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A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.
Lao Tzu

Spain & France and a Dog

We hadn't been on holiday, for all sorts of reasons, for about 10 years, nor had we been able to even go on our honeymoon, which had been due 2 years ago!

So, we felt we deserved a good break. A good break we felt was taking about 6 weeks away, and since we couldn't imagine being on holiday without Sam, our dog, we bought a second-hand estate car and set off.

We had a vague plan to go down the middle of France, cross over into Spain. Go down the coast of Spain to Alicante, and visit some friends, those who couldn't come to our wedding, along the way.

Then the idea was to strike northwards to Asturias, back along the north coast, into France and northwards again stopping in Brittany, then back home

Date of event: 6/7/2025

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Off we go again, France & Spain here we come!
A great crossing, windy but fun. There were a few other dogs but not too many and they all got on reasonably well. <p>Being in the dog lounge was great. It didn't cost that much but as a benefit we got on the ship first, and off first. We had our own area and our own bit of deck. In short it worked out fine</p> <p>I fancied trying out the chunnel but Pips doesn't really like trains, and feels claustrophobic in tunnels. So, being on a train in a tunnel was always a big ask :-)</p>I'm a happy bee but dazzled by the sun, Sam's just wondering which paw to chewPips is just wondering if it'll be a good idea to cross the dog lounge and show Sam the deck... the moving deck that is.Pips' beautiful smileA winning combo: Happy Pips and PoochWindy I think, look at Sam's ears and whiskers
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Off we go again, France & Spain here we come!

A great crossing, windy but fun. There were a few other dogs but not too many and they all got on reasonably well.

Being in the dog lounge was great. It didn't cost that much but as a benefit we got on the ship first, and off first. We had our own area and our own bit of deck. In short it worked out fine

I fancied trying out the chunnel but Pips doesn't really like trains, and feels claustrophobic in tunnels. So, being on a train in a tunnel was always a big ask :-)

 

Our first French Hotel, in Armes de Champage, and onwards
Just arrived in France and hot-footed it to the Champagne district for our first hotel, in Armes De Champagne. Our hotel was a little outside of town, either that or there was no town, so there was very little to see and do; other than visit the cathedral or church you see in the picture. However, we were tired after our relatively long journey so being restricted to <em>only</em> eating, drinking, and playing with Sam in the garden was no hardship.Horror film momentA soup for me for a starter, it perhaps doesn't look much but it was very good.Carpaccio of Tuna was Pip's elegant and tasty entrée. Throughout the meal Pippa unerringly chose better than I.My main course was the conical shaped 'pie' you see and Pippa had chickenThis was the pudding we shared chocolate in various forms, mousse, ice-cream and chocolateRolling towards Cluny in the BorgogneThe rolling hills of Francejust rollingand rolling still
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Our first French Hotel, in Armes de Champage, and onwards

Just arrived in France and hot-footed it to the Champagne district for our first hotel, in Armes De Champagne. Our hotel was a little outside of town, either that or there was no town, so there was very little to see and do; other than visit the cathedral or church you see in the picture. However, we were tired after our relatively long journey so being restricted to only eating, drinking, and playing with Sam in the garden was no hardship.
Cluny (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)
OK, now we're off to Cluny where we're booked in at La Maison des Gardes. As you can see from the groaning breakfast table, it was a <b>wonderful</b> place. They have a huge garden with very tall mature trees. All the rooms are decorated beautifully with sensitive regard for the antiquity of the building. If I remember correctly it's been in the family for a number of generations. <p>In fact we very much liked Cluny overall, some great shops, old bars, antique shops, churches, an abbey, a river and parks. We're planning on going back.</p>Our bedroom for the night, we wished we'd booked more nights but because we'd booked the following night we couldn't change the booking. It would be the last time we booked in advance.This is the hallway to our dwelling for the night, it looks a little like a Vermeer paintingSuch wonderful wide open landscapesI'd been here before when cycling, it's the Château de la Clayettesuch a fairy-tale mixture of stylesI'm happy having my photo taken, but Sam wants to cross the road to get Pippa.Fairy tale conical roofs of the castle at La Clayette, such a lovely little town and amazing castle / chateau
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Cluny (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté)

OK, now we're off to Cluny where we're booked in at La Maison des Gardes. As you can see from the groaning breakfast table, it was a wonderful place. They have a huge garden with very tall mature trees. All the rooms are decorated beautifully with sensitive regard for the antiquity of the building. If I remember correctly it's been in the family for a number of generations.

In fact we very much liked Cluny overall, some great shops, old bars, antique shops, churches, an abbey, a river and parks. We're planning on going back.

Heading southwards towards Chalmazel
The far dish is Pippa's very good soufflé which, like my terrine, was accompanied by a lovely homemade mayonaise and a salad comprising julienne of celeriac with lettucea close up of the soufflé. If you notice the soufflé and my terrine had a bite out them, that was because our hunger took over from our desire to document.
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Heading southwards towards Chalmazel

Heading south to Chalmazel with lovely 11 o'clock stop in La Clayette, you've already seen the photos for that, and then a later lunch stop at 1.30. Click on the photo of the chateau to see our very tasty lunch at Saint-Étienne-le-Molard a little eatery off the beaten track called Ornella

 

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