Whirlwind tour of Paris and points south
Nov 14th, 2019, 05:43 AM
#21
Having trouble putting photos in, don’t know why. They load to 50% then an alert comes up.
Oh well, I’m sure most of you have seen hundreds of photos of Versailles.
On to Dijon.......now comes the bad part of the bus trip.
We stopped at a truck stop kind of place for lunch. Necessary I guess but just not my style.
Didn’t get to our hotel Oceania Le Jura until 6pm. There was a walking tour that left in 15 min. But we had a problem getting our luggage to our room so they left without us.
Actually, it was dark and raining so a walking tour did not sound inviting anyway.
We got a recommendation from the front desk for a restaurant right near the Arch called L’Edito.
Started with a kir (sound familiar) then some Chablis, steak frittes for all. Servers were very friendly and food was excellent. Dessert was the largest profiteroles I have ever seen with a pot of hot chocolate to pour over them. Lucious way to end a meal. A couple of rainy photos on our way back to the hotel.
Anyone know why my photos go to 50% and then an alert comes up?
Oh well, I’m sure most of you have seen hundreds of photos of Versailles.
On to Dijon.......now comes the bad part of the bus trip.
We stopped at a truck stop kind of place for lunch. Necessary I guess but just not my style.
Didn’t get to our hotel Oceania Le Jura until 6pm. There was a walking tour that left in 15 min. But we had a problem getting our luggage to our room so they left without us.
Actually, it was dark and raining so a walking tour did not sound inviting anyway.
We got a recommendation from the front desk for a restaurant right near the Arch called L’Edito.
Started with a kir (sound familiar) then some Chablis, steak frittes for all. Servers were very friendly and food was excellent. Dessert was the largest profiteroles I have ever seen with a pot of hot chocolate to pour over them. Lucious way to end a meal. A couple of rainy photos on our way back to the hotel.
Anyone know why my photos go to 50% and then an alert comes up?
Nov 14th, 2019, 05:53 AM
#22
Nov 14th, 2019, 06:20 AM
#25
Nov 14th, 2019, 06:26 AM
#26
TPAYT, I restarted my computer. Same glitch. Let Fodors know.
Nov 14th, 2019, 08:56 AM
#30
I’ve heard that Dijon is a charming city to visit and I will someday. I understand that we booked this tour in November when it gets dark early and the weather is unpredictable. I just think that Globus should have thought out the timing in a better way.
We left Dijon in the early morning for another long bus day with another truck stop lunch. The sun did show up on our stop at Pont du Gard.
Pont du Gard
Interesting Structure
We left Dijon in the early morning for another long bus day with another truck stop lunch. The sun did show up on our stop at Pont du Gard.
Pont du Gard
Interesting Structure
Nov 14th, 2019, 09:14 AM
#31
Another stop was Ch teauneuf-du-Pape. A perfect little French town. Some went to a winery, we chose to
check out the town and have a few glasses of wine there.
Charming town
Wine shops everywhere
Checking out the shops
check out the town and have a few glasses of wine there.
Charming town
Wine shops everywhere
Checking out the shops
Nov 14th, 2019, 09:26 AM
#32
We arrived at The Avignon Grand Hotel at 6:30 and there was a walking tour at 7:00. Again in the dark & rain. We opted to just fine a good dinner instead. Walked the empty square in the rain.
Great find
Wonderful chateaubriand, and frittes
Along with a goat cheese salad, a kir, and some rose wine. This ended the day well.
We walked a bit to the Palais des Papes but the Square was dark and empty......seems to be a theme these last 2 days.
Must be lovely in the daylight
Great find
Wonderful chateaubriand, and frittes
Along with a goat cheese salad, a kir, and some rose wine. This ended the day well.
We walked a bit to the Palais des Papes but the Square was dark and empty......seems to be a theme these last 2 days.
Must be lovely in the daylight
Nov 14th, 2019, 10:59 AM
#33
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Those jumbo profiteroles are to die for...😋
You should definitely go back to Dijon, a perfectly charming little town. I also love the walking pathways outside town by the canal, very popular with cyclists too.
We spent a day in Châteauneuf du Pape last year and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with the winery visit and tastings in town. The ruins of the old chateau in the upper part of town are interesting too.
I do hope you have some time in Avignon. Unfortunately the coach tours rush you from place to place without really seeing very much, though of course you went in knowing what to expect. But you’ve scored very well with your restaurant choices and your friends get to see s bit of France.
Am loving your TR and pictures, thanks a ton and keep them coming!
You should definitely go back to Dijon, a perfectly charming little town. I also love the walking pathways outside town by the canal, very popular with cyclists too.
We spent a day in Châteauneuf du Pape last year and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with the winery visit and tastings in town. The ruins of the old chateau in the upper part of town are interesting too.
I do hope you have some time in Avignon. Unfortunately the coach tours rush you from place to place without really seeing very much, though of course you went in knowing what to expect. But you’ve scored very well with your restaurant choices and your friends get to see s bit of France.
Am loving your TR and pictures, thanks a ton and keep them coming!
