PARIS August 7-12We left a very rainy, windswept Dublin very early and after the. Now familiar, delay (they always blame air traffic control) we arrived at Paris CDG about 10.30. First job is to get a travel pass. They have some quirky ways in Paris, with one pass (Orange) they try to keep for locals and is very cheap. Unfortunately, it runs from Mon-Sun and stops being sold for the current week on Wednesday midnight. Today was Thursday, the Orange was out so we ...

Aubais, France - 10-24 JulyJourney from Italy to France was our longest driving day but we took it easy and arrived in good time. The French Autoroutes are all toll charged but are of a very high quality. The house is really beautiful, set up in old provincial style, with old and antique furniture. It's right on a river, down a quiet lane - all very tranquil and picturesque. The local villages are so French, again with lots of narrow cobbled lanes and old boys in...