Fodorites,

I am currently having to choose between either visiting Carcassonne or St Guilhem le Desert. Which of these 2 places should I choose. Original plan to to visit both, but there is an Orange alert tomorrow for most places around here and as heavy rain is predicted I am losing 1 day.

Thanks!

Carcassonne is one of the best examples of a beautiful walled medieval city.

The best pieces of St. Guilhelm-le-Desert have been brought to New York.

I would go to Carcassonne, without hesitation.

St Guilheim is quite small. It won't consume much time - unless you also visit the nearby Clamouse cave (rated *** by Michelin). St Guilheim has a nice "square" for an outdoor lunch.

Carcassonne is more "spectacular" - but it is still only about a 2 1/2 visit - unless you have lunch there. We visited both last year - Carcassonne several times (we stayed in a nearby gite for 2 weeks).

Stu Dudley

Hi, thanks for your inputs. I have decided on Carcassonne but the weather here in Montpellier has turned into a red alert now, so dont know if the trip will happen! It does look like better weather in Carcassone so maybe I should go but hope i dont get stranded on the way back!

The rain is moving NE, it's not supposed to rain as much in Carcassonne as Montpellier. Surprised it's a red alert though, the report I read said maybe two inches of rain tomorrow, I wouldn't expect a red alert from that. It's supposed to be clear on Saturday, but Friday is not looking good, I wouldn't go probably. But the rain is predicted to be much less in Carcassonne. I think they said the rain will be worst in the NE of the departement, and will be over by late afternoon (the vigilance rouge).

too bad you can't wait until Saturday

We went to both a couple of weeks ago. Carcassonne wins hands down in my opinion.

"Surprised it's a red alert though, the report I read said maybe two inches of rain tomorrow,"

Well, the report is wrong! http://actu.orange.fr/france/alerte-...5e2cf4151.html

An update on this - I visited Carcassonne on Friday Oct 13. It did rain most of the time that I was there getting rather steady towards afternoon. Despite that, I enjoyed my visit. Then I got back to my hotel and discovered that my passport had been stolen. I know where it happened, it was in a restaurant in Place Carnot where I had stopped for a late lunch. I was a bit distracted and was not paying attention to my backpack for a few minutes and that's all it took!

Wow!!! That's never happened to us.

- What did you have to do to replace the passport??

- How many days were consumed in replacing the passport?

- Did you have to travel back to Paris to replace it?

We carry a document with us that describes how to get one replaced - but it would be informative to hear from someone who has actually done this.

Stu Dudley

Here are the step by step instructions -

First, wait for the room to stop spinning.

I did not have the photocopy of my passport but I remembered that the hotel had taken a copy when i checked in, so i asked them to print out a copy for me.

There is an emergency number for U.S citizens to call. I did but it was not very helpful.All she said was "you cannot travel without a passport, listen to these automated instructions". You can just as easily go to the US consulate website and read the instructions.

I had to fill out a D11 abd a D-65 form. They say you must file a police report. It was Friday evening and no station around my hotel was open, same case next day, so I had to find a station which was open to go file a report which took 3 hours. However, at the embassy there was another man in a similar situation. He simply told then he could not file because no station was open and that was accepted.

I had to rebook my tickets to leave on Monday instead of the Saturday. I took a copy of the new itinerary to the embassy so that I could get the passport same day.

Also make an appointment online choosing the option that you are travelling within the next 15 days.

I went to Marseille as that was the nearest consulate. I am told it is better go to Marseille as they are not so busy as Paris.

At the embassy, i was just asked to swear that everything in the application is the truth. Paid $135. I was given a limited validity emergency passport (1 year) within an hour.

They give you a form along with the receipt. You can send it in to the embassy back home and get a replacement passport. I think you will not have to pay again if done within one year.

Hope that helps!

You will also need a recent US passport size photograph.

How many days were consumed in replacing the passport??

Did the airline charge you for changing your flight ??

Thanks

Stu Dudley

Passport was given to me the same day, within one hour. Actually it is only because this happened on a Friday that I had to stay back the weekend and go for the new passport on Monday. If it had happened say on Thursday, I could have gotten the new passport on Friday and still travelled as planned on Saturday. It would have ruined my sightseeing plans but not disrupted the return trip! Yes, airline charged me, but I had bought a flexible ticket so I had to pay only $60.

Thanks - your experience was much better than I had anticipated. Good and helpful info!! Much appreciated!!!!

Stu Dudley