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You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 17 May 2013, 13:04
by lloydy
Just starting to plan our holiday a bit..
Provins, lovely medieval village
Semur en auxois, again medieval
Livradois-forez national park, volcanoes!
Cevennes national park, amazing wildlife with wolves and lynx plus massive caves to explore
Gorge du Verdon, beuatiful turquoise water in deep valleys (must get a kayak!)
Mousters st Marie, nice looking village built into the cliffs overlooking a lake
And that's only half our intended holiday! Would like to squeeze in Montpellier and Perpignan and some of the Pyrenees, but can see ourselves relaxing into that first half.
Such variation in the landscape and weather in one country, next year I'll have to get 4 weeks off..

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 17 May 2013, 13:32
by Ralf85
France is a totally different experience compared to the UK, but there again it is 2/3 times the size. It also has so many different micro climates created by vast high mountain ranges like the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Massif Central etc and the Atlantic Ocean along the West Coast and the Med along the South.

It also has such varied architecture (and food!). It feels a bit like the UK in the north where they have brick built houses and slate roofs (and pancakes for tourists in Normandy/Brittany). Some of the North-East of France can feel a bit grim. As you go South the buildings tend to change to stone built houses and eventually orange roof tiles (loads of street markets selling umpteen kinds of olives, cheeses etc) until you get to the Med and places like Montpellier where it is modern concrete ( and heaving with sun worshippers in July/August).

I love it to bits and never tire of the different sights and smells to be experienced. In particular I will never forget my journey over the Alps from Italy (driving past glaciers) - no cissy tunnel for me and then camping at Lake Annecy. Amazing. Looking forward to my next trip to France in the Summer, but if the weather improves I might pop over around the next bank holiday as well. Just around the North/Bordeaux way maybe for some moules frites by the sea. Who knows.
:D

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 17 May 2013, 17:32
by waltraud
Sounds v exciting! ee are going to santander then up through france- any suggestions for an interesting cross pyrenees trip into france and places to stop over? Good luck and have fun.

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 17 May 2013, 22:08
by jamesandtheopenroad
Looking at it as I type from the White Cliffs.

Wish I was heading there tomorrow.

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 17 May 2013, 22:14
by Ralf85
And I know bang on about it but follow the Tour de France as it goes South and over the mountains (usually every evening on Channel 24). You will get a taste of the country, buildings and that element we have missed in our summers for years - SUNSHINE!!!
:wink:

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 17 May 2013, 22:23
by Ian Hulley
10 weeks :cheese :pimp

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 18 May 2013, 07:18
by lloydy
10 weeks for us too mr Hulley :D

Waltraud, there is a thread I started in the syncro section asking about the Pyrenees. Got some very good options off people. We will most likely cross through Andorra just to to tick another country off for the kids. I'll try and find the thread....

http://forum.club8090.co.uk/viewtopic.p ... s#p7831856" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 18 May 2013, 07:27
by Ralf85
10 weeks for us too!
:wink:

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 18 May 2013, 07:30
by lloydy
F me, it's gonna be a 8090 meet on the ferry! :lol:

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 18 May 2013, 08:21
by T'Onion
about that for us too .... :ok

still not got a route to take :lol: , we have a couple of stops to head for but after day 3 thats it for planning unless you count going to Genoa :pimp

we are coming back up via Lyon , Dijon

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 18 May 2013, 08:22
by Ralf85
We're going over to Calais on the 10.15 DFDS crossing on Sunday 28 July. Travelling over on the Sunday morning means we sit behind the wave of the mad weekend rush and traffic jams on the roads from the North to the South that happens that weekend. We then stop off at a camp site just South of Paris. We then set off again fresh on the Monday morning. Then the roads are relatively quieter. Safe journey wherever you go and don't plan too much. If you like a place chill out for a few days or maybe more. There is always next year. You are bound to find a local village or campsite fete (an excuse to eat and drink) on your travels. Join in and enjoy the fun. They happen all over France during the Summer months.

We were once made guests of honour at a campsite fete by the French lady who owned the site. We were invited go sit at the top table along with her and the local mayor. We were a bit overwhelmed at first as we had only stopped there for a couple of days. We had a five course meal with buckets of wine, fizz, a firework display and a disco all for princely sum of 10 euros each for adults and free for the kids. Great experience.

I almost met up with T'Onion at Dover last year but not quite as we were not travelling at the same time. So depending upon your departure time and the ferry you use we may see you there. You will have a great time wherever you go.
:ok

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 18 May 2013, 08:30
by keith
Were not sure whether to do the santander crossing again....or to spend a more leisurely fortnight in the loire.


What i do know is that next friday afternoon we head to the west coast of scotland for a week of unplanned exploration of white sand and turquoise seas.....im really excited about that.

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 18 May 2013, 08:31
by T'Onion
:lol: We sail on the Saturday 27th

Keith the Loire is vantastic

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 18 May 2013, 08:32
by lloydy
We've booked nothing, just areas we want to visit. Did the same for the last couple years, always turns out good.
We are getting a ferry sat 27th (booking it today hopefully, if I remember!)
I'll look out for you all :D

Re: You know what, france is a pretty amazing place

Posted: 18 May 2013, 08:34
by T'Onion
Lloyd , a few of us are on the 12:00 (midday) DFDS crossing on the 27th
Hopefully staying over on the Friday night at the Dover kipping place :ok


Just added Gorge du Verdon as a place to visit :ok