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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Day 22 - FR

Cookie says...
Last full day in Chamonix today and while my body doesn't agree, it's a shame that we can't spend it up the hill.


The weather has got the best of the place and the lifts around the town are closed. So instead we did some shopping, nerding, carding, dicing and Bron looked after a three course meal for dinner before we saw the new year in.

Julie says...
With it pelting down with snow, lifts closed and avalanche canons firing in the background, I decided that staying indoors was the best idea. That and my lung convulsions were becoming stronger and the idea of getting pneumonia is not all that appealing.


Cookie and I bought the customary ski shirts of the area (because Cookie needs more shirts about snowboarding....) and then spent the rest of the day inside - a nice way to spend the last day of 2011 in my view.

Sarah says...
After having my butt kicked by Les Houches yesterday I decided it was time to turn my ski's in before I killed myself or someone else. After a nice day of rest we had an awesome dinner cooked primarily by one B. Pyle with the help of one J. Cook. Lovely dinner ladies! Saw in 2012 with perhaps a little less fanfare than in the past but fun nonetheless.

Pilty says...
Today was a day of ups and downs.

Downs: Cable car to Aiguille du Midi was once again closed, which this time ruined my chance at going on a date with Bron. The French aren't really into celebrating New Year’s (not even fireworks on TV). Weather was terrible (rainy). Last day of Chamonix (effectively the last day of my trip).

Ups: Didn't catch any of the sickness going around. Had a relaxing day in at home. Chefs (Julie/Bron) worth their weight in gold. Illegal fireworks launched due to no proper ones organised.

Bronwen says...
After the triumph of Les Houches yesterday, I decided to part ways with my skis on a high. Today has been about some rest and relaxation. It was a great NYE dinner followed by seeing in 2012 with a glass of bubbly in hand. Chamonix was going off last night with all the amateur fireworks - is there anything that the French can't do?

Friday, December 30, 2011

Day 21 - FR

Cookie says...
We woke to find the outside world white. In Cam McKellar's words, it had puked all night. The girls had arranged to meet Georges-Alan at Les Houches so I was happy to check it out while Pilty piked. It would be interesting to see how we all go. The girls went for the lesson and Georges-Alan sent me down a run full of fresh powder and devoid of people. Those that I did see where skiers and I found out why - the return was the worlds longest pommel lift.

The weather was pretty ordinary even if it gave the best conditions to ride. I managed to come across the girls half way down a blue run which heads to where we started, so I joined them for the last 30 mins of their lesson.


Julie says...
Today I skied through a blizzard on my way down a rather large mountain. On multiple occasions, I gaped at Georges-Alan with a "you want me to ski down there..?" look.


But, after 3 hours of thigh-burning "skiing" down the runs (I'm sure those around us would question whether we were actually skiing... maybe surviving was a better description), I felt awesome when I made it to the bottom. If could purchase a new pair of thigh muscles at the ski lift, I so would have done it all again!


Sarah says...
Everything hurts. The End.

Pilty says...
I'm not sure if I'd class today as a successful day or an unsuccessful day. While the others went off to conquer some slope a bit further down the road, I set off to reach the summit of Aiguille du Midi. I was really looking forward to experiencing temps of between -18°C and -20°C and winds between 60kmh and 100kmh, but alas for me, the cable car that takes people to the peak at 3842m was closed for the day

On the other hand, I enjoyed walking around while it was snowing heavily, making snowballs (although no one wanted to have a war with me), built a snow man and even made (or is it became?) a snow angel. It's amazing how soft and dry snow is here.


Bronwen says...
Les Houches, you had your butt kicked by B. Pyle, J. Cook and a little bit by S. Pyle. After a blizzard, the world's longest pummel ride, a red run and a couple of spectacular dives into mounds of fresh powder (with a group of French girls shouting down from the chair lift to see if I was ok...granted I was lying in a pool of snow, looking a bit dead but laughing so hard I couldn't get up), we hit the final slope back into the village. I had a feeling of exhilaration as we had made it all the way down the front of the mountain...a fist pump like I had just won a medal at the Olympics...even despite Georges-Alan telling me that I looked like a skiing chicken on the last slope. We are Georges-Alan's skiing angels!!!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Day 20 - FR

Cookie says...
The promise of snow meant it was cloudy today. We had a slightly later start due to no private lesson. I saw the kiddies on the slopes for a bit (they are coming along) and then headed back up.


