Dear family & friends!
Wow, I’m a bit behind in what I need to tell you – since I last wrote I have traveled many miles and seen so many sights; I went from Italy, France and now in London, England.
After leaving San Quirico, we drove directly to Pisa. We planned on staying one night but it ended up 2 nights. We stayed in the Hotel de Stephano – just 2 blocks from the tower of Pisa and the Piazza dei Miracoli. From the rooftop of our old hotel, we overlooked the tower and it was a beautiful view as the sun set in orange and reds both nights.
We found a fun café a block and a half from the hotel located among the shops. We had dinner and coffee and thoroughly enjoyed people watching. There were many young college students attending university right in the area we were staying.
The next day was much fun. I paid 15 euros to climb the tower of Pisa and the view from the very top was indescribable. It was an experience of a lifetime and worth the money just to view all of Pisa and as far as the eye could see. Afterwards we ate at a little café (Pisa Café) just outside the Piazza and had the best pizza either of us had ever ate.
From Pisa we headed into France and spent the night in Nice. Nice is a lovely cosmopolitan resort town right on the Mediterranean Sea. We were very pleasantly surprised how warm it was with a balmy breeze. There is a wonderful promenade that follows the coastline and you could see people walking, jogging, and biking all along the length of it.
The next morning I walked quite a ways up the promenade and saw some people swimming in the waters. I was curious as to the temperature of the water and walked down to the rocky beach to feel it. The rocks on the beach are smooth and rounded and when the waves come in and pull out, you hear the tumbling of the rocks; it’s the most amazing sound you ever heard. And the water is a lovely lukewarm temperature with the most intense turquoise color you ever saw.
From Nice we drove to Aix-en-Provence and stopped for lunch. Lisa attempted to parallel park the auto, which was an absolute riot to watch. The car was so stuck between the curb and the cars from either side, she couldn’t even move it another inch. She left it for me to get out!! We had a very lovely meal at an outdoor café brasserie and people watched as usual. I must say, food and coffee in France is quite expensive, it was definitely another shock to the pocket book.
From Aix-en-Provence we drove into Avignon and ended up spending 3 nights at a very nice hotel. At first Avignon seemed very unapproachable. The city center sits within a large rock fortress wall. I was astounded by all the graffiti, obviously if it doesn’t move it’s been spray painted. There is a layer of smog and the streets are littered with garbage, which we would soon find common in France. There were many homeless people along the streets of Avignon begging for money and after talking with our hotel clerk this is new since the economy crash. But yet after a day the city warmed on me and I found it intriguing and very delightful. We found a great restaurant where we had a traditional German meal with the best sauerkraut I ever had. We also frequented a little English pub on the corner of a busy street near the entrance of the city wall. We could sit outside, have a pint and do our standard people watch.
Avignon is also famous for the Les Halles, an indoor market where you can purchase anything fresh from meats, fish and vegetables, to cheeses, breads and pastries to foie gras!!! One of the days in Avignon, we took a day trip to the country and then drove down to Sete, another coastal resort town and had lunch. It was a very beautiful coastline with amazingly blue water.
From Avignon we took back roads through Chateauneuf de Pape, had the chance to see the le Nerthe estate and the famous vineyards with the rocks piled up around the rootstocks. We made it to Lyon by lunch time and had a small meal in a little sidewalk café. Afterwards, we decided to see if we could refill our prescriptions since France is quite easy going. I had no problems refilling my medicine and cost me 2.30 euros (about $4 US)!!!!
From Lyon we made it to Macon for the night. A pretty town nestled along the Rhone River. This is where we probably had the most authentic and enjoyable meal so far in France. I had a traditional Beuf Bourguignon and Lisa had beef tartar and paired it with a Croze Hermitage, which was perfect!
From Macon we went onto Beaune where we stopped and did a little shopping and then onto Dijon where we had a rather disappointing lunch. Dijon seemed rather depressing to say the least, people looked very harsh and grumpy…well most people in France seem rather put out but here it was quite visibly noticeable.
From Dijon we stopped in Auxerre for the night. I’m afraid this was a non-descript stay other than our dinner at a stuffy restaurant with a heavy non-descript meal where Lisa and I had a complete breakdown of the giggles. We received very dirty looks from the local stuffy French folk. Ummm…I guess you had to have been there!!!
From Auxerre we drove onto Calais to spend the night before crossing over to London. Calais is a very edgy town on the shores of the English Channel with many immigrants waiting to enter England. We had a very interesting experience sitting outside a pub and about 6 carloads of Muslims drove by honking their horns yelling and waving their flag with young French men antagonizing them. It could have easily turned into a bad situation but thankfully it didn’t. I must say it was a total wakeup call for me.
The next morning we took the car ferry over to Dover and then into Wimbledon to stay with our friends Paul & Paula. I’m going to stop my stories here since I’ve taken up more than enough of your time. But I must say, London has been quite the experience and is everything you’ve heard and more. LOL!!!
This coming Thursday, our good friends are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner in honor of Lisa and I and our American holiday tradition. I will be making my Bourbon Sweet potatoes and a rhubarb & strawberry pie. Lisa will be roasting 2 locally grown fresh chickens with stuffing, plus much more. I wish you all a very Safe, Happy and Warm Thanksgiving. I hope you spend it with the ones you love and care for by your side. I truly give thanks to the many loved ones I have in my life. Take care and enjoy each day to the fullest.
Much Love, Nancy
