Something else!

The last entry James posted was brief, given that the one before that it might be our last if we didn’t make it out of Paris alive, and given our problems with the internet we just wanted to make sure everyone knew that we were alive. So here is the more detailed version of events.

Monday 1 October – very stressful drive from Paris to a little hamlet called La Musse after being given directions to it by the French guy who we had emailed to book a B and B (but given issues with internet were not sure if he got it – apparently not, and he was leaving for New York that night anyway!) and had our first true French home cooked meal which we shared with an English couple who could speak French and could thank god translate for us when my very meager school French failed us – which was quite often.

Tuesday 2 October – despite the threatening rain we spent the day at Versailles and it was magnificent. The rain stopped 5 minutes before we parked and started 5 minutes after we left so we were very happy given that we don’t have an umbrella or raincoats as we wanted to reduce packing (and frankly forgot to pack any!) It was definitely a highlight for both of us and the gardens and rooms were beyond opulent. The only thing that marred the opulence was all the bloody tourists wandering around spoiling the view. Today we learnt our 3 lesson on the trip so far: how to use a prepaid phone card, which was more tricky than it looked given that the instructions were all in French and it took me 3 goes back into the post office to get instructions in broken English. The first 2 things we learned: Paris is expensive, shops shut early on a Sunday afternoon so if you want to buy anything cheap for dinner you have to do it earlier, or be hungry!

Wednesday 3 October – Rouen to try and sort internet issue (obviously not sorted) and that was about it. It was an emergency stop to try and book accommodation for the next few days and we thankfully managed to do so thanks to internet cafes.

Thursday 4 October – Off to see the famous Bayeux tapestry which was fabulous and extremely well preserved given that it is over 900 years old and had to be rescued from being used as a cover to wrap up weapons and prevent from being cut up. Drove northeast to Omaha Beach and Pointe du Hoc where the Americans landed at Normandy and then on to Monte St Michel which looks incredible from a distance and which we had a fabulous view of from our bedroom window (see picture in previous entry to be insanely jealous and then imagine it at night all lit up and be even more so).

Friday 5 October – Mt St Michel up close and personal and then a side trip to St Malo (just north westish) where we spent the afternoon walking around the ramparts of the old fortified town and watched some boat races on the beach (again, see me doing my best impression of a Japanese tourist posing for a photo on the beach). It was a beautiful day but was still quite cold and only dogs and crazy Russians who had stripped down to their underwear were swimming.

Saturday 6 – a long driving day to Xanton Chassenon which is in the Loire valley and was south of Angers. Stopped at Angers to watch the rugby and were very disappointed to lose – especially as we were in our Wallabies jerseys and sitting next to French supporters who were desperately hoping we’d lose so they wouldn’t have to play us (and ironically as I’m sitting here typing this France is playing England and it’s the start of the second half). Lesson number 4 was learnt today: when in doubt and the bloody roundabouts that the French seem so fond of aren’t on the map, follow any sign that says ‘toutes directions’ until you find one that says what you want it to. Sunday was spent walking 14kms around the Loire on back lanes. Funny me thought that this would be a relaxing few days but apparently we need the exercise.

Monday 8 – Lesson 5: buy bread in the morning because nothing seems to be open on a Monday, what is with the French and this open when we want to attitude? Don’t they know that I’m on my honeymoon and it’s supposed to be PERFECT?? Arrived in Bordeaux where I was assaulted on the street while returning from the laundromat by a large woman of African descent, again, how does this fit with perfection? Perhaps it is karma for being quite chuffed with the fact that everyone else had to go back to school today and we could eat pain au chocolate and drink espresso whenever we felt like it.

Tuesday 9 – thank god, crepes. We have missed dinner and lunch lately and the dessert crepes we ate for lunch today were to die for, and I think some of my arteries did with all of the chocolate intake. Then it was off to Gascony to make up for the lack of food by eating and drinking our way through the next few days.

Wednesday 10 – Friday 12 – Eating, drinking and planning our foray into Spain with the help of our lovely Band B hosts Bruce and Jenny who gave many useful suggestions re Spain and what to see was all that was done. It was the longest we have stayed in any one place and it was nice to stop and relax. Great food: ‘duck bits’ salad and foix gras (the area is known for duck) and I even ate the duck hearts in my salad; crème brulee and chocolate dessert stuff that was heavenly; wine by the ½ litre; duck leg; lamb oh my god we certainly made up for the not eating lately.

Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 –

left France for Spain and spent the afternoon at

St Sebastian and then drove to Bilbao to see the Guggenheim. Tapas is great and the Guggenheim was another highlight for both of us where we spent over 3 hours enjoying the art and architecture.

Monday 15 and Tuesday 16 went to Picos de Europa where we did some walking in the mountains and saw some spectacular scenery.

Today, Wednesday 17 we’re in Salamanca, the white city for a few days. Our next update will be from Portugal and I promise will not be as detailed as this one, I just didn’t want anyone to feel cheated out of 10 days of what you’re missing out on! Plus, any chance to rub it in is good with me! Adios!