silas

I feel obligated to send this considering all of the help fodorites have given me on this trip as well as my last trip to Spain. Just got back from 2 weeks and here is the brief version:
Started out in Toulouse and got very lost trying to get to the Hotel Beaux Arts. We stopped and asked for directions and a super nice man actually went inot a store to get us a map and gave us the directions. Saw lots of young homeless with their dogs- apparently a new trend in Europe? Spent 3 days here in order to see the Tour and got to see Pla D'Adet and awesome mountain top finish by George Hincapie. So exciting! The town was very pretty and the crowd was wild- lots of Basque fans cheering their team on. Also saw a stage at Soulon which was exciting as well. For those thinking of next year, you need to get there very early. The night before. While in Toulouse, went to Rocamadour (sorry about spelling). Very beautiful and not too crowded. From here we went to Arles which we loved. Nice manageable town with neat Roman ruins and a bull fight of sorts. The bull fight was interesting and we were happy the bulls were not harmed. Stayed in the Jules Cesar and loved the shower. Nice room and staff. Saw Les Beaux and Les Bonneuix both beautiful and we went early enough to miss the crowds. I would defintiely recommned both for a visit. On to Cannes to meet up with some friends. Stayed at the Hotle Splendid; our room was nice with a plasma tv and view of the old port. Our friends (from Italy, felt a difference in treatment) had a corner room with twin beds and no view for 5 euros less per day. While here went to Antibes and St. Paul De vence- both beautiful and very different. Vence was like a redone village, perfect. Antibes was more real but nonetheless beautiful with it's views and market. Finished up in Paris for 5 wonderful days. Stayed at the Hotel Opal which had a great location going for it with ok rooms. Missed a real shower here. Saw so much- the Dorsay, Versailles, the Marais, the Arc and Tower. The Metro was very easy, the food everywhere was great. Highlights were the Seine night cruise with the twinking Tower and the sights on the Seine, loved the Dorsay. I want to thank all for their postings where I learned so much; thanks for making this a great trip.

TexasAggie

Thanks for posting silas. Sounds like a fun and interesting trip.

Try "topping" this in the morning when most of the other regular posters are online so that they get to read it too

cocofromdijon

ttt

cambe

Hi Silas.

Soundslike ypu had a great time. I was in Toulouse many years ago and what struck me was that it is a city of contrasts - very very elegant people but more homeless and their dogs than anywhere else in France.

Did you have a car in the South of France?

ira

Thanks for sharing, Silas

JulieVikmanis

Thanks for the report. You piqued my interest. What was so great about the shower at Jules Cesar?

silas

Yes we did have a car and traveled quite a bit. We went from Toulouse to St Lary Soulon and then to Rocamadour, then to Soulon (South of Lourdes for the 2nd stage we viewed. We drove to Arles and the towns nearby and then to Cannes and towns near there. Some stress with directions but with michelin not too bad. The shower was great only because it was not a hand held one and the water pressure was good. The Hotel Opal, the last place we stayed was the opposite and I guess it left an impression so that I really appreciated the JC.