A short October bimble in France - we have arrived!

[deleted79651]

Yesterday we left Gruissan and headed for St Rémy de Provence. Every time we try Maps app with ‘no motorways’ we say never again. St Rémy seems much busier … tomorrow we will venture out on bikes and visit Glanum but, for now, a few snaps of the town. View attachment 549215View attachment 549209View attachment 549210View attachment 549216View attachment 549212View attachment 549213

Your penultimate photo looks like a Frog, which is perhaps apposite for a French location! Lovely photos, especially when viewed from a very cold and wet Kingdom of Fife!

Steve

 

[sylvester1954]

We have done 1300 miles in France and Spain in the last 2 weeks and seen 4 Brits in the whole trip!


( Dozens of NL though)

Likewise, we've drifted along the north coast of France for just over 4 weeks now... we've only come across 5 UK vans so far, plenty of French, German, Belgian of course.

 

[Grianan]

Final day in the warmth … tomorrow we start heading north in preparation for our return on Saturday and the temperature drops rapidly with incoming cold/wet fronts.

Today was a cycle ride through the olive groves at the foot of the Alpilles, ending up with a visit to the Roman ruins at Glanum.

 

[n8ess]

Great photo‘s, thanks for sharing, you have just confirmed my reasons to take the plunge and purchase my first motorhome, l keep putting it off for one reason or another but l really need to make the jump.

 

[P Jones]

Last night we went for a late night walk … that was interesting. As we walked up one of the quays an 80s Bentley on factory number plates drove up, quickly offloaded 3 merry folk and drove off at high doors. 5 minutes late thé gendarmes paid a visit …
As we returned to the van I caught movement in the sky. My initial thought was a shooting star but the giant feathery wings suggested a firebird. It was a flamingo illuminated by the lights of the port. I didn’t realise they flew at night, by preference.
On today’s cycle ride around the étang we saw Great Cormorants, coots, egret, grey heron and flamingos - some must have been young as they were white. View attachment 548095View attachment 548096View attachment 548097

truly beautiful thanks ok.pj. keep up the good work.

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[steve69]

Now you have been in France a few days, would you say the Covid restrictions there are noticeably better or worse than here in the UK?
Is everyone still wearing masks?
Are you having to show any Covid/vaccine passports?
Have you experienced any inconveniences at all, or is life going on as if nothing has happened.
just curious.

 

[bigtree]

Love St Remy de Provence, we stay at Parc de la Bastide which is ACSI. Was it Mas de Nicolas you stayed ?

 

[Grianan]

Now you have been in France a few days, would you say the Covid restrictions there are noticeably better or worse than here in the UK?
Is everyone still wearing masks?
Are you having to show any Covid/vaccine passports?
Have you experienced any inconveniences at all, or is life going on as if nothing has happened.
just curious.

Steve, for us it feels pretty much like Scotland except that everyone follows the rules and they don’t pretend they’re exempt! Mask wearing in all shops/indoor spaces and in crowded outdoor spaces like markets. Warning about fines is evident.
We have been asked for our pass at every restaurant/terrasse and museum. Our TousantiCovid pasd sanitaire has worked all but once.
To be honest it feels safer than at home
Not least because it’s warm enough to sit outside for coffee!

 

[Grianan]

Love St Remy de Provence, we stay at Parc de la Bastide which is ACSI. Was it Mas de Nicolas you stayed ?

Yes, not ACSI sadly!

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

Never been to France yet, had hoped to dip our toes there this year but Covid put paid to that.
Can you get by without speaking French? I'm trying to learn a bit which I'm sure they would appreciate but having tried that years ago with Spanish I ended up in a taxi with a driver whom I couldn't communicate with. My Spanish was crap and his English was non-existent

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[Grianan]

Never been to France yet, had hoped to dip our toes there this year but Covid put paid to that.
Can you get by without speaking French? I'm trying to learn a bit which I'm sure they would appreciate but having tried that years ago with Spanish I ended up in a taxi with a driver whom I couldn't communicate with. My Spanish was crap and his English was non-existent

My French is ok so my answer will be a bit skewed. Most places people have tried to speak English. It then lapsed i to French when they realise I can speak it. I think they really appreciate the effort so if you’re learning it will help.
The year before last we went to Germany and there were many fewer English speakers than I expected. Prompted me to start on duo lingo!

 

[bigtree]

Yes, not ACSI sadly!

That’s where we used to stay but they kept putting the price up plus not maintaining some of their leisure facilities, it’s a nice stroll from there into town.

