19 October 2006
Provence, etc
Geneva is nice but we would say if you are pressed for time, give it a miss. The huge water spout in Lake Geneva and the old town are interesting enough.
We headed off to France's Provence region to meet up with Johnny and Edda, first staying overnight near Lyon on the way. J&E were staying in the lovely, tiny Provence village of Sèguret, which is not in any English guide books. Our first real taste of this beautiful part of the world. We then all spent a couple of nights in the coastal town of Stes Marie de la Mer, in the Carmarge area of Provence, within the delta of the Rhone. Amazingly, pink flamingos abound in the plentiful marshes, as do mosquitoes. This area is famous for (apart from mozzies) black bulls bred for bull fighting (held in neighbouring Arles' 2000 year old coliseum) and white horses. Interesting! Next we moved east along the Côte D'Azur coast to La Ciotat, staying in a campsite right on the sea's edge. Nice - this coastal town is between Marseilles and St Tropez. We spent a couple of nights and a relaxing day there, swimming, chatting and catching up. Gail and I were a bit blue here, because we were missing my nephew Dane´s wedding to the lovely Jo while we were in La Ciotat. We really would have loved to be there.
Provence village of Sèguret where Johnny and Edda were staying in a tiny boutique hotel
¿Pink flamingos in France? What th´?
Johnny & Edda have also acquired a new dog since we were in Düsseldorf, a lovely Spanish Podenco named Sushi (first impressions were that she was like a whippet with HUGE ears), with a gorgeous temperament. This is interesting for us Aussies; unlike us, Europeans can easily take their dogs on holidays with them if they are camping. Almost all campsites allow dogs (they even have a standard charge for them), and you can even take them into most restaurants (at least the al fresco areas and often inside). Also, few male dogs seem to be neutered in Europe, which makes the frequent encounters between males. Interesting!
Sushi with Johnny and Edda, overlooking the valley near La Ciotat
Now we are on our own again, we had to bid poor J&E a sad farewell as they have to get back for work.
Gail and I moved on and stumbled on the extraordinary village of Gordes further north in Provence, which is every bit as awe inspiring as any in Itay's Tuscany, but with 1/100th the tourists (and we don't understand why), before spending time in lovely Avignon. More time was spent sloshing around the fab nearby compact wine area of Chateauneuf du Pape, which is literally littered with wineries. Fellow wine afficionados (Hi Colin) will be envious as they will know of this area's fame.
The beautiful village of Gordes. The photos will never do it justice
Just one of the village squares in Avignon
One of the wineries (caveau) we bought wine from in Chateauneuf du Pape. Interesting how the bottles we selected got progressively more expensive as the afternoon progressed!
The secret of Chateauneuf du Pape´s success? Big, round river stoney ground
On Tuesday 17th we explored the utterly captivating 12-13th century walled city and castle (chateau) - La Cité - at Carscassonne. Yet another great recommendation from Arnaud back at Alcoa. Later on the way south we visited the famous Musée d'Art Moderne in the small town of Céret just north of the Spanish border, which has WAY more than its fair share of Picasso, Matisse, Dali, etc. We crossed the border and visited the Spanish town of Figueres to visit the Teatre-Musea Dali (Dali Museum-Gallery) with its huge, famous collection. What an extraordinary talent he was, amazingly varied mediums (pen & ink through to jewellery) and styles. Completely twisted mind, though.
The Chateau inside the walled town of Carscassonne
After a night on the Costa Brava in north-eastern Spain (where the weather turned on us for a day), we are now in Barcelona ready to meet Mum & Dad Lockley, who will share Spain with us over the next 12 days or so.
Gail and I will be spending more time in France after Spain and Portugal before we head back to Germany in December, then a further week in Paris at the end. So we have only had a small taste of a corner of France so far. Therefore it may be premature to judge this early and of course it is purely our personal opinions; but although we really enjoyed Italy, we utterly LOVE France!
