Finally got down here after battling Saturday traffic on the A7 out of Lyon. First problem was that the Avis web site has the wrong names for the two train stations so our car that was booked for Lyon Part Dieu wasn’t there when we arrived. After getting that sorted we dropped into Les Halles […]
Here’s a view of the apartment we’ve been living in for the past 5 days in Abbesses, Montmartre – it’s on the 5th floor, with the terrace and 3 windows at No. 11: It’s really close to the metro stop – right out the front door: The streets around Montmartre: And a bit of French […]
A new day and a new area. Today, it’s Montparnasse where the artistic giants of France spent hours drinking absinthe: and the Luxembourg Gardens: and back to Da Rosa for lunch:
This street has a long history so we went for a stroll down here in the morning to pick up some supplies for lunch back at the apartment: This place has been killing snails for 179 years! and this place has been selling little pigs:
Took lots of pics, but here’s one of my favourites:
Day one of our stay in the North of Paris in the Montmartre area. We have an amazing view from our apartment: Our local Metro stop is Abbesses: We went to check out some markets and “passages” – covered lanes: Then a spot of lunch at the Palais Royal: and some shopping at Galeries Lafayette […]
We arrived back in Paris, this time staying in Montmartre. We had to get some basics for the apartment, bread, milk, eggs. I know there’s an award winning bakery on the same street and luckily, we went there and got some items as they’re off on August holidays as of tonight for 2 weeks. So, […]
The girls left for their second French course in Vichy today: and I had scrambled eggs at Passionément Truffe to compare it to Chez Bruno from a couple of weeks ago. Verdict? Chez Bruno wins for value, ambience and cooking. But, if Lyon is easier to get to! Dinner was at one of the four […]
A week goes fast. So today, we packed our bags and left Paris for Lyon for the weekend. We had almost two hours to kill at Gare du Lyon so it was lucky there is a beautiful bar/restaurant there called Le Train Bleu. It’s a lovely example of architecture from the Belle Epoch and a […]
A trip to Paris isn’t complete without some photos of, and from, the Eiffel Tower. The view from the top platform is spectacular:
On our last family day in Paris we are celebrating Mia’s birthday at an Alain Ducasse restaurant in the Eifflel Tower. Le Jules Verne is on the highest platform before the summit with its own private elevator going up 123 metres! The 3 course menu was delicious. Here is the Petit Pois starter, followed by […]
Off to Parfum Caron, the famous perfume house that was in the movie Scent of a Woman, to let Mia check out a French perfume house. Then caught up with Ryu for lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant – Le Bambou. I had beef Pho – similar to what we get in Melbourne but a much […]
A relatively early start to meet up with Hal and Sally-Anne. Firstly to Laduree for breaky: Then a stroll through to the Louvre where there’s always interesting street activity: Through the gardens of the Palais Royal for some shopping at Galeries Layfaette: and then a late lunch of some fantastic Spanish, Italian and Portuguese hams […]
Headed over to Saint-German-des-Prés today: And had excellent coffee made by Thomas and “eggs” type dishes at Egg & Co:
So many things to do in Paris. First task on a Monday is to get a Metro pass for the week. The locals get a Navigo Semaine pass which is good for all travel in zone 1 and 2 for a week. Armed with the pass the first stop is to Fauchon for a spot […]
What a view from our apartment:
Steak and french fries! At the Relais de l’Entrecôte chain of restaurants. with a red:
Off to Paris from Avignon on a TGV: Checked into our apartment and then off to the Apple Store to fix my broken keyboard:
Big day today. Collect girls from their camp, check in at our hotel in Avignon and drop the bags, then off to see Janine in Issirac, then dinner and then back to Avignon. Google map reckons its 343km and 6+ hours on the road. It felt like it: To get through this gruelling day required […]
If you lust for truffle, then Chez Bruno in Lorgues can give you your fix. This place does 130 covers for lunch and then again at dinner, every day, every week. It’s singular role is to serve truffles in a set menu where the only variation is the type of truffle that’s grated onto the […]
We were recommended to go to a place called Auberge des épis in Saint Martin de Crau. But after arriving and waiting 30 minutes for a menu, drink and order with no service we packed up and left. We checked the trusty Tripadvisor app and saw the closest restaurant with decent reviews was a place […]
Our first morning at Mas du Petit Grava and it was nice to be back in Provence. After breaky it was off to Arles to see the Rencontres d’Arles photography exhibition. The exhibition is spread over multiple venues in Arles but the main location is at the Parc des Ateliers, a disused French railway yard:
1 August is the day for a big drive. Over 400 km: We headed to Montpellier and made it in one stint and found a bakery for lunch: Then it was onto Arles and a bed and breakfast called Mas du Petit Grava owned and run by Jim and Ike. Enroute we saw traffic jams […]
We had no plans for dinner and as the restaurant next door was closed on Sunday nights, Marc suggested a place in nearby Cahuzac-sur-Vère. So off we went to Château des Salettes. What a great place and food – a 1 hat Michelin place no less! (click on the photo to see description)
