Better late than never - The Zoo

Day 6/7: Loire/Dordogne
Having dragged Kiera around chateaux, cathedral and markets for the past few days it seemed only fair to indulge her a little and so we took off for the highly recommended Beauval Zoo (one of the best in Europe) and it certainly didn’t disappoint – with clear blue skies, above we spent the best part of the day exploring acres and acres of wildlife from brown bear, white tigers/lions, koalas to a couple of very frisky jaguar!
Our three days have absolutely flown in and so it was with heavy hearts we packed up and prepared to leave the delights of the Loire and in particular our little home from home to head to the Dordogne area where we are again in the heart of rural france surrounded by vineyards and orchards - although this time with a hot tub and wifi access – yeah!!

Ride 'em Cowboy

Well we are in and settled and have had our first meal of pizza with wine, followed by a game of table tennis. Gite lovely and Kiera kind of getting used to the wildlife, but she had an aqua peevy when she first met the cats. we have counted about 10 cockerels today, so I am expecting a dawn chorus like the finest Welsh male voice choir tomorrow. It is clear that the area is very fond of 'innards' with Foie Gras being the king of the culinary offerings. The main delicacies revolve around geese and gizzards which I believe is chopped goose inners is well recommended along with the goose neck stuffed with sausage. We expect to sample some delicacies at lunch tomorrow and those knowing my stomach will not be surprised if there is no update tomorrow.
Our hosts are both from California and certainly have a remarkable property. A magazine article on the property in an American publication states that Larry appears at the local chateau riding a big brown horse named Duke and wearing a vest, chaps and a cowboy hat.

Most frustrating issue at present is Karla's expert attempts at mastering the French language and she attempts to ask for everything in French. To my ears she is as expert as Madeline (Kiera's favourite Parisien schoolgirl) but to Karla's dismay they all respond in English clearly picking up she's not from these parts.

You may also have noted that there has been no update on the zoo visit yesterday, but despite no blackberry, no Greys Anatomy to watch and no work to worry about K has still not managed to provide an update. She is getting too used to this easy life!

Dordogne

Just a short note to say we have arrived safely in Dordogne and have full wifi access. Gite is a real Pandora's box and temperature currently 18 degrees, we are having a quick glass of wine and then heading for the outside tub. We will update later/tomorrow.

Let them eat cake

I clearly picked Karla up wrong when she sold me the benefits of the Loire and it shows what a difference 2 letters can make. I thought she said that the area was full of the finest Gateaux and that their size, shape and appearance were worth 3 days in the area. Eagerly anticipating lashings of cream, raspeberries and chocolate imagine my disappointment when I find that the gateaux she is taking me to is made of stone, surrounded by water with beautiful topiary.

This afternoon (Sunday) we visited Chateau de Chenonceau which was spectacular to say the least. It has a chequered history, particularly in the female department and could have made a sensational rom-com in current times starring Colin Firth, Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Anniston. In a nutshell King Colin was married to Angie, but fell in love with Jen and as king he was able to secure a private pad for her (Chenonceau). Jen spends considerable time and effort doing up the pad into one of the best in the area. King Col pops his clogs and his widow Ange then orders Jen out of Chen and gives her a smaller pad in the area. Ange then sets about putting her touches down, including building a grand hall over the bridge that Jen built across the river and digging up and replacing the garden Jen created, including replacing her rose bush with a fountain. Anyway between the 2 of them they created a spectacular home.

As per earlier email it is also where Mozza (Queen of Scots) lived with King Francois II as a child bride, so her graffiti still visible in the chapel was forgivable as she was only in her early teens. Certainly comparisons with current lifestyles in West of Scotland with teenage brides and vandalism.

Todays French observation - Why are there so many beware of deer road signs and yet we have never seen venison on any menu?

NORMAL SERVICE SHOULD BE RESUMED TOMORROW EVENING WHEN WE HIT THE DORDOGNE

Chuck another rabbit on the barby

After our early rise courtesy of Monsieur Cockadoodledoo we headed to the largest market in the area at Amboise. There were a couple of hundred stalls selling their wares, particularly on the food front. The smells wafting from the market were certainly not the hamburger & onions/sausage aromas I am use to back home, but a variety of exotic aromas from barbecues, herb stalls, cheese stalls and other delicacies. Snail pies, roast rabbit, suckling pig, raw oysters and pork stew were all available for consumption. We purchased our dinner of roast chicken and roast potatoes from a remarkable rotisserie (pictured) that also had pig and rabbit roasting and the juices dripping on the potatoes below. It was divine when we came to consume.

Whilst singing the praises of the local delicacies, I am struggling with the cheeses and would gladly pick up a packet of crackerbarrel or even a basic Asda cheddar, as the goat and sheep local varieties are not too my palate.

The afternoon was spent in a magnificent chateaux, but as I am suffering from cold turkey with no wifi/tv, I am going to write another blog re this incident in parallel.

