NewsletterAugust 2008

Mellow Yellow

I took the photo above during our bike ride the last weekend of July. We rode near the farm where my wife grew up, near Tournus in Southern Burgundy. Along the way we passed a few sunflower fields and I just had to take a photo! There was also a lovely sunset that night.

Summer Reading

I had the recent pleasure to discover a book written by an English expat living in the South of France. Her name is Amanda Lawrence and the book is White Stone Black Wine.
The book takes place in the Quercy (see Les Rossignols below for a B&B in the Quercy), an area of France I didn’t know about. White Stone Black Wine offers the trials and tribulations of an expat as she finds her way in France.
Along with local history, French-English interaction and at times misunderstandings, White Stone Black Wine, also offers insights into local cooking and specialties. If you’re an expat you’ll be able to relate to White Stone Black Wine. Not an expat but might be one, White Stone Black Wine, will give you an example of what to expect. None of the above? White Stone Black Wine makes for a good read.
What I found most interesting is that even if Amanda Lawrence does live in a different part of France than I do and comes from a different country, a lot of what she has lived is very much like my experience as an expat in France.
An example is the way the French eat. White Stone Black Wine goes into some detail about French eating habits. For example: very long drawn out meals that go on for what seems forever. But the food is so good and rich it’s impossible to get up either because of the quality or quantity of the food!

Barge Holidays and Short Breaks

In January 2007 I told you about barge holiday travel with Johanna Charters. John Wilson, who owns the Johanna, is now offering special low prices and weekend getaways for those who don’t have a week to spare. For more information please see - Barge Holiday with Johanna Charters.

www.myweekin.net

Frustrated by spending hours online each holiday period, former Public Relations consultant, Alison Wallace, decided to create a site that would bring together information about the 'better' establishments (be it the latest hotel, restaurant, shopping tips, things to do with kids) and allow travelers to create their own itinerary.
“I was looking for a project that would involve tourism,” says the creator, “so I became inspired to launch a free, one-stop holiday portal where the visitor can plan a complete holiday online. While the agenda facility is certainly attracting visitors, the challenge now is to keep the information updated, which involves reading the world’s press and liaising with the media departments of museums, galleries and attractions in the cities featured. The raison d’être of this venture is to take the strain out of holidays so that less time is spent researching what’s on where and more time is spent on just enjoying......fuelled with a little local knowledge."
www.myweekin.net is a free, online holiday planner facility.

This month’s Newsletter is brought to you by:

Les Rossignols: Is a beautiful old Quercy farmhouse built around 1840, near Assier, in the Lot, Midi-Pyrenees. Close to Figeac, the famous medieval riverside market town, there is much to do and see. Three bed and breakfast rooms are available, from a romantic double room with private roof terrace, to a family room for four. The top floor can be rented as a suite of two bedrooms to sleep six, with spa bathroom and sitting room. Close to the wonderful tourist sites of Rocamadour, St. Cirq-Lapopie, the prehistoric caves of Peche Merle, the Dordorgne, Lot and Célé river valleys there is plenty to do. Walk, explore or watch the wonderful birds and wild life, which ever way you can be sure of a fabulous holiday and warm welcome.