To Paris and the last days of France...

Carcasonne to Paris

We said our good byes to Esperaza

Now, from Carcassone, it's a train to Paris

A layover in Montpellier

Again, John with what's left of our
worldly possesions

We arrive at Gare Lyon
It's Paris!!!

Lions greet us to Paris
at the Gare

We arrive at Madame de la Brosse's apartment

a Fleurs de Soleil Paris B&B

The courtyard of the Apartments

Madame de la Brosse and John
Even though she spoke little English, we little French
we communicated fine with French, English and Spanish

View of the city from our bedroom

***

We have dinner and explore the neighborhood of Belleville

At Madame's suggestion, we have Chinese
really good and very reasonalbly priced

The neighborhood appears to be very diverse

A streetside cafe for coffee and/or drinks
John has a cointreau and I have a pastis

****

The next day, I go to the Louvre...

The Pyramide

The Louvre Courtyard

John had the camera, so I bought postcards
of a FEW of my favorite pieces
I think I saw a lot more of the Louvre in
6 hours than if I had my camera

***

John met up with a freind of a friend named Abdou

they toured the city and the Banlieue (Place of Exile)

John and Abdou

John with his friend, President Hollande

In the Bastille

The Banlieue

***

We say good by to Abdou

after we have another dinner at Tai Yien

At the Metro to say our goodbyes...

****

We wave goodbye to Madame
(can you see her peeking over the balcony?)

Leave la maison de  Madame at 7:30 am!!!

Charles de Gaul Airport: 28 May

Charles de Gaule Airport
We're on our way to Japan!!!

*****

Tokyo is only 17 hours away -

12 hours to Taipai, 2.5 hour layover and 2.5 hours to Tokyo...

Can hardly wait to see Dave and Family

Last Days in Esperaza and the South of France

In Campagne Sur Aude
Auberge St Sebastien, Hotel - Bar - Snack 

We have spent this week packing and cleaning,

enjoying the rain, wind and for the last 2 days, sun 

On our last full day in Esperaza,

we take a last walk along the river to

Campagne sur Aude, the end of the "River Walk"

Pont de Vieux to Campagne sur Aude

Cafe au Lait for John and Coca for me
after the walk from Esperaza

Eglise Saint Sebastien in
Campagne sur Aude

Campagne sur Aude is a sweet little village

wonder why we hadn't walked here before???

***

On our walks by the river,

we met a woman named Abi each  time we were on this road

On our way back to Esperaza,

we see Abi working in her yard with her husband

They invite us for a visit in their patio

We had a lovely time conversing in halting English (on their part)

and terrible French (us) for an hour or so

Abi and Fulvio on their patio with John

Leaving Abi and Fulvio's home
through the beautiful garden

More friends to visit when we come back to Sourthern France

***

Dinner at Brunch Shopping

Our last Esperaza meal
at Brunch Shopping





Ham and chicken crepes, Fish and chips
with a kir and vin blanche



Lorenez and Gerard with John
after a great meal

****


Early Saturday Morning
our last cafe au lait at L'Origin'L

We say good bye to Luc, owner of L'Origin'L
as we leave on the bus for Carcasonne and Paris

Esperaza was good to us
We made some friends from our classes,
our neighbors and Sophie was the best
We will miss them all
Maybe next year...???

*****

Next, our 3 (2?) days in Paris...

Week 11 - Sun is out, then not...

The sun is shining, so we take advantage and walk the Tour de Poux...

The week begins with beautiful weather

"Il fait beau" is heard as we greet

our neighbors in the square

***

We take advantage of the weather and take a hike

on the Tour de Poux and see more Spring growth

We are greeted with the red poppies along the trail

The Scotch Broom is in bloom
along with their pretty little blue friends

Leaves are appearing on the grape stumps of 3 months ago

Iris protect the cherry trees and hut ruins

Cherries are starting to ripen

On the road into town
flowers going wild on doorsteps

____*____

Sophie and Guilhem introduce us to their volunteer, Susanna, from Germany

and invite us to go to the Caves in Le Pons

John needs to work on his book and start preparation for classes,

so he stays home.

Sohpie with her poodles on our picnic
on the way to Grotte de la Deveze 

Esther's traveling position in the car
on the 2 hour drive to the Grotte

 

Grotte de la Deveze

Sophie, Susanna & chocolate ice cream mouthed Guilhem
going down into the cave

Stalagtites and stalagmites
together

More stalagtities and a stalagmite

Stalagtite "curtains"

Crystal formations glow amoung the rocks

A Caver seems to have appearred...

A closer look at a stalagtite curtain

Guilhem going out of the dark "Batman" cave...

Susie, Sophie and Guilhem

Susanna, Guilhem and Sophie

When we come out of the cave, it begins to rain

 

 

***

There's thunder and lightening and lots of rain

for the next few days...


 

Empty benches in the square
Guess it's too wet to sit and visit

 

____*____

 

I end the week on a rainy Sunday afternoon with

Sophie, Guilhem and Susanna

viewing local artists' work in nearby villages

"Artiste a Suivre"

 

Garden sculpture
in Bugurach

More garden in Bugurach

Park and Bridge in Serres

Roses in Luc sur Aude

(Too dark to really photograph any artwork in galleries)

____*____

So ends the 11th week in the South of France

 

in the rain...