Les-Baux-de-Provence

We made a scenic drive from our home base in Gordes through the valley of the Luberon yesterday, making stops for picture taking in Oppede and in Menerbes before continuing on to St. Remy for a lovely lunch where Jenean’s birthday was celebrated with a glass of Cremant and a sparkler presented in a slice […]

Today in Isle sur la Sorge, France

We visited the market in this small town today, a colorful event, crowded even in this early part of the tourist season. Finding a place to park is an exercise in extreme patience and perseverance. This town, and other market towns, would be smart to initiate a park and ride service. Oh well. You can’t […]

European Focus Private Tours Advantage #62

Bus tours race you through the country at a breakneck pace because they’re on a schedule. Bags out in front of your hotel room door at 6:30. Breakfast at 7. Departure at 8. Rush-rush-rush through the day, being led around like sheep with walkie talkies jammed into your ears. Exhaustion. No time for taking photographs […]

Postcard from Burgundy

On the road from Beaune to Vezeley I saw this charming old farm and I just had to make a U-turn and go back. When we parked in the farmyard and got out, this charming farmer (his name must be Pierre) came out and I was fast enough with the camera to catch this shot. […]

Chateau du Paquier an Unforgettable Experience in France

We had an opportunity on this long journey to stay a night at one of our favorite places in Europe. The Chateau du Paquier, dating from the 15th century and lovingly cared for and run by the Rossi family, stands in spacious gardens just outside the village of Saint Martin de-la-Cluze, high in the Alps […]

Meersburg Zum Baeren Hotel, Traditional Inn, Exceptional Service

We stayed a night in Meersburg on Lake Konstanz, southern Germany on our way south into France. Betty and Bob have stayed here before, in fact, they have stayed in Room 23, which was the very same room we arranged for them this time. It’s one of two oriel rooms overlooking the little square in […]

The Black Forest Goes Solar

Farms all through the low mountains of the Black Forest in southwestern Germany are installing solar panels to help cut down on their energy costs. The average homeowner gets about 30% of the cost back from the government. After seven years, the average homeowner has paid for the rest of the system and then can […]