Gotta Love a Tradie

Monday 22nd May

A quiet day planned with a drive to look at some of the mountain passes used on the Tour de France. We were very lucky with the weather yesterday for our train trip. Todays weather was cloudy and threatening rain. We didnt see the tops of the mountains at all today.

First stop was a little market in a tiny village we were passing through - Monein. There we found an Indian couple selling curries, so we bought some curry for dinner and snacked on a samosa. Also a lady selling baklava so that made its way home too. I much prefer these small markets with local producers, to the large commercial markets in bigger towns, and it can be interesting to strike up a stilted conversation with these local people.

Church in the town of Monein.

Heading onwards it was close to lunchtime so we were on the lookout for the tradies lunch place in the area. Came into a small town, round the corner, and there they were, tradies vans. U-turn and enjoyed a lovely lunch. 

We were headed for the Col de Marie Blanque which is to be used this year. Part of the road was closed as they are laying fresh bitumen along the whole length, 18k, in preparation for the tour. Beautiful surface now. Maybe we need a Tour de Victoria to get some of our roads fixed!

At the top - hope we get to see the downhill on TV.

Definitely not the day for the train. 

These TdeF cyclists are amazing athletes - our little car struggled with some of the steep bits.

Decided to use the ring road around Pau to come from the south of town to the north. Mistake! The traffic was horrible, knock off time we think, and so many roundabouts (they love them).

Tuesday 23rd May

Today we did a tour of the Chateau de Pau. The first incarnation of this was in 12th century but various people added to its size and importance. One of its main claims to fame is king Henry IV was born there, but never lived there as a king. Apparently he was one of the well liked kings of France. The tour was conducted in French but we did have an English information booklet.  There were a few other English speakers there including a couple from Sydney. It was a lovely Chateau and guided tours only so not thousands of people which meant we got a good look at everything. 

This is a model of how the chateau used to look with its surrounding buildings.

Kitchen. 

The highlight here was the tapestries. This is one of the best collections of tapestries in France. Most of them are Gobelin, and some purpose made to fit between windows. One room was a dining room with a table for 100 guests and every wall was covered with tapestries.  I didn't get the size of the room but imagine a table big enough for 100. I was able to get right up close to the tapestries and have a good look. They are in amazing condition and the colours, especially the reds, are still really vivid. We guesstimate there to be over 50 tapestries. 

See some of the border elements below.
Not even going to try and work out how many stitches. 
I'm going to say millions.

Each of these border elements are about 15" square.

After lunch it was time to visit a winery. Nothing to my taste in this area - mostly dry whites, though Rob found a very nice red. A couple of bottles to enjoy until the next wine shopping. After the tasting we did a scenic drive through the wine growing area - lots of small holdings up in the hills.  

Loved the patch on his eye. Called Pirate?

One of the chateaus we passed at one of the vineyards.

A Snowy Spectacular Day

Saturday 20th May

A fairly quiet day today. We fronted up at the tourist information office to book train tickets for Sunday - read all about it next. Then a visit to the castle in Pau. Sadly all booked out for the weekend (probably due to the influx of people for the Grand Prix) so booked that visit for Tuesday.

The Chateau de Pau - more on Tuesday. 

Next stop was the undercover market. This was actually quite a surprise as it is not like any other market we have visited. It is in a reasonably new and purpose built building. Very clean and very spacious. As in previous comments we are surprised just how patient the French are when waiting their turn to be served. There is an orderly queue with a sign indicating which way the queue should form. We didn't buy much but just enjoyed looking at what was available. 

Now to upstairs - it is like a food court but again so spacious and clean, and very civilized. Probably 15 - 20 different food options, and most also served wine. A nice atmosphere - a long way removed from eating a dim sim at south Melbourne market. Stocked up for Sunday dinner as we were going to be out early in the morning and supermarkets close at lunchtime on Sundays.  

Washing day - all our hand knitted socks.

Sunday 219st May

Wow! What a spectacular day. 

We’d been keeping an eye on the weather hoping for a not so cloudy and miserable day to do the train ride at the top of the Pyrenees - the highest train in Europe (well that was the marketing blurb. Some googling back at the ranch found this to be not true. Maybe the highest Petit train.). Sunday was the best day according to the tourist information office. 

We headed out of Pau towards the Pyrenees. It was a 1 1/2 hr drive to the village of Artouste where we were to catch first the cable car, then the petit train. As we were getting closer we could see sun shining on the snow on the mountains, and blue sky. Fingers crossed this would last. We were plenty early - even beat some of the workers there - and had a hot chocolate and crepe with blueberries for breakfast. No phone or internet service here so luckily I still carry some cash.

The rest of the trip by cable and train is best described with photos. Saw a few marmots as we first headed out but we were too slow for photos.

Out of the tunnel and WOW!

This is looking down to the start of the cable car ride up.
This went up from about 1200m to 1900m. 

Lac d'Artouste - 200m up from the end of the train journey.
The train journey is about 10k long at a height of 1940m. 

This is a marmot. Think they are large ground squirrels.
They hibernate in winter so are only just starting to come out.  

Odette - enjoying the (very) fresh mountain air.

Even the old dog enjoyed the train journey.

Headed back down the cable car.

And when we got back to the other side of the mountain range the train had followed, the cloud had moved in.
We were so lucky! Our side of the mountain was clear of low cloud.

Only one restaurant/snack bar at the top so not a lot of choice in food. Again, no card facilities - and no coffee!! What is france without coffee I ask!?! Apparently this is only the second day the train has been running after the winter break - did someone forget to load coffee on the supply train? But they did have a fantastic home made chunky vegetable soup. 

The weather cooperated -only 4 deg but clear skies for the most part.

A sensational day!

For the motor enthusiasts

Friday 19th May

This was Rob's day out - Friday, practice day. This is a genuine street circuit, not unlike Monte Carlo. It is 2.769k long. Lots of curves and gutters to catch the unwary

Mine was spent reading, knitting, sewing and puzzling. 

This is the track layout - 2.769k.

The funicular was the entrance to the track.

Well, it is an historic race meeting.

Very historic. 

Not sure if this is a genuine or replica. Sounded great.

Whats for lunch?

Genuine original. 

he 

Cobra Daytona - sounded magnificent.

For Bob - genuine original.