As expected if you went high enough, you break through the cloud but all the runs were ending in the cloud. Sometimes it was almost a whiteout and you're left questioning where you are.

I tools downed mid arvo and headed home for a late lunch. Julz and Bron sorted out dinner and after that we cracked out the cards and dice.

Julie says...
Today we tried to pretend we knew what we were doing without Georges-Alan. We spent the entire time reciting "down, up and turn" as we weaved our way down the hill. I managed ten runs down Savoy without a fall (I'm quite impressed with myself), and am looking forward to showing Georges-Alan my brilliance tomorrow - I know he will be impressed.


On a seperate note, today was the first since the trip started when Cookie failed to make a reference to Asterix.

Sarah says...
It was nice to sleep in today. Practiced so that Georges-Alan would not be disappointed tomorrow. On the short runs my technique is improving and it would be good to have more time here so that my muscles could properly adjust and I could continue to get better.

Pilty says...
Pretty successful day. Not only did I manage to ski and not fall over, I also managed to get down the slopes without stopping. I even outlasted the girls in duration. Still not sure why they are all complaining about hurting. There was only one person out there who was always in the wrong positions, and I wasn't hurting. Today was also the first day it snowed. I now know the difference between snow and light rain.

Bronwen says...
Out of eight runs down Savoy, the second was a complete disaster. As a result of a rather spectacular fall on a patch of ice, I am sporting a bruise the size of a small South Pacific nation which is the colour of a rather lovely eggplant. I am continuing to have a pain party in my pants which has been joined by a pain party in my jumper... even my bingo wings hurt. Les Houches tomorrow... may the force be with us.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Day 19 - FR

Cookie says...
The girls (and Pilty) were off for another rendezvous with *French accent* Georges-Alan. I watched for a bit then headed back up to yesterdays field. This time I went right across to the other side and found some more fun and fast runs. One lift was closed while I had queued up due to injury evacs so I went elsewhere. When the girls were done I tried getting back as quick as I could but that was a 90 min commute.


Earlier Sarah and Bron had spied a fondue place for dinner. Entrees were escargots (snails) followed by a meat / oil and a cheese / mushroom fondue. It was soo good but soo filling. I think I had to be rolled back to the apartment. Fortunately it wasn't far (thank you Sarah!)


Julie says...
My calf muscles would like to welcome my thigh and knee muscles to their pain party. I spend so much time pushing down on my skies trying desperately to slow down as I corner that my muscles are questioning my sanity. Georges-Alan assures me that if I go faster, it will be easier...

After introducing myself to the same patch of ice three times, I spent some practice time on the slopes after lunch and I think I am getting the hang of it.

Sarah says...
So we had another lesson with our Guru - Georges-Alan. We are all improving and he is quite patient with us but extremely honest about what we are doing wrong.

Fondue was amazing!


Pilty says...
Skiing... pretty sure I should switch to snowboarding
Fondue... so good, could've eaten it all night
Snowmobiling...non existent :(
Garlic snails...impressively tasty (although probably due to garlic)


Bronwen says...
We hit the big slope today with Georges-Alan. After a very slow start (I couldn't have gone slower if I was dead), I started going about ten metres an hour and managed to not stack it on the last couple of runs down. I am having a pain party in my pants... sitting is difficult as is walking and standing still. Fondue for dinner and a lovely Sancerre helped immensely.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Day 18 - FR

Cookie says...
CHAMONIX! I've always want to come here (or at least since I've had an interest in the snow) and now I get a chance to hit its slopes. We headed early to meet the instructor but due to an issue at their end, it was another 90mins before one turned up. I watched them settled in and shot through.


