robjame...I've enjoyed your wonderful pics.

To xpi6tiva...

No doubt you have checked, but there is a lot if time in driving/relocating vs the time you actually have to spend in a particular place. You may wish to cover less ground, enjoy more quality time.

Robjame, During a recent stay in the Dordogne, we drove past Carlux several times and, although you probably already know this, it was one of the prettiest villages in the area. Wonderful location for touring the region and easy access to Sarlat.

eks - thanks for that. Moolyn sent us pics of it and we keep going to the website to gaze and dream and it looks wonderful. We think we drove through Carlux last May while but can't quite remember. We were lost on our way to the gardens at Eyrignac.

Hi rob., I have had lunch several times without reservations at Train Bleu.
Give my best regards to Happy.
We leave Sept. 10. One night in Avallon, a week in Provence, a night in Albi and Five with friends near Poitiers. Two nights we have no booking. we decide where, when the whim strikes us.

robjame, I am a mature student of French only. I am learning French in Oz at the local community college with a fantastic French lady. It is my big 50 this year so as a special present to myself I am upping sticks and leaving the family for three and a half weeks and heading to France - am I looking forward to this or what??? You are never too old to do this sort of thing. At the school I am going to in Provencen I don't think they take young things, I am probably going to be about average age - which will be good. I will post when I return and let everyone know how I got on. enjoy your holiday it sounds marvellous.
Schnauzer.

robjame,
Thanks for the advice. I will continue to check kayak and the airlines on a daily basis in hopes that something will break soon. Have a lovely trip.

Have you all seen this post re vedette tickets?
We always take the Seine cruise and we clip the internet coupon for €2 off the cruise with Vedettes du Pont Neuf. I see now that if you prepay by charge card and print your ticket it is €4 off the price. That makes it €7 instead of €11.
Heck that €8 saving buys Sandra and me each a glass of wine at Taverne Henri IV.

http://tinyurl.com/2utnv5

Robjame, we have been very fortunate to make trips like this one almost every year since the mid-80's. I travelled to Europe on business, three trips a year, for six years. And my wife joined me on most of those jaunts. So we have enjoyed nearly all of Europe, save some of the eastern bloc.

We met the owners of the Swiss chalet at a private party and have rented their lovely property on six occasions. As a friend who joined us on one trip said, "You don't have to do a thing here but sit and enjoy the scenery".

Word to the wise--do it while you can!!
Somebody or something might be gaining on you.

Cheers,

Jinx Hoover

Hi Ron.

Thank you. I appreciate your feedback.

Yes, we have checked the estimated travel times. We are strange travelers. We like to move quick and often but when we stop, we are stopped to a 99% slow pace. We are happy sitting at a cafe or enjoying simple picnics. Not much for running around to see al the sights.

~Christina

Anyone else going to France?

Your trip looks nice and relaxing. I'm traveling to Caen in September to look for an apartment for my daughter (who will be in University, there), then traveling to Bordeaux to run in the "Marathon du Medoc." Looking forward to the wine, but not so much the running! (it's not my first - I know what they are like!!)

Robjame, your plan sounds wonderful. I am envious. We cannot leave home that long. There are too many pets at home that are not happy when we are gone too long (3 dogs, 3 cats and 1 rabbit)
Our trip to Europe will be in Septmber (16-30). We will fly to Zurich and take a train to Luzern. Got a reservation at hotel des Alps for 4 nights. Will do 2 day trips from there. From there we will go to Dijon for 4 nights. We are staying at Coco's flat. I am thinking of doing a day trip to Auxerre. I am reading up on that. After Dijon, we will go to Charleville-Mezières by train via Paris/gare de l'est. Staying in C-M for 3 days visiting penpal from teenage years. We might do a day trip to Reims. After that we will go to Bruxelles for the last leg of our trip and fly back to the USA from there. All hotels reserved. The bigger task is the planning of different day trips. I welcome suggestions from fodorites. No Paris this time.

Yes, we're going for the rugby world cup for 3 weeks from mid September to mid October. Planning on spending two nights in Bordeaux then a few days in the Dordogne, then to Paris for a match, and then a week in the Loire. Back to Paris for another match and then we'll have a few days left - perhaps to spend in Normandy.

I have a Chocolate urge and will do a tasting in Bayonne.

We are heading to Caen/Normandy Sept 10 for 3 days (doing WWII tour on Sept 11- just realized the coincidence of that date!) Then down to Provence until Sept 17. We will be back in Paris from Oct 6 thru 13 staying in an apartment near Champs Elysee. Sounds like France will be crowded in September! :) Hope everyone has fun!

Oops, left off Nice. We'll be there Oct 2 leaving the 5th for Paris!

My husband and I are going to Paris for a week in mid-October, staying in a small apartment on Ile St. Louis. We usually rent in the 7th, so we're looking forward to exploring this area in more depth. Bon voyage to all us lucky travelers. EJ ((#))

Anyone else?

we are going in oct 07 as well... still looking for an apartment with a balcony...any suggestions? prefer 1, 3, 5, 6 or 7 arrondissement..
thanks