September 13th, 2025 Our last day in Alquézar dawns cloudy and cool. After a leisurely breakfast, we decide to focus on the town itself and its rich history. The first order of business is to hike up to the imposing Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor. The church and cloister dominate the skyline, their…Continue Reading “Alquézar, Spain….. our last day here”
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September 11th, 2025 Today we say goodbye to the Pyrenees and to France. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the Pyrenees and in the little town of Luz-Saint-Sauveur, even if the weather was less than stellar. Our accommodations were comfortable and well-located, and our hostess was pleasant enough. That said, we did find a few…Continue Reading “Luz Saint Sauveur, France to Alquezar, Spain …out of the rain & into the sun”
September 9th, 2025 We start the morning with a hearty breakfast and take our time getting organized, as the day outside feels a bit gloaming and subdued with a temperature of 17C. To our surprise, Luz has a small market set up in the center of town. It’s modest compared to the bustling Sarlat market…Continue Reading “Luz Saint Sauveur …more mountain days”
September 7th, 2025 We wake up in the morning, pack, and are good to go by 9:30. Excitement is in the air, as today we are headed to the Pyrenees for our stay there. The day is warm but cloudy and rather moody. We’ve really enjoyed our time in Sarlat and its surrounding…Continue Reading “Sarlat La Caneda to Luz Saint Sauveur….first days in the mountains”
September 5, 2025 We wake up under cloudy skies and manage a decent breakfast from our Carrefour supplies. Between the coughing and sneezing, it sounds a bit like a hospital ward, but we’re determined not to let it slow us down. The plan is to visit a château and gardens near Sarlat. On the way,…Continue Reading “Sarlat La Caneda ….Chateau Beynac and Marqueyssac Gardens”
September 6, 2025 We wake up to a beautiful, if slightly cool, morning. After a quick breakfast, we set off on the short 10- minute walk that takes us into the heart of Sarlat and directly into its famous Saturday market. This is a full-on market with everything from soup to nuts, clothes, leather bags,…Continue Reading “Sarlat La Caneda…Saturday Market in Sarlat and a drive out to see the Gouffre de Padirac”
September 3, 2025 – Blois Today is our last day in Blois, and with fine weather overhead, we decide to stay local and explore more of the town itself including the Denis Papin staircase, which each year is given a new look by an artist… .…as we head towards the Château Royal de Blois, an impressive…Continue Reading “Blois, France to Sarlat la Caneda … last day in Blois and a travel day”
September 2, 2025 – Chambord We woke to a moody-looking morning, and after a decent breakfast, faced a decision: should we stick with our plan to visit Chambord, or would the threatening skies turn us back? No point dithering—we packed our wet-proofs and set out. The drive was easy, barely half an hour, and…Continue Reading “Blois, France…another day another chateau”
August 31, 2025 The morning dawns gray and unpleasant, confirming our decision to skip the trek to Gare de Lyons with our unholy wagon train of luggage and take an Uber instead. Right on time, our driver arrives, and soon we are at TT Transit, Renault’s sale-leaseback arm. Once again, our vehicle for the next…Continue Reading “Paris to Blois, France (Loire Valley) …. the road trip starts in earnest”
August 30, 2025 The day dawns with clearer skies, and after a better night’s sleep, we feel more ourselves. With no major agenda, today is meant to be easygoing. Breakfast at the hotel is once again a pleasure, and sets us up nicely for the day. We head out on foot toward the Marais district,…Continue Reading “Paris, France …our last day”