Entering France

September 8, 2020

SMOOTH CROSSING

Jackie Usher Entering France, Food Sightseeing, UNESCO World Heritage Site

EARLY START – GET ME TO THE BOAT ON TIME!

2^nd May:

We left the hotel at 9am, in order to reach the ferry port in Dover an hour before sailing. We had intended breakfasting at a remembered treasure:

Dawn’s Delight. 22 Cheriton High St, Folkestone CT19 4ET

This admirable café is an ‘institution’ in Folkestone. We had counted on a good breakfast to sail on – but could not quickly locate it. It must have been at the other end of the town, so we arrived on the boat quite hungry. The breakfasts aboard were very expensive and from past experience less than thrilling, so we made do with a Café au Lait and a Pain au Chocolat each.

A SMOOTH CROSSING:

The crossing was smooth, and Graham left me lounging in a comfortable seat with my legs up, as per doctor’s orders, while he went off to take photographs of the white cliffs.

GOODBYE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ‘AU REVOIR’

Of course, I had to go out on deck to say goodbye to England. I’m never the only one to be gazing at our guardian cliffs until they disappear from view.

THE WHITE CLIFFS – MORE THAN A PRETTY FACE

On a previous trip we spent a day touring Dover Castle. One of the best – and if we hadn’t been members of CADW (Wesh Heritage) which earned us free admittance, we might have balked at the unusually high charge – which would have been a pity. It is worth every penny.

We would have missed the ‘bonus’ of delving into the miles of tunnels within those famous white cliffs. Started in the Napoleonic wars, and the centre of operations in the Dunkirk rescue in World War 2, when the hidden windows and tunnel openings enabled strategic views of the large ships and small boats (down to a rowing boat manned by a boy scout).

Smooth Crossing - Not so White Cliffs of Dover — Not so White Cliffs of Dover

WHITE CLIFFS DISAPPOINTINGLY NOT SO WHITE –

The White Cliffs of Dover needed a clean up now. These iconic guardians of the entrance to England are presently marred by tussocks of scrub and dark streaks. Any other nation would see that they were kept gleaming white…

SEAGULLS SEEM TO STRIKE A POSE

Graham also made many studies of the harbour and shipping – not forgetting the seagulls. They seem to enjoy having their photographs taken as they so often strike perfect poses, or fly slowly past at close quarters.

Smooth Crossing - Leaving Dover — **Leaving Dover**

CROSS-CHANNEL FERRY – PLENTY TO ENJOY

As our English cliffs disappeared from view we were fascinated by all the maritime activity on this busy waterway. Pretty soon the outside decks filled up; we were all peering for our first glimpse of the French coast. The time seemed to fly, but we had enjoyed a ‘breathing space’ before embarking down the ramp and on to French concrete…

VIVA LA FRANCE!

Text by – Jackie Usher, SWWJ. (aka author Debbie Darkin, & ‘Graham Liverpool’ on Trip Advisor.)
Photographs by – Graham Usher.

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To Brignoles - Moustier - Sainte-Maire, South of France

January 16, 2020

TO BRIGNOLES – FIRST OVERNIGHT STOP BACK IN FRANCE.

Jackie Usher Day trips, Entering France, Food, Restaurants, Tourist Town

22nd November, 2016

LA COTE D’AZUR – WHAT A RIP-OFF – WE DIDN’T EVEN SEE THE SEA

To reach Brignoles, our destination for that night, the quickest way was on the A8 ‘Coast Highway for the Cote D’Azure’. I have decided that I hate that route; especially as it rained all the way. This toll road was lined by 1930’s 2-up-2-downs. We were charged upwards of three Euros when we passed by each of the Riviera towns from San Remo and Monte Carlo to Frejus, above San Tropez. There were about four of them as I recall, but they were not visible – no sight, nor even a sniff – of the desirable sea. We thought it a very unfair rip-off.)

HOTEL HIDDEN IN A CAR PARK

We had chosen Brignoles for our first overnight stop. Just because it was the first small town in France past all those exhausting tunnels above Genoa. Back in La Casa di Plinio in Pompei, Martina had hastily booked for us a night at an Ibis hotel, having heard they were cheap and good.

After much circling around and around an industrial park we eventually found the Ibis Hotel. It was hidden away next to a small slip road running by the toll road we would take in the morning. We were pleased to see armchairs in the lobby. All were occupied by young women sipping coffee, clustered around tiny tables.

A very pleasant, handsome Frenchman was running the place. When I showed him our booking form he told us we were not staying there –we had booked the ‘Ibis Budget’ hotel next door. I felt cheated, as I thought the price I’d paid (around £45 – though I may be mistaken) would have covered a room in the modest building we were standing in.

WE GET LOST – THEN HAVE TO LEARN A CODE

We searched high and low for the ‘Budget next door’ and in the end had to go back for Mine Host to point the way – obvious when you knew where to look!

He showed us how to tap in numbers on a machine to give us a card with OUR room Number. This would effect us entry into the secured front door, and later, our room. Nobody was manning the front desk. They would be in from seven pm until 10pm he said. He added ‘You can buy breakfast in the main hotel in the morning’.

We thanked him and I opened the front door for Graham to bring in our nightly backpacks. There was a drinks machine in the lobby, and one selling crisps and chocolate.

