Bonnie Beaune

Since our last entry, we have continued our wandering through the French countryside. Adam was very excited that we achieved 5.3 L/100 km, for those of you with any interest in diesel engines. An afternoon trip to Avignon to visit the famous bridge, after a lunch in Chateauneuf Du Pape (which may be familiar to the wine buffs out there). We had an absolutely scary drive through pelting pouring rain and crazy French drivers along the freeway back to Nice, and after some superior navigating by Maddi in trying conditions, made our train with 2 minutes to spare.

On to Dijon, where we didn't try a skerrick of mustard, and then the gorgeous walled hill town of Vezelay (where relics of Mary Magdalene's body are reportedly in a casket in the Basilica). Ugh! We also spent 3 nights in the wine centre of Burgundy, another old town called Beaune. More wine tasting and cheese eating ensued.

For those of you with a taste for bad food experiences, Adam had his life's worst one on this part of the trip. Suffice it to say, he ordered it by accident, it consisted of tripe and other unidentifiable animal based items, and (as Maddi can attest)it tasted absolutely appalling. With amazing fortitude, he ploughed through 3 quarters of it by slathering it with mustard, while Maddi looked on in awe. Even now, we both gag at the memory.

With that we bid you a fond farewell. Off to Paris!