We headed off to France's Provence region to meet up with Johnny and Edda, first staying overnight near Lyon on the way. J&E were staying in the lovely, tiny Provence village of Sèguret, which is not in any English guide books. Our first real taste of this beautiful part of the world. We then all spent a couple of nights in the coastal town of Stes Marie de la Mer, in the Carmarge area of Provence, within the delta of the Rhone. Amazingly, pink flamingos abound in the plentiful marshes, as do mosquitoes. This area is famous for (apart from mozzies) black bulls bred for bull fighting (held in neighbouring Arles' 2000 year old coliseum) and white horses. Interesting! Next we moved east along the Côte D'Azur coast to La Ciotat, staying in a campsite right on the sea's edge. Nice - this coastal town is between Marseilles and St Tropez. We spent a couple of nights and a relaxing day there, swimming, chatting and catching up. Gail and I were a bit blue here, because we were missing my nephew Dane´s wedding to the lovely Jo while we were in La Ciotat. We really would have loved to be there.
Provence village of Sèguret where Johnny and Edda were staying in a tiny boutique hotel
¿Pink flamingos in France? What th´?
Johnny & Edda have also acquired a new dog since we were in Düsseldorf, a lovely Spanish Podenco named Sushi (first impressions were that she was like a whippet with HUGE ears), with a gorgeous temperament. This is interesting for us Aussies; unlike us, Europeans can easily take their dogs on holidays with them if they are camping. Almost all campsites allow dogs (they even have a standard charge for them), and you can even take them into most restaurants (at least the al fresco areas and often inside). Also, few male dogs seem to be neutered in Europe, which makes the frequent encounters between males. Interesting!
Sushi with Johnny and Edda, overlooking the valley near La Ciotat
Now we are on our own again, we had to bid poor J&E a sad farewell as they have to get back for work.
Gail and I moved on and stumbled on the extraordinary village of Gordes further north in Provence, which is every bit as awe inspiring as any in Itay's Tuscany, but with 1/100th the tourists (and we don't understand why), before spending time in lovely Avignon. More time was spent sloshing around the fab nearby compact wine area of Chateauneuf du Pape, which is literally littered with wineries. Fellow wine afficionados (Hi Colin) will be envious as they will know of this area's fame.
The beautiful village of Gordes. The photos will never do it justice
Just one of the village squares in Avignon
One of the wineries (caveau) we bought wine from in Chateauneuf du Pape. Interesting how the bottles we selected got progressively more expensive as the afternoon progressed!
The secret of Chateauneuf du Pape´s success? Big, round river stoney ground
On Tuesday 17th we explored the utterly captivating 12-13th century walled city and castle (chateau) - La Cité - at Carscassonne. Yet another great recommendation from Arnaud back at Alcoa. Later on the way south we visited the famous Musée d'Art Moderne in the small town of Céret just north of the Spanish border, which has WAY more than its fair share of Picasso, Matisse, Dali, etc. We crossed the border and visited the Spanish town of Figueres to visit the Teatre-Musea Dali (Dali Museum-Gallery) with its huge, famous collection. What an extraordinary talent he was, amazingly varied mediums (pen & ink through to jewellery) and styles. Completely twisted mind, though.
The Chateau inside the walled town of Carscassonne
After a night on the Costa Brava in north-eastern Spain (where the weather turned on us for a day), we are now in Barcelona ready to meet Mum & Dad Lockley, who will share Spain with us over the next 12 days or so.
Gail and I will be spending more time in France after Spain and Portugal before we head back to Germany in December, then a further week in Paris at the end. So we have only had a small taste of a corner of France so far. Therefore it may be premature to judge this early and of course it is purely our personal opinions; but although we really enjoyed Italy, we utterly LOVE France!
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All looks utterly enchanting. Am taking notes for my future holidays! Enjoy your time with your mum and dad.
lisa
lisa
# posted by 
: October 19, 2006 10:25 pm
: October 19, 2006 10:25 pm
gee guys you are seeing some amazing places,, it makes us want to get back on a plane and never come back,, can't wait to chat about your trip and where we can go next,, but we are looking into moving to the U.K so who knows.
keep smiling,
Jackie & Dave
keep smiling,
Jackie & Dave
# posted by : October 21, 2006 5:26 pm
: October 21, 2006 5:26 pm
What do you mean, moving to the UK? Make sure your still in Oz by the time we get home at the end of December, though.
