One Man Travelling...

Yesterday evening my guest arrived having driven down from Paris. This is the third year he has stayed at this time of year. Unpacked and installed in the apartment he then assembles a very expensive black racing bike from the boot of his car. A test run up and down the street returning to attach his entry number 1040 to the front of his bike. This morning (30/06/2018) he departs at 07:00hrs, the weather is cool and dry but it will not take long for the sun to burn through the mists surrounding the mountain peaks. It promises to be a very hot day and a challenge for the some 5000 competitors in this great cycle race, L'Ariégeoise 2018. I rose and took a few photographs of the many individuals and teams passing my gate. Rooms are fully booked throughout the area and the 10 km or so ride to the start line at Tarascone is treated as a warm up. It is a colourful site as they pass by in team or individual colours. Of course the shirt underneath will match as, each year, the offi...

I had just finished creating the photo album and was about to write this post when President Macron of France announced that he was bringing back National Service which seemed appropriate.  An event in the form of L'Ariégeoise 2018 cycle race then got in the way but, at last, here is the account of my trip north of Foix to visit the depot of 1er Régiment de Chasseurs Parachutistes de Parmiers on Saturday 26th May.  I had picked up a leaflet in Le Mioure a week or so before the event but could not work out where it was located. A few enquiries revealed that the Regimental Depot is neat Parmier not that far from here. My next door neighbour was in the garden as I was about to set off so I asked him if he would like to come. This proved handy as he knew a much shorter route than shown on Google Maps. We arrived at the site after lunch on a very hot but windy day. Security is much tighter these days and I felt sorry for those on duty scanning the visitors passing throu...

A gem of an idea came to fruition on Wednesday 21st February 2018 as I boarded the train from Toulouse to Bordeaux. Departing at 09:00 hrs, the journey would take about 2 hours. Coffee and a baguette for breakfast from the trolley service as we rolled along. As the sun broke through the clouds the countryside changed to reveal the famous chateaus and vines of the area. The huge diesel electric engine would eventually haul the train on up country to Paris. Alighting from the train at Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean I proceeded to the information office where the friendly staff provided me with a transport map and a one day travel pass. It would appear that these are common to most large cities in France. I was later given a tourist map at another location which gave more details of the attractions in the city and was probably more useful for a short visit. Emerging from the station, a pause for a photo of the grand edifice then the city centre beckoned via the tram. I had already deci...

Tuesday morning 20th February 2018, guess what? It's raining. Off I went to the railway station as I needed to purchase some tickets before descending to the Metro to retrace my route back to the Musée Aeroscopia. By the time I alighted at Andoméde Lycée the rain was torrential, sheltering as best I could I made a phone call to the taxi company used yesterday. I was going to attempt a walk today. Arriving warm and dry I registered at the desk and also hired an audio guide. There is an app for your mobile phone but it is no longer available from Google Play, if you have an Apple you are in luck. I paused for a cup of coffee from the deluxe vending machine and a sandwich before entering the museum. Once you commence your tour you cannot come and go, perhaps they should serve refreshments inside? Up the steps, along a grey corridor lined with plaques depicting notable events in the history of flight, through a door, you enter the Great Gallery on the first floor to be greeted by...

Monday 19th February 2018, yesterday evening whilst eating pizza I poured over the rather nice tourist map and my guide to Toulouse trying to decide where to visit which would not expose me to the winter weather. Having come all this way I was determined not to spend all of my time in the hotel. Two places caught my eye, Musée Aeroscopia and Cité de Espace. Both locations were in the suburbs and seem to assume that everyone is visiting by car. Up for a challenge I opted for the former as the map also bore the caption "Let's Visit Airbus".  Unfortunately I slept rather late which would be of significance later in the day. Reception kindly printed off my route and off I went. A quick walk over to the railway station for a McMuffin breakfast then down into the Metro heading for Arénes. I emerged into an area of very modern apartment buildings, Toulouse appears to be rejuvenating itself once again, and was delighted to see that the tram stop a few metres away. Trick...