The Planpraz gondola is just up the road from our unit and it's where I started. There's a bunch of lifts that hang off that face so I hung out there for a few hours. It was fun and I hit some runs at speed but it was pretty clear that it's been a while since I've boarded and I'm not the same shape (round vs not as round) as I was last time. As for the board, it isn't that great and for the moment I'll describe it as being adequate.

The girls had headed back to base, looking for lunch and had booked more lessons. I met them for food, we changed super market chains and it was a lot better. We headed home, hung out reading, nerding and showering. Bron's making pasta for us tonight and I'm sure the cards shall make another appearance.

Julie says...
"Hello calf muscles, welcome to Charmonix. Here you will find amazing scenery, massive mountains and a beautiful town. However calf muscles, prepare yourselves for a world of hurt... the next 4 days of sking will be interesting...


Sarah says...
So our first sking lesson under the guidance of Georges-Alan went quite well. I can now go over small bumps without looking like a complete spaz! I think the man is a genius!!!

I also completely love this town. It is so beautiful!


Pilty says...
Snow...that's really all I care about. While Cookie got a choice of boarding in 3 countries, my choice was limited to just a couple of green (easy) slopes. I had no problem going down straight, it was just trying to do the turns that I struggled with

Made the best garlic bread for dinner - lots of garlic with a little bit of bread

Bronwen says...
We have a sauntering French ski instructor...he has worked some magic on us on the baby slopes today. We are turning, stopping, going over bumps and generally looking like we are skiing not have muscles spasms on skis. Exhaustion and pain after a day on slopes is taking over...

Monday, December 26, 2011

Day 17 - FR

Cookie says...
Today was an odyssey. We left early as we had to drive to Geneve, offload the car, bus it to Chamonix, find our accom, get some gear and have dinner. It was a continuous day without a moment's rest.


Our GPS managed to take us into Switzerland which then meant that we were stung for a road use sticker (as if the tolls weren't costing enough already!). Apparently it isn't possible to buy shuttle tickets at the airport so we booked return seats on the bus and it ended up being almost empty.


We finally arrived in Chamonix and headed to the accom managers office and 30 mins later we're in the unit. Sarah's done well, it's a stones throw from the middle of the town and even has two balconies with half decent views. It was early evening but the race was on to get some gear. As conveniently located as it is, the store we went with is below us and the cheapest in Chamonix. After looking at the gear, we know why. I'm sure I'm going to miss my Burton Custom however beggars can't be choosers and this weekend's hack board is going to have to do.

Dinner ended up being in a Savoyish Brasserie where I ended up having venison - it was good.

Julie says...
Oh the joys of travelling - wasn't today fun :( I tried desperately not to give Bronwen my sickness (I'd already infected Sarah and Cookie), but I think she was more concerned with Sarah's lung convolsions then my little coughs. After the car journey, the random walk through the airport (we had to cross between the French and Swiss sides of Geneva airport through a secret passage - it felt like I was going to be stopped by Interpol), and the bus trip, we were finally here. I was very thankful for my backpack today, as I humourously watched Bron, Sarah and Pilty drag suitcased through snow and ice covered footpaths :)

After being told that this week was the busiest week for ski gear hire, I am now the proud owner of noisy ski pants - Mikey would be proud.

Sarah says...
When we first put the destination in the navigator it told us 800km - I was already feeling sick but this almost put me over the edge. Fortunately it recalculated and we ended up squashed into the car for only 3 and a half hours. I coughed up both my lungs so that didn't make it seem worse at all. Finally got to Chamonix and it was well worth the wait! Stunning!

On the way into Switzerland we had a slightly akward experfience where Cookie, meaning to say in French "I don't speak French" actually said "You don't speak English". Needless to say, the fact that the guard had just been informed that he didn't speak English meant that he wasn't as nice to us as he could have been.

Pilty says...
Well, turns out I got to add one last country to my list. Even though we were only in Switzerland for about 10mins, I think it counts.

Tolls once again took their toll on our pockets. The cost we saved on our petrol by taking these shorter routes went into shorter travel times and salted roads (aka safety, although we all trust Cookie and his decades of experience).

