French Trip, Day 3, Part 2
Aug. 15th, 2007 08:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wiseheartLeaving Thiers, we were to get a "surprise", according to our guide. It was Puy-de-Dome the tallest of 80 volcanoes scattered over some 40 kilometres in the Chaîne des Puys region of Massif Central in south-central France.
Puy-de-Dôme is located approximately 10 km away from Clermont-Ferrand, one of the oldest cities of France, which we passed wthout visiting it. I was quite unhappy about that, as the town is full of historic monuments, for which I'd have had more interest than some frigging volcanoes. But sadly, it was not my choice.
At least I can state that I've been to Mordor, too, right? And I paid €1 so that they'd let me climb Mount Doom - 1480 metres!
Nah, I'm being unfair here. It was a spectacular sight. It's my problem that I don't see much sense in climbing some big mountain, just so that I can look down and see how pretty the sight is below. Assuming I won't faint from agoraphobia, of course.
In any case, we survived te he mountain - sorry, no pics made there - and continued our way to Ussel, very cute little city - for which we barely had any time. We took a walk in the hanky-sized historic centre, saw he St. Martin church and bought some postcards. There were some prettier and older buildings a bit farther away, but we had no time... *sigh*
Now some prettiness from Ussel. Let start with a few pictures taken on the street:
My favourite motive: Mum with pretty fountain
And finally, two pictures of the St. Martin church:
Also, in Ussel we made the acquaintance of French cheesecake, which was to die for. After that, we went on to Périgeux - with the speed of an ailing snake. The hotel had warned our guide that trying to reach the town before 8 pm was hopeless, as the Tour de France was going that way - at that time, we didn't know yet what that meant and what it would cost us on the next day.
In any case, near Terrasson - another beautiful city that we didn't get to see, some 55 kilometres from Périgeux - we got into another traffic jam (not because of the TdF yet, it was a simple accident), and so it was made sure that we won't reach our hotel too early. And when we finally did, it was barely worth the effort.
Now, as I've already told you, French hotels for mass accommodation (and for 1 or 2 nights) are, as a rule, fairly shitty. I'm used to it, I've already stayed in a so-called Formula 1 hotel when coming back from London through France with the language school some years ago, but Mum had the shock of her life, poor dear. I must honestly admit that this Premiere Class hotel was a new low, even for me. But at least the breakfast was good and aplenty in the next morning.
There was also a little chapel opposite our hote, called St, Francis: very tiny, very modern, very simple. It relaxed the soul after too much adornment everywhere.
Next time: Périgeux and the horrors of the Tour de France. Keep tuned!
Puy-de-Dôme is located approximately 10 km away from Clermont-Ferrand, one of the oldest cities of France, which we passed wthout visiting it. I was quite unhappy about that, as the town is full of historic monuments, for which I'd have had more interest than some frigging volcanoes. But sadly, it was not my choice.
At least I can state that I've been to Mordor, too, right? And I paid €1 so that they'd let me climb Mount Doom - 1480 metres!
Nah, I'm being unfair here. It was a spectacular sight. It's my problem that I don't see much sense in climbing some big mountain, just so that I can look down and see how pretty the sight is below. Assuming I won't faint from agoraphobia, of course.
In any case, we survived te he mountain - sorry, no pics made there - and continued our way to Ussel, very cute little city - for which we barely had any time. We took a walk in the hanky-sized historic centre, saw he St. Martin church and bought some postcards. There were some prettier and older buildings a bit farther away, but we had no time... *sigh*
Now some prettiness from Ussel. Let start with a few pictures taken on the street:
My favourite motive: Mum with pretty fountain
And finally, two pictures of the St. Martin church:
Also, in Ussel we made the acquaintance of French cheesecake, which was to die for. After that, we went on to Périgeux - with the speed of an ailing snake. The hotel had warned our guide that trying to reach the town before 8 pm was hopeless, as the Tour de France was going that way - at that time, we didn't know yet what that meant and what it would cost us on the next day.
In any case, near Terrasson - another beautiful city that we didn't get to see, some 55 kilometres from Périgeux - we got into another traffic jam (not because of the TdF yet, it was a simple accident), and so it was made sure that we won't reach our hotel too early. And when we finally did, it was barely worth the effort.
Now, as I've already told you, French hotels for mass accommodation (and for 1 or 2 nights) are, as a rule, fairly shitty. I'm used to it, I've already stayed in a so-called Formula 1 hotel when coming back from London through France with the language school some years ago, but Mum had the shock of her life, poor dear. I must honestly admit that this Premiere Class hotel was a new low, even for me. But at least the breakfast was good and aplenty in the next morning.
There was also a little chapel opposite our hote, called St, Francis: very tiny, very modern, very simple. It relaxed the soul after too much adornment everywhere.
Next time: Périgeux and the horrors of the Tour de France. Keep tuned!
