Hello? *Tap tap*
Finally, the dust has settled a little bit and I feel it is time to come back here to post what I’ve been / I’m being up to.
But before I could do that, I had to do a complete update of the blog, with a shiny new design, that would be mine and nobody else’s. I do love it, even if there are still a few things that I need to add or change here and there, but all in all, I’m happy with it! I hope you will love it too!
We left the UK on the last day of June. It was an odd feeling, to board this plane without a return ticket, especially after the few hectic days we had just before leaving (packing, an A&E trip for the hubs, etc etc). It was oddly relaxing and liberating, to finally be done with all of that.
We arrived at my father’s place where we spent some time cursing at the not-so-summery weather.
My father and sister live in the South-West of France, an hour and a half from Bordeaux.
It is lovely, very touristy due to its history (that’s near the Lascaux cave is, and more recent medieval sites and castles), to its food (foie gras, anyone?) and finally to its wines (Bergerac and Pécharmant, yum, yum!).
The village, called Limeuil, is at the confluence of the Dordogne and the Vézère rivers, and is a medieval village. From the Middle-Age and after, it was a very busy port where goods went through on their way to Bordeaux, etc downriver.
My mother also treated us to a week at the seaside, at Le Cap-Ferret.
Lucas loved the beach. He especially loved to bury himself in sand, we are still not quite sure why!
Cap Ferret is VERY posh and it was a bit odd to meddle with obviously very well off people. Only there, can you be sharing the pavement with an “up and coming” French actor.
The weather was very changing, and the last afternoon / evening was just awful. But we had a few nice days.
The wooden posts you see coming out of the water are oyster fields. The Bassin d’Arcachon, on which Cap-Ferret is located, is THE oysters place in France. And no, I didn’t have any – I’m not too keen on them – but I had plenty of sea food and fish. Oh, and crab. Yummy yummy crab!
What you can’t see on the photo above: the fierce wind and the crazy-ish waves. This is surf country, but not many surfers that day!
We spent our last week or so at my Mum’s place. From there, the hubs and I went on a one-day adventure in Paris.
We followed the Seine from the Gare d’Austerlitz to the Quai St Michel, where we hopped onto a Bateau Mouche. We left the Bateau Mouche at the very end of the Champs Elysées. We walked up to the Arc de Triomphe, but at this time, it started pouring down and we were very tired so we jumped on a Metro back to the Gare and finally home!
But we saw some cool stuff! First, we saw Notre-Dame, the cathedral.
We walked through the flower market. It’s there every day, I think and is such a treat to the eyes.
Then we saw some seriously cool flat-bottomed boats, with a view on the Louvre, no less.
We walked past the Petit and the Grand Palais.
And finally, we found ourselves at the Arc de Triomphe.
Our stay in France was full of good food and wine and family gatherings. It was a good send-off.
It was a good thing to do before leaving Europe altogether. I was a bit Franced-out by the time we left though. I love France. From afar. And gosh, how I was craving for a spicy curry!