Bronwen says...
An early start, a 4hr car ride in between two coughing/lung evacuation sickies, 2 countries, a hideously expensive toll stop at the Swiss boarder and a 1.5hr bus ride up the mountain and we have arrived in Chamonix! Well worth it! Cookie and I checked out the local Super U and I shall never be returning to that particular supermarket. I think I caught a disease.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Day 16 - FR

Cookie says...
It was Christmas Day and we rose a little later than expected. After a hot cooked breaky, Bron and Julz got stuck into preparing a roast for lunch.


It was a pearler and the rest of the day was basically playing cards. We continued our 500 game from Beaune but moved to Up and Down the River and Liar's Dice when Bron joined the games. This went on for a few hours before heading to bed.

Julie says...
Way too much food, and a few hands of cards - a typical Christmas day :)

Sarah says...
In an attempt to keep up with my sister last night Cookie gave himself a hangover - Merry Christmas Mr Cook!!

Bron and Julie made an awesome Christmas lunch and then we spent the rest of the time playing cards.

Pilty says...
Bringing Julie and Bron along was a great idea; even with out gravy (which we forgot to buy), they managed to cook us a great dinner

Bronwen says...
Great Christmas day - good food, good company, good card games, a dice game I have not a hope of ever understanding and some good wine. A not too shabby day at all!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Day 15 - FR

Cookie says...
It's nice to know that you're staying in the same place for more than a night and you didn't have a timeline to make it to another place. We did however have a timeline to meet Bronwen. I hope she doesn't mind joining a bunch of people aflicted by the plague. Since we've been here, all of us have been crook.

Bronwen also suffered poor connections (it must run in the family) and a flight crew who didn't want to work. It ended up working in our benefit as we had headed to Arles to look at a Roman Amphitheatre. As a Roman ruin, it's in reasonable condition however as it's an arena that's still in use, it's covered with scaffolding, walling and it detracts from it. I guess that it made up for yesterdays winner. We also saw some kids doing parkour in the ruins of the Roman theatre.


We discovered another 'hazard lights make it okay moment. Some guy in the toll plaza left his car to find help. We think he didn't have a ticket so we don't know how he got onto the motorway in the first place. The plan was to check out Nimes and it's amphitheatre but in the interests of time and this morning's visit, we headed to a Roman aquaduct.


Bronwen was finally arriving in Avignon via train so we did a grocery shop, picked her up and headed home.

Julie says...
Is it a bad sign for my marriage if I get a little over Cookie's desire to see Roman architecture? Maybe I'm not as 'cultured' as I claim, but I swear all roman ruins look the same. But, in the interest of supporting my husband, I headed off to see some old rocks again today. The wind decided to include a chill factor, so that forced Pilty to wear something out of the ordinary - hey good looker :)


A few Roman sites later, we hit the shops to buy excessive amounts of food for Christmas lunch - it should be a good meal.

Sarah says...
I couldn't take Brendon seriously today - he has his "standing around" pants on and he looked too overdressed for the occasion. We went to some Roman ruins in Avignon, which after Orange yesterday were not as good, but the town itself was lovely. After the Roman Aquaduct we picked up Bron. Later in the evening Cookie drank his body weight in alcohol and apparently likes to use the word prawn a lot when describing people.


Pilty says...
Today was ‘pay-out-pilty’ day. Well, I’d like to claim I was dressing up fancy because we were picking up Bron from the train station today, but the real reason was that after washing my clothes (including all my jeans) last night, they hadn’t dried and I was forced to wear my good dress trousers and black dress shoes. Supposedly I was looking very good today, but this came at the cost of not being able to walk freely while moving between sites (especially stairs)

We checked out another amphitheatre (or was it a theatre or an arena? I always get them mixed up) which used to be (maybe still is) a bullring. The fact it was used for bullfighting was the only remotely interesting thing about it. On the other hand, we did get to check out an aquaduct which is something I hadn’t seen yet.


