The Roman Aqueduct at Pont Du Gard is always impressive.
We played in the river Gard which runs underneath.







The drive to the Dordogne River
 included a stop at Carcassonne.






 The Dordogne   

The river Dordogne is where the movie Chocolat was filmed.
It is best to tour the river by boat.  We picked up the 
gypsy boat at La Roque Gageac, an impressive town situated 
on a narrow strip of land between tall cliffs and the river.
We visited the Beynac Chateau and toured some of the 
prehistoric caves which are unique to this part of France.
Our meals at L'Esplanade were outstanding.

  

  

  
       


In Bordeaux we visited the two great wine areas, 
the Medoc and St. Emillion. The vineyards at 
Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, 
and Chateau Margaux were beautifully kept.  We had 
a tour of the Chateau Siran cellars and bought wines 
from the nearby vineyard at Chateau Pontet-Canet.



Isle D'Oleron was our experiment.  This resort island 
is little known outside of France.  It has some excellent 

wide sandy beaches.



But this is why we didn't 
go in the water.
Giant Medusa Jellyfish





click on any photo to enlarge it.


We had a great seafood feast at L'Ecailler.
They served us a seafood platter with everything 
but jellyfish.




A bridge in Cognac.








 At The Cognac Distillery 




 Our Chateau - Limoges 

At Limoges we stayed in a luxurious if not slightly spooky 
chateau.  It was a full moon but we were prevented from 
taking part in the "Order of the Blue Robe" when the owner 
locked us in.

See Our Ghost




 The Loire Valley 
The highlights of the Loire Valley are of course the 
Chateaux; Usse, Azay Le Rideau, Chambord, and Chenonceau 
were some we visited.  We also toured the gardens at 
Villandry and the Abbey of Fontevrault, to visit the 
grave of Eleanor of Aquitaine, King Henry and their son, 
Richard "The Lion Hearted".  A very spiritual place.



 Our Chateau - The Loire Valley 

  Villandry    Chenonceau  Azay Le Rideau    Usse












We stayed at The Abby at Beaugency near one 
of the few bridges across the Loire.





Paris--- What can you say about the "City of Lights"
that hasn't already been said.  We did so much 
in just three days.  The day we arrived the Boulevard 
Saint Germaine was closed for a giant gay rights parade.  
Outrageously entertaining.  We did the Louvre and the 
Musee D'Orsay.  We took in the shows at Moulin Rouge 
and Lido.  We celebrated in the streets with the 
Brazilians the day they won the World Cup.
We went to Mass at Notre Dame.
The girls did a "Shop Til You Drop" on the Champs Elysee,
in the Marais and at Printemps.
Whew.  Did I mention the food?
Or












The Wine




The People





A Map Of our Tour

In France like Italy,
the spoken language sounds so good;
I would love to learn to speak it correctly.  
The people were really friendly everywhere. 
 
The Water-- For an old oceanographer like myself,
swimming in the Mediterranean was the best.
The warm sun and the cold water, the ultimate plunge;
throw in the beauty of every place we visited, and I 
want way more of this.