 

[Just smiffy]

Never been to France yet, had hoped to dip our toes there this year but Covid put paid to that.
Can you get by without speaking French? I'm trying to learn a bit which I'm sure they would appreciate but having tried that years ago with Spanish I ended up in a taxi with a driver whom I couldn't communicate with. My Spanish was crap and his English was non-existent

The most important thing is your first word to anyone is Bonjour, that will get you going… anything after that will be a bonus for them but you’ll find they will want to speak English so they can practice…

 

[chaser]

Yes, although I have a bit of an advantage with Julie being pretty much fluent and can back me up, I can get by pretty well not knowng much more than a dozen words, in shops and bars and things you will always find someone who is dying to try their English out translating for you even if you can't quite get through to the person you are talking to.

 

[FIDGET]

As Smiffy says , a few polite phrase's (as in english politeness gets you by) Bonjour Monsieur or Madame , merci beaucoup, S'il vous plait , au revoir , also un ,deux , trois
I speak very little french , my better half Ann gets by with those basic phrases . In most local shops pointing & gestures helps as well , always greet them with Bonjour & thank them afterwards .

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[Wee Bold Davy]

I've got this girl teaching me

 

[steve69]

As Smiffy says , a few polite phrase's (as in english politeness gets you by) Bonjour Monsieur or Madame , merci beaucoup, S'il vous plait , au revoir , also un ,deux , trois
I speak very little french , my better half Ann gets by with those basic phrases . In most local shops pointing & gestures helps as well , always greet them with Bonjour & thank them afterwards .

It's the numbers that bamboozle you. Try saying 99 off the top of your head in French. Just like the UK, it's often used in France too for pricing things.

 

[chaser]

As Smiffy says , a few polite phrase's (as in english politeness gets you by) Bonjour Monsieur or Madame , merci beaucoup, S'il vous plait , au revoir , also un ,deux , trois
I speak very little french , my better half Ann gets by with those basic phrases . In most local shops pointing & gestures helps as well , always greet them with Bonjour & thank them afterwards .

That's the ones,

 

[chaser]

When it comes down to it, the normal run of the mill french are no different than us, if they want to sell you something they will mostly go out of their way to get through to you, as long as it isn't dinner time

 

[spitfire]

It's the numbers that bamboozle you. Try saying 99 off the top of your head in French. Just like the UK, it's often used in France too for pricing things.

Quatre vingt dix neuf

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[Grianan]

Here you go …

Vin rouge / blanc / rose
Bière
Baguette (un pain is a big one )
Pain au chocolat / Chocolatine
Pain aux raisins
Croissant
Glace (ice cream)

You don’t really need numbers any more as you can ‘tap’

 

[Grianan]

So today we are slowly working our way north. Didn’t expect it to be so hot here! Visited the beautiful town of Moissac (staying at the aire) and rode a little way down the canal, retracing our route of several years ago … it’s even more beautiful in autumn. Tomorrow we will attempt to dodge the rain further north.

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

Here you go …

Vin rouge / blanc / rose
Bière
Baguette (un pain is a big one )
Pain au chocolat / Chocolatine
Pain aux raisins
Croissant
Glace (ice cream)

You don’t really need numbers any more as you can ‘tap’

Whoa.... Slow down a bit, I'm from Glasgow and still trying to get to grips with English!

 

[Grianan]

Whoa.... Slow down a bit, I'm from Glasgow and still trying to get to grips with English!

Ha ha so am I. Well South Ayrshire but definitely west coast so started with the booze

 

[P Jones]

So today we are slowly working our way north. Didn’t expect it to be so hot here! Visited the beautiful town of Moissac (staying at the aire) and rode a little way down the canal, retracing our route of several years ago … it’s even more beautiful in autumn. Tomorrow we will attempt to dodge the rain further north.View attachment 549727View attachment 549728View attachment 549729View attachment 549730View attachment 549731View attachment 549732View attachment 549733View attachment 549734

merci monsieur griana please speak more slowly. thanks they were great. ok pj

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[Clarky]

We like Moissac too.
Smashing aire and the little gate at the back takes you out to the canal and a nice walk into town.

Richard.

 

[P Jones]

We like Moissac too.
Smashing aire and the little gate at the back takes you out to the canal and a nice walk into town.

Richard.

thank you. please keep sending you aires. ok pj. stay safe.

 

[steve69]

Quatre vingt dix neuf

Exactly - that translates as four twenties nineteen, as opposed to a simple ninety nine. It just gets harder after soixante neuf.

 

[yodeli]

Exactly - that translates as four twenties nineteen, as opposed to a simple ninety nine. It just gets harder after soixante neuf.

Bof.... moi j'ai pas de souci! Il est où le problème ??? Soixante dix huit est pas mal aussi ! On fait des exercices ???

 

[the knobs]

We have done 1300 miles in France and Spain in the last 2 weeks and seen 4 Brits in the whole trip!


( Dozens of NL though)

How's retirement?

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