Arrival into Paris a success after a delay in flight from Bordeaux, and then a taxi strike, not permitting buses to the Airport terminals also. So onto the train I hop. Hopping off on the underground station of Luxembourg, and onto Rue Gay Lussac where my hotel is. Checked in, unpacked and went out for a walk. The Luxembourg gardens were very open, and relatively bare for the area they lay upon, but still very nice with statues and fountains everywhere. The Jardin Du Luxembourg was quite long as well. Over yonder was the Palais Du Luxembourg Senat - this place had quite a few military and security around it. I walked around the building until I got to the other side where there was the Luxembourg Museum, where they were showing paintings by Manet, Monet, ... read more

Saturday and I decided i would go to the town of Arcachon, just a one hour train trip south of Bordeaux. This is a fishing town where some of the worlds best oysters are cultivated. Of course, on the lunch menu was oysters along with a nice glass of sav blanc. But before lunch, I did a walk up to the Parc Mauresque where you could see over the main part of the town and over to the bay. It was quite a steep walk up, and the view over the water was really nice viewing. I walked from there along the main shopping streets, and to a market where I found a nice little restaurant to have my lunch. After lunch, it was a walk to the water, although it did start raining, and forced ... read more

Today I had a lay in, but did have on the agenda to go to a little village called Éze. It was about 9 km from Nice and 5 km before you go to Monaco, which I caught a tram, and then a bus to get to the little village. It took about half an hour, as the bus drove up through the mountains to get to the Village which is more then 450 metres above sea level. As soon as I arrived of course a nice cup of coffee and to the office of tourism to get a little map. Onward and up hill into the village where there were private residences, and lots of little shops. The roads (well walkways) were no more than 2 metres wide, and some of the shop doors were ... read more

Chamonix - I had heard so much about it and just had to see for myself what people were saying. After an early morning start and catching the train to St Gervais and then onto Chamonix, it was close to 2 hours, but 2 hours very much worth it. Oh my goodness, just hopping of the train, the scenery was breathtaking, and of course it being the start of winter you can only imagine the cold in the air. The snow as we were travelling the train was getting thicker as we went up. Once arriving, I had to mark my one giant leap for Jacqui. I captured my foot step on the snow lol. I then wandered down the main street, although normally you are looking ahead and to the sides as you are walking. ... read more

Relax day today, with just a small wander around the main shopping precinct, and of course, one of the Christmas markets. There is nine in all in the city of Cologne to see if you are willing to travel out of the main city. Enjoyed an apple strudel from the bakery, and of course another gluehwien. Where is met this lovely lady who started talking to me. When she found I couldn't speak german, she started speaking in English. Very fluent as well. She was telling me it was nice to practice, as she only learn't to speak english 10 years ago. She is now 75, dressed in her red and white and was going to the local soccer match with the LC Koln team. Her son met her and they went to the game together ... read more