Our night in Wilderswil was warm and comfortable, partially due to the thick hand hewn timber lining the internal walls, a major source of insulation in the older buildings. The Edelweiss Lodge opened its doors in 1900, and has been servicing travellers and tourism with a smile, continuously ever since. The restaurant overlooking the structured ornamental garden, and the bountiful vegetable garden that supplements the restaurant, serves traditional Swiss cuisine at a reasonable price, and the complimentary breakfast was a buffet affair, with something to satisfy all tastes. We were fuelled up and ready for the bleak conditions awaiting us outside. It’s great weather for ducks. The rain has been gentle but consistent since leaving Wilderswil, but still allowed a last look at the Alps before starting on our journey to Strasburg. Our stop at Lauterbrunnen ... read more

Cooler weather is forecast but I’m not sure why it’s a forecast; it is cooler. We tidied up, put out the rubbish, and left Saint Remy in a car bulging with wine, food, gifts, clothes and essentials, and us. Wipers clearing drizzle have turned the windscreen into a grey, smeared rainbow, and I soon regretted not cleaning the screen. It was number 3 on my mental check list but was never checked off. Petrol stops are generally autopay, and rarely is there a bucket and squeegee, so I made do with my ever present handkerchief and my water bottle. We are hemmed in by steep , rock faced mountains, and are saving time by cutting through the mountains via tunnels. These can be kilometres long and are well lit up. Safer than the open road in ... read more

Today is definitely Avignon Day. I started yesterday with a bit of background on this important city, so if your memory is like mine, read it again. As my parents used to say when we were in a hurry, and I appeared to be elsewhere, “ I’m not going to repeat myself !” Luckily for you, there is no implied punishment attached to this, and I don’t think there ever was for me. It was just an often futile attempt to get me to snap out of it, fire up, pull your finger out, and as my father never swore in his life, that’s as colourful as it got. Approaching Avignon, via Google Maps, the overall impression and welcoming committee leaves a lot to be desired. According to Tim, France has a view that cutting back ... read more

Today is a rest day. No driving, No traipsing around castles and villages, Except this one, We’ve been on the go for 8 days and we have 5 nights here, with most things we want to see within an hours drive; so what’s the rush? This morning we strolled into the centre of the village at about 10am, it’s now 4.20pm, and I fell like I’ve achieved nothing. Everything is going to plan. We ate lunch at an African/ Moroccan Restaurant, with golden raffia shades and colourful tagines decorating the walls. The service was still very French; polite but detached. The ceiling light shades were made of very solid glaced pots, hanging upside down, just low enough for someone who doesn’t have enough awareness to crack their skull on. Who on earth hangs light fittings so ... read more

Dinner last night was had at L‘Atelier Gourmande, or for those of us whose French is a bit rusty- non existent - it’s the Gourmet Workshop. It is located up an alleyway, away from the bustling cafe scene around the Place Plumereau, the plaza a few doors up from our apartment. We were greeted at the door by the two main men of this operation, and seated at shiny tables topped with a solid, finely scuffed piece of stainless steel plate. The seats were clear chequered plastic, and that’s where the funky look finished. Water and bread slid onto the table before we had our coats off. It was replaced often during our meal, once the cane basked looked low; it was never empty, and either there was a huge bin of wasted bread out the ... read more