Nov 15th, 2019, 03:33 AM
#34
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Funny, I have fond memories of truck stop lunches in France. Granted I was in my 20s, but I remember making a lunch out of cheese (so many choices!), charcuterie, bread and a glass of wine. Didn’t need much more.
Glad you got the pictures to work - they’re lovely. And you did well with restaurants.
Many tour companies offer off-peak tours, which are typically priced accordingly so there’s the trade-off. Hope the weather holds up for you!
Glad you got the pictures to work - they’re lovely. And you did well with restaurants.
Many tour companies offer off-peak tours, which are typically priced accordingly so there’s the trade-off. Hope the weather holds up for you!
Nov 15th, 2019, 04:31 AM
#35
Finally a sunny day. The bus took us to Aix-en- Provence. The streets were filled with an open air market of clothes, etc. We all purchased many lovely scarves for gifts, easy to pack. I also found some perfect tees
for my teen granddaughters. Black, long sleeved, with white French sayings. I’ve bought these before in Paris and they were a big hit. One said, La Perfection n’existe Pas——sauf moi (Perfection does not exist—except me). The other, Cherche pas ‘ai raisin. (Do not look further, I’m right) or something close to that.
A hot chocolate and callison in a cafe finished our visit to Aix.
Aix-en-Provence
Market in Aix
Would have liked to have lunch on the Cours Mirabeau, but back on the bus to Nice. That’s the trade off of not being on your own. MDH and I had stayed a week each in Aix, Antibes, and Avignon in the past, but this was just a teaser for my friends.
We were looking forward to dinner and the casino in Monte Carlo that night.
for my teen granddaughters. Black, long sleeved, with white French sayings. I’ve bought these before in Paris and they were a big hit. One said, La Perfection n’existe Pas——sauf moi (Perfection does not exist—except me). The other, Cherche pas ‘ai raisin. (Do not look further, I’m right) or something close to that.
A hot chocolate and callison in a cafe finished our visit to Aix.
Aix-en-Provence
Market in Aix
Would have liked to have lunch on the Cours Mirabeau, but back on the bus to Nice. That’s the trade off of not being on your own. MDH and I had stayed a week each in Aix, Antibes, and Avignon in the past, but this was just a teaser for my friends.
We were looking forward to dinner and the casino in Monte Carlo that night.
Nov 15th, 2019, 05:46 AM
#36
Just our luck the rain again came pouring down. The tour group took us to a small Italian restaurant in Monte Carlo. Walking up lots of steps in the rain was difficult. Unremarkable in every way.
When we were to leave the restaurant the rain was pouring down quite heavily. Finally we walked, umbrellas up, to Casino Square. The building are majestic but the rain kept the usual array of dazzling cars to a minimum. We opted for the free casino. My game is roulette. No luck this time, I lost 70 Euros and quickly left the table after only a couple of spins. My friends hit the slots. 1 was up and finally down, the other won 100 Euros on a 10 Euro start. All in all, a depressing night.
Hotel on Casino Square
Casino
I am happy to say that our last days were sunny and somewhat warm. Much better for photos.
When we were to leave the restaurant the rain was pouring down quite heavily. Finally we walked, umbrellas up, to Casino Square. The building are majestic but the rain kept the usual array of dazzling cars to a minimum. We opted for the free casino. My game is roulette. No luck this time, I lost 70 Euros and quickly left the table after only a couple of spins. My friends hit the slots. 1 was up and finally down, the other won 100 Euros on a 10 Euro start. All in all, a depressing night.
Hotel on Casino Square
Casino
I am happy to say that our last days were sunny and somewhat warm. Much better for photos.
Nov 15th, 2019, 05:48 AM
#37
1. I have failed to fall in love with Dijon, even though I made a point of going there and even made a photo report.
2. I absolutely love Avignon during the festival but whenever I have been there at other times, it seems completely dead to me. Probably too much contrast from the festival season (July).
3. I have not yet properly visited Aix but I will definitely do so one of these days. But I am pretty sure that I will continue to prefer Marseille.
2. I absolutely love Avignon during the festival but whenever I have been there at other times, it seems completely dead to me. Probably too much contrast from the festival season (July).
3. I have not yet properly visited Aix but I will definitely do so one of these days. But I am pretty sure that I will continue to prefer Marseille.
Nov 15th, 2019, 01:48 PM
#39
On to St. Paul de Vence, a captivating hill town not to be missed.
The entrance
So inviting
Every shop welcomes you in
Try to use another word other than cute
View from the top
Another lane
The entrance
So inviting
Every shop welcomes you in
Try to use another word other than cute
View from the top
Another lane
Nov 15th, 2019, 01:59 PM
#40
TPAYT, I’m just loving this TR! I really like the way you write, and the pictures are gorgeous!
I’m starting the planning for a short spring Paris trip, and your enthusiasm is contagious!
We met very briefly at the DC gtg, so I recognized you immediately.
Looking forward to more!
I’m starting the planning for a short spring Paris trip, and your enthusiasm is contagious!
We met very briefly at the DC gtg, so I recognized you immediately.
Looking forward to more!