OUR ROOM WAS A PLEASANT SURPRISE

Hmm, I thought; but when we found our room we were pleasantly surprised. All white, small but very clean. It was well appointed, down to a hairdryer attached to the wall in the bathroom. Also, an ironing board and iron were in the tiny wardrobe. There was a good shower, adequate fluffy towels, and even a range of free toiletries. The bedside reading lamps worked, too – so not such a bad deal, after all. www.ibis.com/Brignoles

BRIGNOLES – A VERY ATTRACTIVE SMALL FRENCH TOWN

When we had washed and changed we emerged to find a very friendly girl at the front desk. She gave us directions into the nearby town, which we found very pleasant. It was raining, so we drove round for a bit before parking, then walking to the very attractive main square. It looked really ‘French’.

To Brignoles - Light failing on wet pavements, Brignoles 2 — Light failing on wet pavements, Brignoles

A PRIEST TRIES TO DIRECT US

Here Graham stopped a priest and asked for a nice local French restaurant. The patient priest, huddling under his umbrella, kept trying to direct us to the ‘best Chinese in town’. I expect he was trying to help out the owner.

BRIGNOLES – A LOVELY AUTHENTIC FRENCH RESTAURANT.

However, I had seen an attractive small place in a back street,and remembered the way. We walked there and discovered an empty, rather dignified square right opposite. I waited while Graham walked to fetch the car and park there.

Here is my Trip Advisor revue of La Hotel/Restaurant de Provence, Brignoles.

(It appears under Graham’s name, because I use his web page):

“It was sad that we were just getting over ‘flu and travelling slowly back to England when we found this charming restaurant in a side street. If we ever go back we will book a bedroom there, too – because their prices are very reasonable for a high standard of country living – French style.”

DELICIOUS FOOD IN LA HOTEL/RESTAURANT DE PROVENCE, BRIGNOLES.

I cannot now remember what we ate, but only that it looked attractive and tempting, and what we could manage to eat was delicious. It was, after all, the first full meal we’d ordered since catching ‘flu over two weeks previously. We had to apologise for the food left on our plate, and explained that it was in no way a shortcoming in the cooking. The hostess/waitress was very understanding. We left full of gratitude. Do try this pretty dining place.

(ADDRESS: Place du Palais de Justice, 83170, Brignoles, France. (phone: +33 4 94 6901 18)

Text by – Jackie Usher, SWWJ. (aka author Debbie Darkin, & ‘Graham Liverpool’ on Trip Advisor.)
Photographs by – Graham Usher.

Feature Image of – Moustier – Sainte-Maire, by Simone Olckers – Unsplash

January 7, 2018

Tunnel to Adventure!

Jackie Usher Entering France, Food, French B&Bs, Travel Driving, Good Roads, Medieval route, Welcome

Finding the Hotel was an Adventure!

DAY 1: 3rd September:

BRUAY-La-BUISSIERE:

This time we started our Adventure using the Channel tunnel, welcoming the 25-minute rest and leg-stretch before reaching the other side, just outside Calais. As we emerged from the tunnel seeking the toll road I wound down the window. Immediately we noticed that France smelled ‘different’ – but in what respect, we could not say. Sadly, inclement weather followed us from England.

tunnel-to-adventure — Day one and two – Google map of our route.

FRENCH TOLL ROADS

French toll roads, if you use a lot of them, can prove expensive, but there is generally little traffic on them. You can zoom down them when you have a definite destination.

LOVE THE RESTFUL WAYSIDE STOPS

These roads have a great feature that our British motorways could emulate. Every twenty kilometres or so you will come across this type of sign: French roadside Aires are quite wonderful, compared with Britain’s Motorway Services. These quiet, secluded picnic parks sometimes have cafes. All provide free facilities: Tables with benches, and always clean toilets. Many have showers. All provide a tap to fill your own bottle of cold drinking water. Advance signs may show added facilities in many. Most are set in woodland where you can walk off your car fatigue and rest your eyes.

BRUAY-LA-BUISSIERE – ELUSIVE HOTEL IS GOOD

Graham wanted to drive further in than Calais, so I had booked B&B at a little place called Hotel le Cottage, at Bruay-La-Buissiere. It is off the A26 road a bit beyond Bethune. (We had stayed in that small town on a previous tour. It is typically northern French. Strong Flemish influences show in the tall, thin gables of the buildings surrounding the square. We remembered fondly the great breakfasts we had in a very good cafe-bar facing the church.)

Our small hotel in La Buissiere took a bit of finding. Even Miss SatNav was confused. Eventually we discovered we had already passed it in the high street: The hotel stood well back from the road.

LE COTTAGE – OLD-FASHIONED AND SIMPLE – GOOD VALUE

It was a little old-fashioned, and our room small, but it had a good shower and ample towels. In the morning the ‘self-service’ breakfast was well attended by the family staff. Plentiful wrapped jams and butters, but very good pain-au-chocolat and croissants, and exceptional yoghourts. I’d say it is above average for a place that clearly caters for British coaches bound for the war graves. The price, in retrospect, proved competitive. I have no hesitation in recommending it as a first stop.
Hotel le Cottage,292 avenue de la Liberation, 62700 Bruay-la-Buissiere, France

WE ARE FED BY A CROCODILE!

Only thing – they were not opening their dining room for the evening, and so we had to resort to looking in a ‘commercial Complex’. We chose a ‘Crocodile’ – part of a Belgian chain catering to families. It was very crowded, and the food wasn’t at all bad, but the free wine was undrinkable, Graham said – and neither of us tried the Free Beer!

The next day we had planned a medieval route towards the Dordogne.

Text by – Jackie Usher, SWWJ. (aka author Debbie Darkin, & ‘Graham Liverpool’ on Trip Advisor.)

Photographs by – Graham Usher.
Thanks to Google maps – Most of the images have been taken by Graham though in this blog all Orleans photos, the Restaurant and Vierzon came from other sources.

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