home again, home again.............

Oct. 13, 2006 Oh no!!! Friday the 13th- we wish everyone well.
We are now home again and except for 9 hours difference in jet lag, we are trying to catch up and get back to normal. And yes, I'm starting to plan again........
Thanks for visiting, see you here in about a month.

back in the USA

Oct. 11, 2006 We are back in Lititz, PA at Judy and Paul's house trying to catch up on our jet lag. Here I am in front of Judy and Paul's house with my niece Megan.
I'll finish the blog soon- when I'm at a faster computer.
Please check back.

We'll be using this blog again in about a month from now, when we'll be inn keepers for the B&B "the Winemaker's Porch". We'll be helping out Carol's sister, Corinne (and Marlowe) at their B&B and vineyard in Paso Robles, CA as they go on holiday. www.francesjamesvineyard.com/

See you then...........

last trip

Oct. 8, 2006 Today was our last trip across the stone bridge. Then back on the TGV at 300 km./ hr. to the Paris Euro-Disney Marriott.

Steam Engine

Oct. 7, 2006 We have been staying at the summer home of Peter and Helga Beij. They live in or around Voorburg, and Peter is an administrator in the public schools. A few years back Peter and I were trying to setup an exchange with his school (and its EU consortium of schools) with Chaparral HS. CHS would have been the first American school in the group. I thought it was a done deal, but the district declined and to this day I consider it a major advantage lost. Peter stayed with Carol and I in the country at that time, as well as in town last spring. During this last time, Peter came with administrator friends, and I arranged for them to tour high schools, district and county offices of education as well as some college and university visits. At that time, Peter offered his summer home in southern France to us in October. As you can see, we took him up on that offer. We are certainly grateful to Peter and Helga for their generosity.






Today we cleaned the house in preparation for leaving tomorrow. In the afternoon, we traveled to Anduze, where we had lunch and toured the back streets in the old part of town. It was really unique- and in a good way. Later, we took the steam engine train to the village of Saint-Jean du Gard. It was a trip through the beautiful French countryside along the edge of their National Park, Cevennes. As usual we had a wonderful time and So. Cal. weather!!
We are back to Paris tomorrow, preparing for our trip back to the states. Where did the time go? But, we have been to so many wonderful places.......a trip of a life time- until the next one!!

Nimes arena (colosseum)

Oct. 6, 2006 We were lucky to meet up with Pete and JoAnne Landis while in France. Pete is a high school friend who started as a French teacher and ended up as an administrator at the high school and county levels. They were visiting the university town where Pete spent a year in college and they were able to meet up with us in Ales. We've had a good few days together and we certainly were able to use Pete's command of the French language!! JoAnne is also a dear friend and we all enjoyed their company. This retirement stuff is great!!
We went to Nimes today and toured the Nimes arena (colosseum)- it is the most intact colosseum left from Roman times and it is still used today for bull fighting, etc.
We left Pete and JoAnne in Nimes as they continue on with their tour of France. We look forward to visiting with them back in the states.
It was again, a wonderful day.......

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Oct. 5, 2006 What an incredible day. We drove the beautiful French countryside to Chateauneuf-du-Pape and visited the caves (places to sample and purchase bottles of this wonderful wine), wineries and the chateau.
For lunch we drove to Orange to see the Roman ruins. I found a sporting shop and got some really unique fishing gear.
We were going to go to Ales for a dinner out, but we were all tired of driving (and didn't want to drive in the dark) and ate in again. Actually this was probably needed after what we paid for some of the wine!!
It was a good day.

Arles

Oct. 4, 2006 We first went to Arles today and took a tour around the old town and walked around the Roman arena. We did a lot of shopping and after seeing cicadas on everything, learned that they are the symbol of Provence.







We then drove to les Baux. It is a village and chateau from the 1500's on a high rock outcropping. Very pretty and very steep.
We did a lot of driving today- they have circles/ round-abouts everywhere!!
Maybe we do a shorter day tomorrow.

Roman Aquaduct

Oct. 3, 2006 We traveled to the ancient city of Uves today. There was everything from churches to Roman baths. Truly an incredible experience. After lunch at a local outdoor restaurant under the cover of low Roman arches, which protected us from the rain, we proceeded on to Pont Du Gard. Here we saw what is probably the best preserved Roman aquaduct. It is really hard to imagine how they did the engineering and work needed to complete this task in the early part of the first century. And it was only a small part of taking water from Ales to Nimes!
Please google it- Pont Du Gard.

Ales

October 2, 2006 Another great layed back day. Carol and I went into Ales and got some good posters and brochures for the area in English!! We found an outdoor clothing market and I bought a belt (since mine is now too short!!??) and a felt hat I really like.
Later we all went into Ales for lunch on their square.
Tomorrow we should be off for some sites- maybe that Roman aquaduct- la Gard?

La Garrigue

Oct. 1, 2006 We are in the summer home of Peter and Helga Biej. It has four bedrooms and a swimming pool and its in the country- really nice.
It is called "La Garrigue" and is in the area called Saint Privat des Vieux- right outside Ales and about 45 km. north of Nimes. We had lunch in Ales today, but most shops are closed on Sunday in France.
Can't wait to start touring tomorrow!!