Finally got free WIFI and not too tired to post a catch-up

Marseilles

Big city, pretty harbour.




Avignon

A pretty little village. Famous for being the home of the Popes for the 14th century. From the outside the Popes Palais looks very impressive. To see the inside will cost almost $20 per person and perhaps one hour in a queue (at weekends). There is NOTHING inside worth seeing. The Pope took everything of interest when he relocated to Rome. Later lootings got the junk he didn't want.



The village centre is pleasing for a wander.


Le Pont Du Gard


A very pleasant river setting, favourite of learner kayakers. There is a pile of well organised rocks forming a bit of a bridge. Nice to just walk around and soak up the sights and sounds of the countryside.


Nimes
We are sure the amphitheatre is worth a look, we didn't see it.


Arles
Another quaint enough village. Getting over these now.

The amphitheatre is NOT worth a look. A 170 million euro restoration project is under way. Why they would bother is not clear. They must have a better use for such an enormous amount of money.


Carmargh Bird Park

Saw many Flamingos and other birds. We were eaten alive by mosquitos for 3 hours.

Went to the nearby beach but decided enough of beaches and pretty medieval villages perched preposterously on mountain tops, we were heading for the hills.


Sisteron

Much samller town, exceptionally pretty and what a Citadel (on top of a very bill hill).




Saint Michel L'Observatoire

We found the smallest hotel in one the smallest villages in France. An observatory is on a hill nearby. We bravely chose the Demi Pension, but this time the food was not too scary until Tricia faced an unspeakable desert. I courageosly gave up my Creme Brulet and sacrificed myself on hers, which I actually liked. Tricia retorted "well of course you like it, it's tasteless muck and you are English". The proprietor pretended not to speak English to make fun of us. Everyone has been very friendly, this was the first time we encountered a sense of humour about our plight. His wife is Scottish so Tricia had some very long chats with her.


Lauzet Du Lac

A wonderfully pretty lake, which inspired the Monet in me.



Later enjoyed dinner in our Hotel with a bus load of Germans. The food was excellent again. I discovered how to re-boot the Hotel Receptionist by speaking a sentence with french then english then french again. She just stopped, stunned, glazed over, then suddenly bounced back to life with a "oui". After dinner we played some very silly games of table tennis.


Whiteout



At 160 Km from the sunny beaches where we started in Nice, finally it is snowing very heavily on us at the Italian border in the Alps (2100 metres).

We turned around at the border and headed back to the Maginot Line block house that should now be open. If it really is open it will be first planned successful encounter with a museum type thingy.

We were stunned, it was open, we were stunned again inside. Recommend ducking on going through steel doorways.



Back to the "Route Des Grand Alps" and places which featured in the Tour De France, like this.



Finally to our Hotel in Briancon, and a take away pizza devoured in the laundrette.


Driving

Driving in France has a different feel than in OZ. In OZ our lanes are comfortably wide that it seems offensive when another vehicle strays from its lane. Here in France the "lanes" (if there are any) are rarely wide enough for two cars to comfortably pass. Lane markings are little more than an optimistic guide.

However, everyone seems alert and courteous. Sometimes you and the oncoming vehicle just have to stop and the one nearest to a slightly wider part of the road reverses and pulls over to allow the other to pass.


Getting to a Hotel

The places of most interest to visitors are usually in the very centre of town. We found it best to drive directly into the centre and then find the first pay carpark we came across. Then grab the essentials and off on foot to find a hotel. Few hotels in the centre of town have parking, it's not worth hoping for.

The walk from Car park to hoel could be anything up to 1km, usually up steep windy hills. In the first hotel we grab a tourist map of town even if the hotel is "complete (full)", too expensive, or too horrible.

Once we have picked a Hotel expect to be carrying your bags up 3 or 4 flights of stairs, there might be an elevator, but likely not. If there is one it can really test your patience.

Sorting out a change of clothes at the car and therefore only carrying the absolute necessities for an overnight stay seemed our best option.

Since the hotels never provide tea/coffee making facilities in the room one of the esentials is an electric jug.