---

Well, about time I put in an update. I actually have found time to get away from the hum drum of working life and see a bit more of Europe. Michelle and I decided we should get to France, so booked two weeks off work and set off to see as much of the place as we could in our limited time frame.

It started with the Eurostar from London to Paris. What a great way to get to another country, just jump on a train! In France we stayed in a hostel which was about 15mins walk from the Eiffel tower. While there we did all the major touristy things, obviously went up the Eiffel tower, went to the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe and walked down the Champs Elysee. We also went on a walk through the catacombs which is the place where the Parisians decided to stick all their dead. So that was fun.

The we went to Rouen which is in Normandy and where Joan of Arc was executed. From there we took a train to Caen and went to the very impressive memorial for the D-Day landings and battle of Normandy which followed.

From Rouen went to La Rochelle and stayed on the island Il de Re at a camp site. Our tent was amazing! It had 4 rooms and a fully functional kitchen. Fridge and stove indoors! We had an amazing lunch in La Rochelle which consisted of every seafood imaginable and a very nice bottle of wine. Oh, and probably the 2nd best coffee I've ever had to finish it off. Mmm.

Next stop was Bordeaux which we had choosen to go to soley based on it's reputation as a wine region. We took a full day wine tour and had an amazing day. We visited a famous wine merchant and after the obligatory wine tasting, sat down to a delicious three course lunch served in their own private dinning room. We went to a couple of chateaus, the last one being a tiny little place which had an amazing red wine. We bought a couple of bottles!

We took yet another train to Nice after that. The train system in France is amazing. One day on the TGV we did 860km in 3 hours. Including a stop! Who needs aircraft.

Nice was nice. I must say I think I could spend the rest of my life there. Or anywhere in France that is. In Nice we spent pretty much most of our couple of days on the beach. It was a nice way to finish.

So after two weeks of sunny weather, fantastic food and plenty of good wine, it was back to london and work.

Life goes on.

---