we will end up ... there is a plan ... but just in case we go via the 'alternative route' I'm not saying what the plan is!!!



BTW Soph, you'll be pleased to know that the interpretor you gave dad for Xmas is our constant companion. It's had lots of use in France and Germany ... doesn't help me speak any better, but certainly helps us understand more written text. There are lots of words it doesn't know though ... so at times we just give up.