The French Reconnection

One of my favourite films is that offbeat black comedy, Withnail and I. It has many quotable lines including the classic line "we've gone on holiday by mistake". Unlike Withnail, I've never gone on holiday by mistake, but I have perhaps become a Francophile by mistake. 

I first visited France in 1997 on a family visit to Disneyland Paris. As a way of getting to know and experience French culture, cuisine and lifestyles it was not an auspicious start - surrounded as we were by the full Disney experience.We did 'escape' the park for a day, taking a train into Paris. Walking along the banks of the Seine, seeing Note Dame, the Eiffel Tower and visiting a boulangerie gave a very brief albeit enticing exposure to French life - enough to make me want to return.

In subsequent years we made several trips across the channel, taking family holidays in Normandy and Brittany but then came a gap as our travels took us elsewhere.

In recent years however we've returned to France more and more frequently and travelled beyond Normandy and Brittany. In the north east we've visited Strasbourg and Alscace, weve stayed in the Dordogne, travelled through the Basque country, spent time in Carcassone, walked in the Auvergne and, last year travelled through the Alps. We've come to appreciate and enjoy the rich regional variety in France, loved the architecture and landscapes and, of course, the wine and food have been memorable - mostly in a positive way. 

We've met friendly people and had some fabulous experiences. When the time came to think about our travels for this year my mind turned to a part of France that is very popular and much visited but we have somehow missed in previous wanderings - the Loire Valley. So I've put together another trip that will take us first to the western edge of Brittany for a seaside/rural break, then we head south to Nantes before we move on at a lesuirely pace through the Loire Valley from west to east. We will complete our circular(ish) route with final nights in Roubaix (just outside Lille) and then a final night acoss the Belgian border in Ghent.  

France 2024

I'm looking forward to finally seeing the chateaux of the Loire, visiting some vinyards, stocking up on cheeses and discovering some off the beaten track places.

As seasoned travellers we've now got packing down to a fine art and our bags are packed with travel essentials. The weather forecast for the first week looks promising so hopefully we will be able to spend time outdoors exploring markets, beach combing and getting some vitamin D. 

As our travels progress I'll be capturing thoughts and reflections on places we visit and, as usual, sharing them via this blog. Bon voyage!