Not quite done with France yet

Tuesday 27th June 

Time to leave our beachside accommodation and start the trip back to Paris. Still time to explore a couple of villages along the way. 

First was Lyons la Foret. This was a gorgeous little village with half timbered houses typical of normandy style of 17th and 18th century. The village is in a circle surrounding the castle where Henry I of England (son of William the Conqueror) died. The houses and streets are lined with beautiful flower boxes and gardens. There was a tour bus group in town for lunch but I don't think they get too many groups here.

Loved this shingle hanging on the house.

Beautiful houses.

Covered market in centre ville.

Next up Gerberoy. Another village with beautiful half timbered cottages, and streets lined with roses.

Gerberoy.
A couple of famous artists lived here, one being Monet's brother.
They encouraged the villagers to add colour to the village by planting flowers. The villagers still do this.

Wednesday 28th June 

We stayed the night at Beauvais and were looking for something to do along the road so as to not arrive at our hotel too early. We picked up a brochure about the Cite de Bateliers (bargeman). This was a good find - just something a bit different. It was a very good museum with a lot of photographs and stories from the barge families. The museum looked at all aspects of barge life and family life. The guy at the museum was quite chuffed to have his first Australian visitors. Well, blow me down. As we were about to leave a bike and boat tour group arrived - 24 Aussies from Mandurah.

The living quarters on one of the barges. 

Watched this barge pass through the lock. There are hundreds of kilometres of navigable canals throughout France and Europe,

Engine room - photo a bit fuzzy with reflection and dirty perspex.

Still having time to kill we picked up another brochure about the museum to the memorial of the armistice. This museum was in the clearing near Compiegne where the armistice was signed on November 11 1918. This was done in a train carriage with the people being brought together secretly and away from politicians and media. There was supposed to be no photos but someone took a few and these are on display. The original train carriage was destroyed but there is a replica on site. A great museum with so much information and in French, English and German. 

The memorial cairn.

The armistice signing train carriage.

Photo of a photo of the clearing - in the middle of a beautiful forest.

Moving on from Compiegne to Paris, Dora decided that she still had a few narrow country roads she wanted us to see. Who am I to argue? Driving along a narrow road, came around a corner, and blow me down. Would you look at that castle. Looked it up when we got to the hotel and it dates back to 1397. It was destroyed early in 16th century - all about power. It was rebuilt in the 19th century by Napolean III.

Pretty wow as you come around a corner.

Not my photo - from a tourist poster.

Finally back in Paris for 2 nights before we fly.

Thursday 29th June 

Jobs day today. First to the supermarket for a few things. Finding the supermarket was a real challenge. There are so many big roads, roundabouts, motorways, cars, trucks, that it is hard to get a clear picture of where we are going. After one aborted attempt at one supermarket we changed our strategy and went for one a bit further out from the area we are staying in.

Bonus - supermarket found and shopping done. Passed a hairdresser in the shopping centre who didn't appear to be busy. Popped in to see if a haircut was possible. Maintenant (now) she said. Oui! Haircut done, and then Rob lined up for a cut too. So we are now tricked out with our Parisian dos, all ready for Greece. Next bonus - a laverie at the shopping centre. Laundry done while we had lunch.

Remembering our last time in France we decided to see if there was an elephant blue car wash nearby. Bonus again! Car now washed and vacuumed ready to return in the morning.

My next post should be from Greece. Looking forward to it.