Author Archives: AdrianC

Tuscan Travels

Posted on September 27, 2011 by AdrianC

We’ve been trying to hook up with a 2cv mate, Ryo, who moved from the UK to Northern Tuscany a few years ago – and, just as we were starting to think about moving on from Firenze, we received a … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Culture stuff, By Country - Italy, Travel stuff | 1 Comment

A van with a view

Posted on September 20, 2011 by AdrianC

In order to give our heads a little space before hitting Florence, we headed to the edge of the Appennine mountains, towards Parma and Modena, taking us into Emilia Romagna. Yet more fantastic mountain scenery – nothing, of course, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Culture stuff, By Country - Italy, Travel stuff | Leave a comment

Arrivederci, Francia – Bonjour, l’Italie

Posted on September 19, 2011 by AdrianC

After leaving Aix, we wound our way along yet more narrow mountain roads towards the gorges du verdon – described, perhaps slightly optimistically, as “Europe’s Grand Canyon”. Not quite sure they live up to that – what could? – but … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, By Country - Italy, Travel stuff | 1 Comment

Expectations versus Reality

Posted on September 8, 2011 by AdrianC

It’s been a most educational leg of the trip, to be honest. It’s not that we’re exactly neophytes at this lark – bimbling along, finding our night’s accommodation as the afternoon starts to turn into evening, and figuring out day-by-day … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, Personal stuff, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Cutting a swathe through Southern France

Posted on September 8, 2011 by AdrianC

So what have we been up to over the last week? I’ll keep this latest installment of the blow-by-blow travelogue fairly brief and factual – we’ve done too much and been too many places to do much other than split … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, Travel stuff | 1 Comment

Oradour – two personal reactions

Posted on August 27, 2011 by AdrianC

Adrian says… Now we’ve been there, what did we find? Well, the broad reality was everything we expected and more. It’s a ghost town, with a terrible story to tell. It does that – with the help of the visitor … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, Personal stuff | 11 Comments

Oradour-sur-Glane

Posted on August 27, 2011 by AdrianC

Early June, 1944. It’s the week after the Normandy Landings. The German Army are desperately trying to mobilise as many troops as possible, to reinforce those attempting and failing to quell the invasion. Troops across all of France, especially the … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, Personal stuff | 2 Comments

On the road again…

Posted on August 27, 2011 by AdrianC

After our extended pause, we’re glad to be back on the road again. We’ve spent a couple of days heading westwards, from John & Steve in the Correze towards Paul & Janice in the Charente. 2cv friends, their house was … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, Travel stuff, Van stuff | Leave a comment

Are we making your forecourt look untidy? (part 2)

Posted on August 15, 2011 by AdrianC

For part 1 of the saga, see this post… After the van was left at the VW dealer on Monday afternoon, awaiting “diagnosis” and attention, communication dried up somewhat. Throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, we called ADAC periodically – to be … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, Personal stuff, Van stuff | 3 Comments

Are we making your forecourt look untidy?

Posted on August 9, 2011 by AdrianC

We’re jumping a bit out of sequence in posting this now – the blog itself’s still about two weeks back – but we thought you might like to know about this. The van is currently hors-de-combat. We’ve already mentioned the … Continue reading →

Posted in By Country - France, Personal stuff, Van stuff | 11 Comments