The last blog was sent from Mont Blanc. Up to that point we had been pretty disappointed with the area what with the rain and clouds. Just as I was publishing the blog Shane told me the clouds had lifted and that you could see the top of the mountain. So off we went to get our tickets for the last gondola straight up to the top. Actually you take one gondola... shuffle over to wait in line for the second one (all the time hoping the clouds don't come in again) then, when you think you are on top, there is an elevator to take.
Now this in one crazy destination! At 3807 meters above sea level you can imagine the feeling. It was cold and sunny. There were quite a few crazy ice / rock climbers up there for us to watch when we weren't gawking at the view. It is amazing the engineering that went in to providing public access to the area. There are tunnels through the mountain so you can access viewing platforms and even the elevator shaft. Can you imagine how that kind of idea would be received in Canada. You want to put an elevator where?? So people can what???   Now maybe if there were a Tim Hortons on the top, who knows?
Anyway it was a great view and a wonderful way to end our time in the high alps. We spent two nights in the area then headed off on a few more scenic passes before spending the night in Briancon.
The passes we took took us from France to Italy and back to France. There wasn't a cloud in the sky until we reached the N6 which was supposed to be the nicest. Perhaps it is, we'll never know. What we do know is that the roads we did see were beautiful and closely rivel the passes we took in Switzerland.
Briancon was not a planned destination. It was a spot on the map that looked like a good place to spend the night. We didn't know until after we checked in that it was he highest city in Europe and home to one of the most interesting fortresses we had seen yet. The pass must have been very important in order to justify all the rockwork! It helps if the country you're defending 80% rock. With no lack of building materials and as many enemies it is no wonder there are so many walls, castles and churches (you've got to have a place to pray for the outcome) in the area!
The town of Briancon is built on a steep hill (serfs in the valley....fortress on the hill). It is very quaint retaining a kind of Swiss feeling with French accents if that makes any sense. We stayed in a very old hotel that we found through Logis de France. On the whole they are pretty good but the next night... in St. Etienne, we stayed again at a Logis de France and were not at all impressed. Had to send a note to the management on that one. First bad experience here. The good news is that the next night, in the Loire Valley, we found a place for three nights that is quiet and comfortable (and there's a pool!).
Back to the journey. There really isn't much to tell about the trip from Briancon to the Loire. We went along the Rhone River which is industrial and not very pretty. We weren't there long before the road took us west through rolling hillsides to the flat planes of the Loire Valley. Miles and miles of cows, corn, wheat and, eventually, vineyards. 
Both of us are getting ready to go home. We have been to the Loire (almost three months ago) and are only keen to do a little sight seeing and a lot of resting.
Three nights in this quiet place (La Fleuray Hotel & Restaurant) is like going on a retreat before the last few days in Paris and the long trip home.
Spent some time seeing some of the country chateaus and a few small country villages. After that it was time to go for a swim, clean out the car and repack all our mess. I have a huge bag of brochures that will have to be recycled tomorrow... enough to fill a suitcase.
In three months we have seen so much. There is no one highlight for me ... a collection of memories that, like my fishing stories, will likely get better with time. What can I say... like fine wine we all get better with time!?
In case you are wondering about the title.... there are a lot of towns that you go through in a day, most of them are not easily remembered. On the rainy trip from Briancon to the Loire, however, there were two towns that I remembered because they were in English. We did go through Die but we took a detour around Nevers... hence:   Die? no Nevers!
Heh...cut me some slack ... I'm tired!
This may be my last blog before we return home. ..Unless I decide to visit McDonalds in Paris. Who knows.