Sunday, September 24, 2023 - Arles, France

 Time to do some catching up.  In Heidelberg we turned in the GS for shipping to Florida and picked up a rental car.  After leaving Heidelberg in the rental car we drove to Dijon, France, where the mustard comes from.  We stayed there 2 nights.  Our son Sam and his girlfriend Miranda stayed there a couple of days when they came to visit us in Switzerland and they loved Dijon so we decided to check it out. It was a long drive.

You have heard the saying that your attitude affects your perception.  Well, our attitude when we pulled into Dijon was tired, grumpy, hungry and looking for a place to stay (we had not made reservations ahead of time because we weren't sure how far we would drive).  We drove into the Dijon old town, which reminded me of what I have read about Hemingway living in the Left Bank in Paris - run down, a little dirty and a Bohemian lifestyle - not bad, in fact it was kind of fun and interesting, just not what we were expecting. After finding a hotel the dinner we had was not very good and our room was very small.  It was not a favorable first impression.

After a fairly decent night's sleep, breakfast and coffee, we headed downtown.  We trusted Sam and Miranda's positive impression of Dijon so I did a little investigation finding where the historic town square was and drove there from our hotel.  It was like an entirely new town and experience presented itself.  The town square and area around it is beautiful.  There are historic public buildings, museums, restaurants and shops.  We were blown away and really enjoyed ourselves.  It just goes to show how our attitudes and fatigue influenced our perceptions.  After resting up and investigating a little, we saw a whole new city and had a great time.  

The next day we drove to Valence, stayed one night and then drove to Arles, France where we will be staying in a Vrbo for 10 nights.  We pick up our friend Sheila tomorrow at the Montpellier airport and she stays in the 2nd bedroom at our Vrbo for a week.

Gargoyle statues on a building in Dijon

A jewelry-like display of chocolate mushrooms

Sooz walking the streets of Dijon

Palace of the Dukes in downtown Dijon

Dijon

Dijon

Sooz walking the streets of Arles, France

We arrived in Arles Friday and Sooz found out there was a huge market Saturday morning just a block away from where we are staying selling everything from fresh spices, to clothing, fresh produce, cheese and electronics

Typical street front in Arles

Arles

On our way to Arles, Sooz took this picture of, what I later found out is, the Confluence Museum in Lyon, France, an example of deconstructivist architecture 

Rooftop terrace of our place in Arles

Our place in Arles is over 300 years old and was recently renovated by the owner

Our place in Arles

 

Another market picture from Arles

Our purchases from the market

Me, contemplating my navel, on our rooftop in Arles

September 18, 2023 - Heidelberg, Germany

 Today was a big day.  We dropped off the GS motorcycle at Stefan Knopf's place in Heidelberg to be shipped back to Orlando, arriving in early December.  It is with mixed feelings.  On the one hand, we have lived off the bike since picking it up May 3, 2023, 14 countries, 4.5 months and over 7,500 miles ago.  I had it serviced once.  Other than that, I just put gas in it and regularly checked and adjusted tire pressure.  It has run and operated flawlessly.  

On the other hand, Sooz and I will not miss loading and unloading the luggage and gear on and off the bike, wearing motorcycle gear while doing touristy stuff and being exposed for hours in uncomfortable weather.  It has worn us out. 

However, we are very happy and grateful to have experienced Europe and the UK on the GS.  It has been a wonderful adventure and the motorcycle enhanced the adventure and experience.  We have tasted, smelled, felt and seen every single mile.  It is a great way to be exposed to the culture and environment.  People naturally come up to us wanting to learn if we are really from Florida and learn more about us and our trip.  We use those opportunities to learn more about them and their country.  The motorcycle has added another level to the trip that we won't have in the car, but we need the change.

We rented a car and will use it until we fly back to Florida on October 18, 2023.  We are really looking forward to see Sheila, a good friend from Gainesville.  She flies into Montpelier, France in a week and we will pick her up at the airport and spend a week in southern France before heading back to Frankfurt and flying home.

Getting ready to load onto LeShuttle, formerly known as the Eurotunnel

Entering the motorcycle train car

Sooz, in the motorcycle train car with the GS.  We didn't have to strap down the bike.  We rode in the car with the bike, without seats - it only took 35 minutes to cross under the English Channel from England to Calais, France.

A Pet Lounge at the English side of LeShuttle terminal

To exit the train, we waited for the cars to start moving and then rode the bike out.

Getting ready to exit the train

Welcome to France

This was our room at the Hotel Eden in Bethune, France. 

The GS posted up just outside our room at Hotel Eden in Bethune.  Sooz met and we had a great conversation with Jackie from Sarasota.  Hello Jackie!

Delicious French pizza

The town square in Bethune - it is a beautiful town with a lot of French charm.  

The old town streets of Heidelberg, Germany.  We have really enjoyed ourselves here and could spend more time getting to know it better after getting rested up.  Maybe next time.

Heidelberg with the Heidelberg Castle in the background

Looking down at the Neckar River in Heidelberg

Sooz getting ready to enter the Old Bridge over the Neckar River

I am prepping the GS for its voyage back to Orlando.

September 14, 2023 - Canterbury, England

 Yesterday we walked around Canterbury and toured the Canterbury Cathedral.  

We were surprised at how large and developed the old town area is.  There are a lot of shops, offices and restaurants with what looked like a mix of locals and tourists.  We are staying in an Airbnb that is right downtown making the walk to old town easy.  

The Cathedral is incredible with high ceilings and ancient construction.  Founded in 597, the cathedral was completely rebuilt between 1070 and 1077.  

Tomorrow we will take LeShuttle (new name for the Eurotunnel) crossing the English Channel and exiting in Calais, France.  

This massive scone, clotted cream and jam was my breakfast yesterday

Sooz had a nice piece of coffee and walnut cake with clotted cream

The Chapter House at the Canterbury Cathedral can be rented for events

The stained glass windows in the chapter-house

This plaque commemorating Thomas Becket, the archbishop who was murdered in the cathedral in 1170  following an order of King Henry II

A statue outside the Cathedral

Part of the Canterbury Cathedral being refurbished

The temporary entrance to the Cathedral

Looking from the front of the Nave towards the entrance

Within the Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral looking up to the top of one of 5 towers over 200 feet tall

One of largest stained glass windows with Queen Victoria in the lower right corner

Looking into the Crypt where no pictures were allowed

Sooz, very impressed by the ceiling of the Chapter House

Sooz feeling very tall

Cathedral Cloisters

The incredible main part of the Cathedral.  Wikipedia says the ceiling is 80 feet high, but it seems higher than that.

A section of Canterbury old town area

Our Airbnb is to the right of the GS and a pub is on left side of this picture