For those who have raised some concerns over certain issues;

- I am a member of both AA’s so no problem with car
- I have weaned myself off the cider

Tomorrow we treat Kiera to a fantastic zoo, so here’s hoping she loses her current phobia of anything with more than 2 legs

Mozza woz Here

Well as Karla has said we arrived at Gite (pictured) to be greeted by Brenda and Zoli, the former being a Glaswegian. After some initial banter and patter we headed off to the supermarket to provision up for next couple of days. After a lovely meal including duck pate, steak, potatoes, tarte tatin and rouge /blanc vin, we settled back and watched various movies on the laptops and listened to music.
Girl Guide of the year award goes to Karla who managed to light our log fire at the 3rd attempt, but not convinced she really needed to use the bottle of brandy to assist!
No wifi so currently cut-off with outside world and I have no idea of any footie scores or whether the 6 balls dropped in last night. I am sure if Mary Queen of Scots, who lived nearby was alive wifi and television would be mandatory or freely available to all Ecossians.
This morning or almost last night the dawn chorus started well before there was any glint of daylight in the sky. 6am on the dot a harmony of both tenor and alto cockerels gave it laldy, making it an early rise for all. All the more impressive as the clocks seem to have sprang forward.
Well off to a big market this morning and then a visit to a famous chateaux where Mary Queen of Scots lived when she was young. There is even a bench where in true Scottish fashion she graffitied her name by knife.

Loire

Sorry for delay, we are posting from a village square in montrichard where we have hijacked a local wifi signal

Day 4: Loire
Arrived safely in Montressour after a fairly uneventful 4 hr drive, no toll trauma’s to report having mastered this particular challenge. Kiera’s a dream traveller – abolutely nothing like her mother at that age – or maybe it’s difference the between travelling equiped with an in car DVD, Nintendo DS and on- board drawing desk v’s my earlier experiences in the back of a our trusty Renault 12, bare legs sticking to the leatherette seat , melting in the heat, listening to my brother crune/crow “It took a long time to leave you Lucille”!!
Gite absolutely fab – what a first experience of French Rural accommodtion, everything we could have dreamed of here, right down to the welcome basket of bottle of red wine, break stick and slab of local cheese and to top it all the owner is from Glasgow – home from home!!
Local area looks really exciting – well recommended zoo, some incredilble chateau (RJL will visting the mushroom caves alone, but I’m sure they’ll be... er facinating! Really looking foward to exploring in earnest tomorrow.
Only downside is the fact that the walls of gite are too thick to accommodate wi-fi so we’ll be hunting for a cyber-cafe tomorrow to get this blog entry on.
Love & hugs to all K,K & R xxxx

Fingers `Crossed

Early start this morning to catch MSM as dawn rose, allowing the Special Ks to get some beauty sleep. The car-park I was in yesterday was now 3 foot underwater with the high tide.

Well we are shortly off to the Loire, which will be circa 3.5 hour drive. I have fingers crossed that Monsieur Peep Peep will be reclining in an armchair somewhere watching France playing football whilst eating his frog leg scratchings. This is our first gite and we are well excited, especially Chef Bob who has a few local delicacies up his sleeve.

Some initial observations on France;
- Buildings beautiful, unique and full of character
- Every historical building filled with school kids learning about their past
- They love cigarettes
- Baths made for midgets, although Karla enjoys them
- French drivers !%*@!!!$$

The Real Minas Tirith

I remember the day I first saw Cinderella's castle in Disney World, but today a sight that surpasses that piece of architectural genius. We first saw Mont Sant-Michel about 15 miles away, this unique Tracey Island feature that rises out of the ocean. When we got within 1 mile it was spellbinding and we travelled the causeway to explore further. It truly is a wonder of the world and whilst Thunderbird 1 & 2 were nowhere to be seen, it really took our breaths away. It is a rocky tidal island that has been built up since 8th century and now houses the most spectacular gothic style church. The abbey and its adjoining cloisters, courtyards, crypts and chapels are amazing and the use of natural light add to the atmosphere. It also houses one of the finest omelette houses with Margaret Thatcher, Trotsky and Bill Clinton claiming they make best omelettes in world. If its good enough for Maggie is good enough for me, but alas the €30 a pop was outside my daily allowance. Was meant to return to take twilight pictures but alas the rain was too heavy or the jug of cider at hotel too appealing. Dinner included scallops in garlic and parsley butter, young rabbit in cider, salmon & sea bass with grapefruit, cod in beer batter, cheeses and rhubarb mouse with raspberries. Not sure what anyone else had!