Bronwen says...
I am very pleased that the Lufthansa air hosts got their full 12hrs of sleep as that only made the whole plane about 4hrs late into Lyon which meant that I then missed my connecting train which then meant that I didn't arrive into Avignon until 6:00pm instead of 2:00pm. I am not bitter at all. A night of food, wine and chatting soon made me forget my travelling woes. Brendon dressed for the great occasion of my arrival to the vacation - that was nice.

Friday, December 23, 2011

Day 14 - FR

Cookie says...
On the way to Avignon we visited a Roman theatre in Orange. It's a very good example and one of only three with its wall still remaining. We audio guided ourselves around it and then made tracks for our accommodation. Good driving music today might I add.


Julz had picked an appartment in a town called Trevouse which was several kms out of Avignon. It was a bit of fun trying to find but it's a winner. It has three floors and they clearly thought a family was coming as we scored a queen bed however the others had kiddie sized ones.


Julie says...
Today we all got comfy in the car and were forced to endure 3 hours of Bon Jovi - kill me now.

I was pleasently suprised by Cookie's detour to the theatre in Orange. I expected a bunch of ruins on a hill that I could look at from the car. But after being assured it was worth getting out for, the wall of the theatre was pretty cool.

Sarah says...
I like Bon Jovi - but not 3 hours worth. At one point I thought it would just be less painful to end it all and depart from this life. Fortunately about that time we stopped in Orange and the theatre was actually well worth the drive. Still in excellent condition and with a great history, this was an unexpected gem.


Pilty says...
I’d seen several theatres/amphitheatres/whatever they are called when in Italy, but the one today was a little bit different (it had a wall-y bit) and due to an audioguide (and the fact that all we did today was driving/listen to Bon-boring. Harsh?) was interesting.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Day 13 - FR

Cookie says...
It was time to leave Blois today (pronounced Blah) and head across the country. On the way we wanted to hit some more wineries and I had a small detour to make at the tail end of the journey. We made good time and managed to find an open cellar door. Even though 'on ne parle pas Français' and they didn't speak English, we discovered that alcoholics around the world can still communicate and we walked away with more wine.


The little detour was to a statue of Vercingetorix. If it sounds like an Asterix character then you're close. He featured however he was a historical figure. In fact, he was famous for uniting the Gaulish tribes and defeating Julius Caesar in one battle only to be defeated at Alesia (a location the French say they forgot about and to be honest, it was out in the sticks).


We saw some nice towns and scenery though. There was also a fort reconstruction and a museum but it doesn't open until 2012 so we had a look from a distance.


Finally we made it to Beaune where we checked in and had a quite night to. It's taken us a week but at last we managed to get some cards in.

Julie says...
Today we visted a statue of a guy who lost a war, was captured and paraded around as entertainment, and then ceremoniously beheaded. If this is the French way of celebrating herosim, then it looks like any random Asterix character can get themselves a statue in the middle of nowhere.

Sarah says...
I stood under the statue of Gastonvetorix (or whatever his name is) and saw up his skirt. Apparently, he is insignificant in more ways than one.


The only reason we got some cards in was because Cookie didn't fall asleep the second he walked through the hotel door.

Pilty says...
The alcoholics drove me around again today. We did make an awesome detour due once again to my navigating skills saving the day. I also trekked through muddied clay to get some good photos of the recreated fortress. No idea how these people would’ve travelled without my internet.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Day 12 - FR

Cookie says...
Today was about chateaux and wine. We visited Chambord and Chenonceau. Chenonceau was a bit of an odd one. It looks great from the outside and was well furnished inside but some of the paintings were really odd.


Chambord however was very nice. There was a lot of thought put into the layout, the rooms were a good useful size and overall, it's quite a large site. There would be plenty of room for Lego and model trains!



We found an open winery which is a feat in itself. Not only are places closed in winter but places close in general for a few hours around lunch. Whole towns look like Adelaide - closed. We still don't understand how restaurants work as they too close at lunch. The second winery was a Gite (B&B) and the owners invited us into their house to talk wines, travel and wines. It was very generous of them and we soon walked out with some wine.

