Blogs from Nord-Pas de Calais, France, Europe - page 10

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Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais December 13th 2012

On Friday 7/12 we drove from Sitges in Spain to Avignon in France, and as we drove we could see the distant snowy mountains, we started to steel ourselves for the steady decline in temperature…. The plan we had in mind was to go to Avignon, stay in the van on Friday night and the next morning take the TGV to Geneva, then stay overnight on Sat 8/12 in Geneva in a hotel, returning to Avignon on Sunday evening and staying in Avignon that night in the van, then on Mon 10/12 go on to Lyon. However, we went to the Avignon TGV station on the Friday night to check the trains and get tickets. We had arrived at Avignon France from Sitges Spain at around 4pm. We left the van at the campsite and cycled ... read more
Leaving Lyon
Bresles
Bresles

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais September 30th 2012

Our last day - home tomorrow - train booked for 9.50 French time. Not something to look forward to. Our last night was planned to be spent in Guines which is near enough to Calais to leave us with a short drive to the tunne of about 20 minutesl. Our drive to Guines from our overnight stop at Troyes was fairly unintresting. But then I guess going home is always a pain. When you are on holiday there are some things you miss - a bath will be welcome and our usual bed. But somehow at this point we would both be happy to turn around and for the the holiday to go on forever. It is always sad to leave French soil and head home knowing that we wont be going away again for at ... read more
Guines
Guines
Guines

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Calais September 18th 2012

Well so far so good! After leaving work i was able to get to a local camping shop and replace the gas cannister i had for a full one and set off, the last one felt like there was a lot in it but i didn't want to risk it. I then arrived at the port bang on time only to find out the ferry was late anyway. But meet up with DK at the port entrance and found Chomp and his father in law parked up inside. Looking forward to testing out my kitchen properly, but i think tonight will be all about getting a good nights sleep, so pizza from the campsite hmmm.... pizza. OK so the story so far, my mileage is 35 miles, Chomp is on a different ferry from a different ... read more
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Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais August 29th 2012

We’ve now had just over 2 months at home following our June trip to Ireland. That was cut a little short by my attack of volcanic blood-pressure resulting in a night spent in Tralee hospital and we returned home a week earlier than planned to get it fully sorted out. Happy to say my BP is now consistently excellent. The English summer of 2012 didn’t start at all until August and has been characterised by lots and lots of wet stuff. Even Uttoxeter got flooded one very wet Friday in July and I drove the car along roads which were more like rivers. We’ve had a busy 9 weeks at home. First of all to my utter delight, I welcomed my daughter Jenny and family back from a 2 year sejourn in Melbourne. So ... read more
Bob has a word with Clarissa Tomtom
Straight off the ferry, out of the port and on our way. No hassle.e
Looks like France to me !

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Dunkerque July 16th 2012

BLOG 13 Monday 9 July – So there we were, parked next to the river at Parthenay (the place with the Games festival going on and the hidden, charming but empty old village down by the river.) Anyway, one of us was awoken by a 6am text from Tom in Kashgar, China – a fuddled brain took 15 mins to text back that we’d planned to Skype/phone him from about 9am....China is 7 hours later than France. We seemed to have a lot to do this morning, including phoning Tom – who couldn’t talk as he was on a 3 hour drive and also, we had paid for hot, roomy showers at the nearby campsite. By the time we got there the hot water had run out! – it certainly wakes you up – very invigorating. ... read more
2 Montreuil-Bellay aires spot
3 Montreuil-Bellay
4 Montreuil-Bellay

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais July 5th 2012

Stayed at a chateau in Gosnay, and rode surrounds... read more
our van at the hotel
our van at the hotel
hotel gates

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais May 24th 2012

Last night we had our last bottle wine in France, we return today and look forward to seeing all our friends again but will miss Europe. Our blogs don’t always mention enough of the periods when we have had long days of reading, talking to fellow travellers, walking beaches and hillsides with Horace and just being totally relaxed without any mishaps! So we’ll miss it. Since Germany we have stopped in southern Belgium and finally in St Omer, about 30 mins away from Dunkirk. Horace has been to the vet and had his pill (42 Euros for one pill, and a pat on the head from the vet! Nice work if you can get it.) so, we are all set. On Monday we travelled through Belgium and pulled into a site on the coast near Ostend. ... read more
And it's goodbye from her
And goodbye from him!
Au revoir La France.

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais May 24th 2012

Following my earlier rant “Is it real camping” we noticed how different the facilities are in campsites around Europe. One consistant change since the 70’s though, has been that they have all improved. We have showers that have timers on them, some are movement activated, most have sparkling tiles and shiny mirrors above clean white sinks. Some have suites with your own sink, toilet and shower to meet all your needs. Great ways of saving of hot water and money have been found and a great step forward from days of old because there is actually ‘hot’ water. But where’s the fun, where’s the excitement? Showers on campsites should be a mini adventure, they should be a journey into the unknown and a conversation point for the evenings chat with other “adventurers”. Dee returned from a ... read more

Europe » France » Nord-Pas de Calais » Lille April 6th 2012

Right so I have not 'blogged' (is that a verb?!) before but due to crushing boredness and a stubborn refusal to tidy the mess that is my bedroom I thought I'd give it a go. What I'd like to write about today is the casual sexism that is still so apparent not only in England, but in the rest of Europe. I am a student at university, and recently went to Lille, France with a housemate. What we encountered there was quite astounding. As young women, and myself as a blonde and extremely pale, green-eyed lady, we are quite used to attention abroad. In Portugal and Spain I've experienced a lot of unwanted comments and looks- due to my skin and hair. But in France it was so much worse. I've been to France several times ... read more




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