France (and London, Briefly)

[FlyingFiona]

I love the Eurostar. That said, I do not understand why they tell you to get there 90 mins before departure as it just means the tiny waiting area is absolutely packed. It was the same last year when we caught it to Paris.

This time I once again arrived at T-90, was through security and immigration in around 10 minutes, and then had to find somewhere to wait in this zoo…

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It did clear out a bit when they boarded the 8am Paris train and the 8:15 Amsterdam. I was on the 8:30.

I opted for Standard Premier this time, which was decent value booked quite far out. (No lounge access at STP, however, that’s only on the expensive full priced business fares). You do get much more space and a light meal served at seat.

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I’d been bumped from my original choice of Seat 61 (if you know, you know…) but my alternative seat was fine, in a little mini cabin at the front of car 14:

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We depart on time. 30 minutes or so later we are under the channel, and before you know it, Gare Du Nord.

Gads, I thought it was only 60mins - I'm travelling on it in July so good to know.

 

[MattA]

Gads, I thought it was only 60mins - I'm travelling on it in July so good to know.

Depends on your ticket type, but they say 90 mins for Std and Std Premier, as per: Checking in | Eurostar

But, I think you’d be fine at 60. Ticket gates don’t close until 30 mins before departure. There’s not much to do train-side: a pret, another food place, a small duty free and a lot of people/not enough seats…

 

[MattA]

From the Jardins it was about ~20 mins walk on to Gare Montparnasse. Grabbed a baguette and a coffee for lunch and boarded my TGV onwards to Bordeaux.

I’m in 1er classe, but that just means a bit more space with the seats in a 2-1 config (rather than 2-2). There’s no included catering.


Previous occupant has left me some reading material: a chance to brush up on my français.



And with that, we’re off…

 

[ellen10]

Luxembourg gardens, one of my favourite parks in Paris!
TGV travel is the best, so fast and comfortable.

 

[MattA]

Now, to the reason for my trip.

It’s dad’s 80th next Friday. Mum and dad, who live in the UK where I grew up, are having a few weeks here in France to celebrate.

They don’t know I’m coming.

My sister, who is my co-conspirator and secret agent on the ground helping to engineer the surprise, is here too and has fabricated an excuse to pop out for a couple of hours to collect me at Bordeaux St Jean. On the ~ 1 hour drive back to the gite where they’re all staying, we strategise on how we’re going to do the reveal.

Should I FaceTime and then knock on the door? Just pull up in the car and jump out? Should she drop me down the road and I’ll walk up after she’s arrived?

We also discuss whether they have any inkling that I’m on my way. There have been some near misses—duplicate birthday lunch bookings that had to be quietly adjusted, some white lies having to be told to ensure that the extra bedroom at the gite has been made up… Even today mum had apparently announced (and had to be dissuaded from) a plan to FaceTime me at lunchtime. “Oh we could put the ipad on the table and it’ll be like he’s here” she said, unaware that at that moment I was not in Melbourne but rather sitting on the TGV waiting to depart Paris.

But in the end it all works out. They are sitting out at the pool as we arrive and had no idea. I head through for the surprise to much hugging and tears…

 

[MattA]

After all the excitement of Saturday, we started Sunday morning at the markets in Issigeac, a charming little medieval Dordogne town.

 

[MattA]

Evening walk through the area around the gite where we’re staying.

 

[MattA]

Monday morning markets in Duras. Very quiet compared to when we were here last year in the high season…

 

[FlyingFiona]

Oh you're in le Lot! I love that area and will be spending some time there in July after a long absence.

 

[MattA]

Oh you're in le Lot! I love that area and will be spending some time there in July after a long absence.

We are indeed. Staying just out of Duras near the border between lot-et-garonne and la gironde. I was here last year too and it is a really beautiful spot. My sister has a holiday home in the area that she has been slowly renovating—not quite ready for us to stay there so we’re in a gite this time again, but I forsee many future return visits to the area…

 

[FlyingFiona]

We are indeed. Staying just out of Duras near the border between lot-et-garonne and la gironde. I was here last year too and it is a really beautiful spot. My sister has a holiday home in the area that she has been slowly renovating—not quite ready for us to stay there so we’re in a gite this time again, but I forsee many future return visits to the area…

Lucky you! I don't know that area really, I was based to the north east of the region in Gavaudun (where there is literally nothing other than 12th century ruins of a fortress, an old wash house, and a cafe.)

Looking forward to seeing more of your trip report!

 

[MattA]

A little morning wander around Bergerac.

 

[MattA]

Lunch midway back to the gite at Visit | Château de Fayolle

This rather excellent sharing platter at a very reasonable €16/head:





Beautiful spot too:

 

[Skyring]

Gosh. You have an eye for photography! Some glorious shots in the mix so far. Thank you.

 

[MattA]

Gosh. You have an eye for photography! Some glorious shots in the mix so far. Thank you.

Thanks. It’s not hard though when the sun is out and everything is so pretty!

 

[MattA]

Dinner at L’ardoise — Restaurant | L'ardoise | Saint-seurin-de-prats — a husband and wife run restaurant in the tiny town of Saint Seurin des Prats.



Gatelet de noix de saint jacques (scallop cake) to start:



Chicken:



Flambé strawberries to finish:



Really lovely food and great value I thought given the quality/presentation (€45/~A$75 for three courses).

 

[VPS]

Dinner at L’ardoise — Restaurant | L'ardoise | Saint-seurin-de-prats — a husband and wife run restaurant in the tiny town of Saint Seurin des Prats.

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Gatelet de noix de saint jacques (scallop cake) to start:

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Chicken:

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Flambé strawberries to finish:

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Really lovely food and great value I thought given the quality/presentation (€45/~A$75 for three courses).

great food and value and those roses

 

[ellen10]

Wow love the food pictures.
The French present their food so beautifully.

And what a lovely surprise for your parents. Very special.

 

[MattA]

Another day, another idyllic medieval town with a market.

We’re in Eymet this morning. When we visited last year it was festooned with flowery bunting, as there was a festival on, but this time, it’s just the market.








Eymet is known for being home to a sizeable British population (although apparently somewhat less so post-Brexit). Entertained ourselves during our morning café crème trying to decipher the names on this early 2000s era signed coughnal shirt on the wall of the café.



It would have been a team with a strong French connection (Henri, Pirès, Vieira, Wenger…) Couldn’t get any of them. Maybe they just got the reserve team to scribble on it a bit?

 

[MattA]

Another afternoon walk around the gite where we’re staying. This time to the tiny nearby town of Baleyssagues, which consists of a church, town hall and a football pitch.