Julie says...
When you enter a chateau carrying a camera, people would assume you're going to take photos of the architecture, antique furniture or tapestries. However, one lady today would enter each room, ignore all information, signs and make a beeline for the overdone Christmas decorations in that room. If you're going to pay 10 Euro to see the inside of a chateau, whouldn't you at least occasionally look at the building?


Sarah says...
Three highlights of my day;

1. I discovered that Cookie is secretly a Harry Highpants.

2. Brendon likes to touch things instead of looking at them like everyone else.

3. We had the most bizzare wine tasting experience where we sat in someone's lounge room on their sofa while watching firstly, an Austrian movie dubbed in French and then France's Funniest Home Video (which is as lame as our's) whilst tasting wine.

P.S. I would like to also say that for the last few days I have been calling Blois Blah and being "corrected" constantly by Cookie. The owners of the winery informed us that once again I was right with my pronunciation. Sarah 500; Cookie 0


Pilty says...
The alcoholics drove me around today. We saw some big buildings and once I'm married to someone rich and famous, I think I'll buy one.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Day 11 - FR

Cookie says...
I wanted to get some photos in the morning but I was too tired. We arrived at the Mont at a good time and started checking it out. Julie Hams, if you ever make it to France, forget about this place. It's one big staircase. There were a lot of steps involved but it was worth it. We took a guided tour through the abbey which was interesting and the guide used to be a draughtsman.


Now we have a bit of a gripe. We have no idea why the French aren't as big as houses. Seriously, every breaky has bread and croissants, even second corner has a patisserie, each patisserie stocks a lot of yummy stuff and everyone buys something from them every day. It's unfair.

We bailed and made for Blois (pronounced Bloy). On the way we listened to some Aussie culture - The Twelfth Man. After checking in I went for a stroll to find another chataeu but I missed it. I climbed even more stairs and at one point I thought I had found an illuminated statue of King Louis but after about 80 stairs, I found out his name was Denis. Julz, Pilty and I headed out for dinner while Sarah stayed in as she was feeling crook.



Julie says...
Mont St Michel wasn't quite what I expected. My thoughts were that it would look like a working monastery with monks, furniture and that 'lived in' feel. Instead, it was empty, smelt stale, and resembled a 3-storey maze. The tour was good, with our guide congratulating us for visiting in winter and not having to fight the crowds. It would have made for some really pretty pictures, but the weather has decided not to play ball the last few days.

Cookie, you didn't 'miss' the chateau in Blois, you lost it. Not sure how, it was about 5 stories high...
And when in the car with two females, you will have to stop occasionally for the bathroom, and so don't yell at us each time we ask for a stop at the services.

Sarah says...
Cookie is a meanie. He yells when we need to go to the bathroom and makes us feel bad. Mum, he is a mean, mean boy - waaaah.

Loved Mont St Michael and thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour. Left for Blois (pronounced Blah or at least that is what I am trying in vain to convince Cookie of).


Pilty says...
Thankfully Cookie decided to keep sleeping thus I didn't have to get up early (I was prepared to take one for the team and accompany him for on one of his world famous time-lapses). The tour of the abbey we did was rather short, but rather interesting. Judging from what I learnt, these days it would take people 110yrs to plan something like this before giving up, when back 1300yrs ago, some dudes just starting building it into the place it is now. I hope to one day own this place...

On a side note, I have no idea whats up with these girls as I can easily last a full day without needing to go to the toilet,

(Julie comment: it was 5 stories tall AND had our car parked underneath it).

Monday, December 19, 2011

Day 10 - FR

Cookie says...
Bit of a hike today. The first stop was to check out the Bayeux Tapestry. It's around 70 metres long and tells how England was conquered by William the Conqueror. I had wanted to see this tapestry ever since watching my favourite documentary, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.


Next was Arromanches and some of the Normandy beaches. There is a 360 degree film on show there which cuts recent filming of the locations involved with the war in with footage from the war. It was excellent.



Lunch was at Omaha Beach and then we went up to walk through the US war cemetery. There's a lot of information held within their building plus some large maps in the cemetery itself.