Things that go Bump in the Day

An additional blog entry following an adventurous journey to Mont St-Michel. Things were ok for 1st hour and then we hit a toll booth, all previous routes we picked up a ticket at an initial booth and then at the next booth we paid with coins. Not so this time, as we guided car into the relevant channel, we had to place a ticket into the machine to pay, however from Rouen we had not met the magic ticket machine or the magic ticket fairy. We were stuck. As my blood pressure rose we put on hazards and started to reverse until Mr Francois (bespectacled and smoking a large cigarette and driving a Citroen) decided to rush into my lane, blocking my exit and his journey. Despite the hazards and reverse lights he went into an apaleptic fit and waved his hands like an animated Magnus Pyke. When the centime finally dropped he reversed with eyes of fury into another channel. Frustrated by his ignorance I continued my manoeuvre but failed to see the Sonic style obstructions and the grinding metal sound as I reversed brought silence to the car. When I finally passed to next level and stopped to see damage, I have a scar that any East End Glaswegian would be proud of on my driver rear end.

Anyway we finally got to Ducey which is a drive and 5 iron to MSM and were greeted by a lovely hotel on the site of an old mill on the banks of a beautiful river.

Rain in Rouen

Rouen (Day 2)

Well for most of the day it resembled a dreech West of Scotland day with drizzle turning to more persistent rain, but did not dampen spirits. Spent morning in the splendid Gothic cathedral lighting candles for missing loved ones and the afternoon at the Natural History Museum, which Kiera loved. Main highlights were of a culinary nature.
Petit Dejeuner- A small creperie (photograph) where we dined in the cellar on savoury and sweet crepes washed down by a flagon of local cider,,,,,,Kiera opted for Orange Juice.
Dejeuner - Beef Bourgignon, 'Rose' Canard au Cidre and Poulet nuggets et frittes, washed down with a jug of muscadet.
As we retired to bed, the local youths clearly visited bygone days when the Formula 1 French leg went through the streets of Rouen. They were all on foot but for a good 4 hours we appeared to be the chicane where they made the most noise with whoops, shouts and artificial horns.......the local cider certainly must do the trick.
Anyway the weather looking up for our transfer to Mont St-Michel tomorrow and hopefully a pretty spectacular photo tomorrow.

Tati bogle

Road to Rouen

Day 1: Rouen (Where Joan of Arc had her last stake!)

Arrived in Rouen at just after 12pm having had just enough time to listen to the Hairpray album - oh 3 times!! I can see RJL’s efforts to download the perfect roadtrip album going in vain with a 4 year old in the car . Rouen is picture perfect France, with boulongeries, creperie, fromagarie, charcutrie and my personal favourite chocalaterie lining a multitude of narrow cobbled streets.
Weather is cold and windy but dry and bright (hurray!). Heading out for our first proper french breakfast in a minute – missing everyone but really enjoying the e-mails, texts and comments posted – keep them coming. Kiera sends everyone lots of xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

PS Main problem is Karla still thanks everyone by saying Gracias, not sure the French appreciate her efforts

What a Swell Start

Arrived safely in Hull and after 90 minutes in a basic wait area boarded the Pride of York. Settled in and headed for their buffet that served various brown items with potatoes and rice. We then headed for the cabaret where a Clodagh Rodgers/Mary Hopkins style vocalist entertained us while we drank a bottle of Sauvignon Bland. Was surprised that even while still in the Humber Estuary the boat was moving fairly dramatically vertically....there's the coastline, there's the stars, there's the deep blue sea. Well after 5 hours sleep we hit our fresh gale force 6/7 and for 4 hours it was like a Disney simulation of landing by plane at Glasgow airport on a cloudy/windy day.....too much for a delicate stomach like mine (RJL). What a swell time.

Anyway now on Terra Firma and heading for Rouen, probably after visiting a Belgian shop to recuperate with Belgian waffles and lashings of chocolate.

Speak soon.

UB40 Appreciation Society

Well only 4 more sleeps to the big day and now today Karla joins me as one of the 'One in Ten', but never mind this time next week it will be 'Red, Red, Wine' and 'Breakfast in Bed' and as long as there are no 'Rats in the Kitchen' we will "Keep on Moving' until its time for 'Signing Off'. We will have 'Many Rivers to Cross' and hopefully we wont 'Think its Going to Rain Today'.

There are only a couple of people in the world that will understand my references above or maybe just me and Paul Hamilton and I would imagine Karla will ensure any UB40 tracks will be left back home with Morrisey, Michael Jackson and The Nolans.

A Bientot (Ta ta fur noo)

Fingers Crossed

Car fully serviced, Euros ordered, golf clubs cleaned, U2 tickets purchased, Ronan Keating album downloaded, DVDs for car, Slingbox set up. Nearly there, fingers crossed for Barcelona to draw next round of Champions League at home first leg and against a non English team, as we are in Barcelona at time of next match. Only downside is that I wont be able to see my beloved Ultravox live in April in Glasgow, but have ordered my eldest daughter to attend and write me a review.

Early weather reports suggest France baking in sun at moment and that this will turn to SNOW on our arrival next week!

In the beginning...............

On the 24th March we undertake a European Road Trip that will see us visit 5 European countries over a 5 week period. Join us as we share our memories in both writing and photographs.