We packed up the caravan so efficiently yesterday, that we were on the road at 8.30 am this morning, after a quick petit dejeneur at the campsite restaurant. Fantastic.
The drive through Hyeres and Toulon, was an absolute breeze, and then onto the motorway to Marseilles. Still feeling very pleased with ourselves, we travelled under Marseilles, via the very long tunnel, and did not get lost when we emerged at the other end.
And so it contunued all the way to Rodez, mostly on minor roads too. And no sat nav either. I drove and Walter navigated using the map, just like in times gone past. Mind you the few times we ventured onto a motorway it was very busy due to changeover Saturday.
We stopped for coffee at a fairly grubby town called St Gilles, near Nimes. A town where the Saturday morning routine is to drink pastis in the many bars in the centre square. Or just to sit and wait, for a bus? None came along while we were there.
Still the coffee was good, and it was a pleasant place to sit and people watch, or car watch. No pastis for us though. Too early in the morning.
After St Gilles we stopped at an orchard to buy some apricots. It was either pick them yourself for €1 per kilo, or pay €1.50 a kilo for apricots that had already been picked. We chose the latter option, due to being short of time and being lazy.
Now we have 5 kilos of apricots, all ready to make into jam when we get home. Well we started with 5 kilos but a few have gone already. They are so juicy and full of flavour. Just too tempting.
Finally we arrived at the Millau Viaduct, a marvellous sight. I am always amazed at the mountain range here, as the gorges are very deep. Yet it would appear that the top of the moutains have been cut off, as there are plateaus along the top. No doubt the peaks have been eroded over time. A long time.
Then we turned off the motorway, onto a minor road, direction Rodez. Very picturesque and very little traffic.
The Cathedral, the largest in southern France, can be seen, towering above the surrounding buildings from outside the town. But nearly impossible to photograph close up. The start date for building the cathedral was the 13th century but in fact it took 300 years to build. A very imposing building.
Rodez is a town and commune in the Aveyron department. The town was settled by Celts (5th century), then Romans, then Visigoths, then Franks, then the Dukes of Aquitane and Toulouse. English troops occupied the town during the 100 years war. Finally the last Duke became King Henry IV of France and the town settled down as Rodez, during the medieval period.
Now it is a very pleasant town with excellent museums, plenty of art, and very old buildings, beautifully restored. And sadly a vehicle problem, cars everywhere and some very old and lovely squares converted into car parks. Some of the streets are for pedestrians only but mostly there are cars trying to whizz past.
A photo of me, blending in with the flowers on the wall. There are barriers on the other side of the narrow street, which offer pedestrians a bit of protection from the cars.
The very old and the very new. A 15th century building shelters a modern motorbike.
After a dinner of salads, very healthy, we drove back down the hill to our hotel, an Ibis Budget hotel. At €35 a night it is excellent value. It must be booked on line though, and you lose your money if you cancel.
The tower of the cathedral standing high above the houses.
Tomorrow there will be more to see in the area. Looking forward to it. Map to the ready, with me driving and Walter navigating, just like old times.
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