Hi there in spain,
routine got us back this monday and we are already sick of winter!
Last week was so nice.
today I got wet till the underpants! :-(
We had such a nice time toghether!
We miss you a lot and hope to see you as soon as possible again!
(When/Whereever that will be)
enjoy spain and be ready for france, 2nd round.
CU
routine got us back this monday and we are already sick of winter!
Last week was so nice.
today I got wet till the underpants! :-(
We had such a nice time toghether!
We miss you a lot and hope to see you as soon as possible again!
(When/Whereever that will be)
enjoy spain and be ready for france, 2nd round.
CU
# posted by : October 24, 2006 3:17 am
: October 24, 2006 3:17 am
Mo Town. Haven't checked in for a while, but you look like you've got over the initial outburst and seem to be actually enjoying your holiday.
I notice it's your birthday on the 25th, so Happy Birthday. Hope you keep enjoying yourselves, keep having lots of fun, keep taking photo's and rubbing in just how crap it is to be at work, and we'll see you in January.
Take care!
Tim
I notice it's your birthday on the 25th, so Happy Birthday. Hope you keep enjoying yourselves, keep having lots of fun, keep taking photo's and rubbing in just how crap it is to be at work, and we'll see you in January.
Take care!
Tim
# posted by : October 24, 2006 2:11 pm
: October 24, 2006 2:11 pm
Well it's just wishfull thinking at the moment about the U.K .. we just love it there, who's birthday? wot when how,, ave a good one ,, jackie was lucky enough to have one while away to! she also had a birthday,,boom boom anywho yes we will be here when you get back looking forward to it,, should be a great night that one,, cheers & take care, J & D
# posted by : October 24, 2006 6:58 pm
: October 24, 2006 6:58 pm
Hey people, get nan and pop to send me the wedding photos. Yes i am asking you to send me the wedding photos (the ones with me and gem in em) while you are on holiday and no this does not jitter me. why? insane.
# posted by : October 24, 2006 9:18 pm
: October 24, 2006 9:18 pm
Hey are you guys still on holiday? Sorry we haven't written sooner - bit disorganised - lost your blog link thingy - just found it and had a read of the adventures. That little blue van just keeps popping up in all the photos - looks like a beauty. Just to help you enjoy the experience that little bit more - we are both back here in Perth at WORK!! Actually I quit the olive game and working with ENV Australia (consulting). Anyway - enjoy the rest of your trip love Ali & Ad
# posted by : October 25, 2006 6:56 pm
: October 25, 2006 6:56 pm
Hello Lockleys, I think you will have to get yourselves a new home when you return. With all these photos of the gorgeous places you've seen, your current place won't have enough wall space. Failing that, feel free to use some of OUR wall space! We can't wait to see you guys when you get back - hope you're still on for your January trip with the d'souzas. You will be our first friends to visit!! I may even splash out and share half a glass of wine with you. Hayden and I will be in Perth soon after you return, fromt he 26th Dec to Jan 6 and can't wait to see you both. Love Jules
# posted by : October 27, 2006 7:50 pm
: October 27, 2006 7:50 pm
Hi again - HAPPY BIRTHDAY IAN FOR THE 25TH. Sorry I missed the actual day. I meant to berate you Ian for exposing Kim to "MOVEMBER"!! He has his sights firmly set on winning some tacky VB logo'd prizes in the Kal cops movember fundraising. My tum is expanding rapidly...almost 23 weeks up the duff now. Lots of kicking going on down there. xx Jules
# posted by : October 29, 2006 11:37 am
: October 29, 2006 11:37 am
Glad to hear Chezza is keeping up the good work Jules. Looking forward to seeing you guys again (sort of, don´t REALLY want our trip to end).
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