Our 2018 travels

Italian Lakes with the 3rd age group from Lespignan Since 2009, with only one exception, we have joined a third age group for their annual week away on a bus tour.  This year, we were at the Italian lakes.  We left Thézan at a time that is ‘de bonne heure’ in French which is far from good in our book!  As always, we greeted our friends while waiting for the bus.  We were delighted to be joined by Yvette.  Her last holiday with the group had been with her husband, Armand when we passed a wonderful few hours with them in a gondola in Venice. She had nor been on holiday with the group since then. When the bus arrived, we were quickly away; we had a long way to go.  Also on board, we had a couple that we had met on our trip to the Baltic states.  There are rules for bus drivers in France, which, we understand are strict and not to be broken.  So, to get to our destination , we have two drivers, one driving the coach and another in a car. ...

In May, we took the train from Beziers to Broadstairs to see the boys during half term and to bring the car back to France via Alsace.  All was going well with the train journey, and we were looking forward to our lunch in Paris close to the Gare du Nord, when an announcement told us that we would be delayed by 90 minutes - there had been a fatality on the high speed line. We decided to join the queue for lunch on the train and fortunately, we were quick enough to be able to buy some food before it all ran out.  When the train arrived in Paris, it was just possible that we might be able to catch the EuroStar that we were booked on, but only  if the RER between the Gare du Lyon and the Gare du Nord was waiting in the station for us.  Amazingly, it was there and we raced into the EuroStar hall slightly after the last minute. Fortunately, the train was delayed and so we caught it.   As usual (if weather permits) we have trips to play grounds and the beach Ernie ann...