Blogs from France, Europe

And so we are well installed in our Marais apartment which we’ve found to be even more charming than in its website photos (if that is possible). Our welcome was made even warmer on the cool and drizzly Paris morning we arrived when we found that our host Hans had provided us with a most generous care package of fruit, milk, juice, brioche and jams, cheese and wine, Nespresso coffee maker plus capsules and all capped off with a miniature Eiffel Tower. The apartment absolutely ticks all the boxes – light and airy, on a quiet street, with a boulangerie a few doors down, and across from that a café (Les Temps du Cerise) with a zinc topped bar, the Seine at one end of the street, and the Rue San Antoine (with fruit shops, traiteurs, ... read more

Well, we made it. That’s a bit of an accomplishment in itself I’d say. The kids are off at cool, the grownups are off to work, and, somehow, I’m supposed to be included in that ‘work’ status as well. That is to say that the work has finally begun. I guess there’s some first post explanation that needs to happen … First, Rachel (my beautiful girlfriend) and I are unofficially in Dieppe, France as au-pairs. What is an au-pair? Some people consider it a live-in nanny from another country, others a live-in language tutor. But really what it is is a live-in big brother or sister. Our base obligation is to be liked by the kids, and in doing so they are therefore exposed to a different culture as well as the language experience. Some families ... read more

hallo, Hier zijn we nog eens voor een nieuwsje. Vandaag gaan fietsen van Roanne tot Brienon en terug, ongeveer 30 km. Op de terugweg een jonge belgische dame uit de belgische ardennen op weg van Belgie naar Spanje met haar paard en haar hond. Moet er nog zand zijn?... read more

An early start, always helps if you read your watch correctly! Ian had pretty much packed everything by the time I had showered and sorted the mammoth out. With 258KM of road between us and our nights stop, we set off through kilometre after kilometre of Vin Yards, they seemed to go on forever. Through forests and finally through windy roads we could see the Pyrenees in the distance. Woolly says – My first really big mountains, I’ve seen Snowden and a few others but these provide the border between France and Spain, they looked incredible, no snow in sight but I’m sure we’ll get to that. Pitching up at Camping Arrouche in the foothills of the Pyrenees and within a kilometre of Lourdes, we had a stunning setting for the night. The lady in the ... read more

Well rested after a great night’s sleep, a lie in (well it is Sunday!) we seemed to have found a little of heaven, quiet, scenic and with very good facilities. Camping at Le Pressoir seems to be a good find only wish it was a little warmer (not complaining at the 19 degree average though) so we could go in the pool for a swim! Woolly says – A great start to the day, especially with Ian making us boiled eggs and French Soldiers. Having removed all traces of yolk from my fur we drove the 2km to Le Chateau Vieux Mougnac. We could have walked but unsure as to quite where it was and if it was actually open (it doesn’t give opening times on their web page) we took Oliver for a short spin. ... read more

He was quite beautiful in form, a replica of chiseled Greek perfection. He lay seductively before me completely nude and exposed. But despite his provocative pose all I remember thinking was what beautiful light there was in the Louvre. I went from statue to statue in the courtyard admiring and studying each piece of art feeling glad there was enough natural light I could take a decent photo with just my phone. That night I laid in my hotel bed and flipped through all the lovely photos I had taken that day at the museum. As I typically did before bed, I posted my favorites to my Instagram feed and within minutes would have a variety of nice comments. Not long after posting my photo of the "Sleeping Faun" I received a comment from a woman ... read more