Tonight's accom was near Mont Saint-Michel. I tried snapping some shots, we had dinner and it didn't take long to fall asleep.


Julie says...
Today it rained... a lot.

Sarah says...
We parked in the overflow parking again.

Pilty says...
I wasn't too keen to pay and see a couple of random tapestries, but as it turns out the one and only tapestry in the building was pretty cool. They also had a museum part which I would've liked to check out more if we had more time

After watching the 360 degree movie, I was keen to find some heavy artillery. While driving along, we spotted a sign which we thought we'd check out. It was a great detour and well worth the effort. Its amazing how big the things were and their location.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Day 9 - FR

Cookie says...
Great breaky today, French bread is le best!

After shooting through, we were on our way to Villers Bretonneux. It's hard to comprehend the context in which these battles and wars are fought, so being here puts things in a different light. It's also a challenge to come to grips with the numbers until you see the headstones, and that they represent someone that had friends, family, desires, interests and knowledge, but also a willingless to fight for their country in a war defending people they hardly knew.

On to the capital of Normandy, Rouen. I've been impressed with Le Chariot so far. It's now done 900km's and only just remembered that we're supposed to fill it with diesel. Rouen has some wonderful old buildings and church with some Christmas markets.


It's also where Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. We also walked through a museum dedicated to her. It took longer than expected due to the monotone audio guide we were listening to.


Julie says...
Because it is winter, France is pretty well deserted (of tourists anyway) and so we only had a few others for company at the cemetery. It is overwhelming to see the number of names on the gravestones. And then to see the walls and walls of graveless names is staggering. I feel proud to be an Australian today, knowing that those young men died to protect my country.

Sarah says...
The war sites on this trip really make you so appreciative of the sacrifices that these men made and also realise the extent of our involvement. I feel so grateful to these men and women who died protecting the freedom that I now take for granted.

On a less serious note overflow parking is generally used for peak times but apparenty it is where WE park all the time - go figure.


Pilty says...
I've had awesome weather but since I've met these guys, it's done nothing but rain.


The Joan of Arc monument wasn't as exciting as I hoped; in fact we were standing right in front of it and didn't realise.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Day 8 - FR

Cookie says...
Time to hit the (wrong side of the) road. Le chariot was waiting at Charles de Gaulle as I wasn't interested in tangling with Paris traffic. After a few faux pas (or whatever the French call it), we were heading for Lille. I drove, Pilt interwebbed and the girls slept.

The next few days were about paying our respects to those who fought in both World Wars and the first memorial site we stopped was Fromelles. We checked into the accom in Lille and then went on to Ypres (in Belgium) for the Menin Gate.

We arrived in a wonderful town who clearly have embraced Christmas (so far the French don't seem to care for it) and we found a place for dinner which overlooked a square. Sarah was desperate for some Belgium waffles and we picked up some chocolates afterwards too.


At 8.00pm each day they hold a short service at the Menin Gate. The gate holds the names of thousands of Australians who have no grave (they even ran out of room and built another site for them) and the service has several people playing The Last Post.



Julie says...
Today we practiced doing u-turns in France. The road signage here is appalling. Fromelles was sobering, and the random trip into Belgium was cool. But the Menin Gate was amazing and the 5 gentlemen who played The Last Post on bugles in complete unison was incredible.


Sarah says...
Fromelles and Ypres were amazing - so moving. I think the scenery was also amazing but as I slept for almost the entire trip I am not entirely sure.

Also worth noting since the 2005 trip, mentioned elsewhere on this blog, Cookie's language skills have not improved. He seems to believe that speaking English with a French accent constitutes actually speaking "French". Understandably people still do not understand what he is saying and he is also getting funny looks...


Pilty says...
Today I got to add another country to my list of countries visited. Possibly the last I'll get to visit before heading home. Belgium wasn't that much different to France in fact the sign to say we crossed the border was so small we nearly missed it. As far as navigating goes, I took to it like a duck to water. Fortunately our car came with onboard GPS as we didn't even pay for it. How did people get around without before technology...