Day four started with a little snafu over the motor coach not picking us up on time. So, our time in Santa Monica was cut a little short. We had time to see the ocean and take 
a quick walk to the pier but no time to linger. I could have spent an hour or more photographing at the pier.
Then we were off to the Getty Villa which features a collection of art fro
m the Greek and Roman era. The Villa itself is a work of art having been inspired by a villa partially excavated from the ashes of Mt. Vesuvius, not in Pompeii but nearby.
Our final day of exploring in Provence took us first to a village called Chateauneuf du Pape which is apparently famous for its wines. Th streets are lined with wine shops and tasting rooms. We made our way again up a narrow street to a wine cave near the top of the hill. Here we had a mid morning tasting. Bottles in the cave were marked from from about 25 euros to well over 100. I think they offered us the cheap stuff to ta
ste. It certainly didn’t appeal to me. And though they are supposedly famous for their reds, I found the white considerably more palatable. Needless to say, I didn’t buy any wine that morning. 
Back down the hill to lunch we were served a tomato stuffed with tuna salad and were commenting on what a lovely light lunch we had had for a change when the waiter came out with a plate of pork and pot
atoes. As much as I enjoyed the cooking in France it was nice to come home to my 1200 calorie a day diet after so many heavy meals. On the plus side, not a day went by when I didn’t get well over 10,000 steps!
and old. Of course, the fact that I was forbidden to take pictures of anything painted (i.e. the most interesting rooms) did not help.
On leaving Carcasonne we did not have too far to travel to our next stop in Narbonne, a pleasant village with Roman roots, an unfinished Cathedral, and a thriving indoor marketplace.
Next we made our way across the street to a Cathedral which was begun in 1272 and never completed so that it is lacking the impressive facade of most such structures but still sports flying buttresses and turrets, not to mention some 
newly cleaned and restored gargoyles. An organ dating from the 18th century is also an impressive feature.
My blogging was interrupted by a bad wifi connection at our last hotel in Arles. So, now I am trying to catch it up from home. Hard to believe that it has only been a week since we were strolling the streets of Carcasonne, a well preserved medieval city which was at its heyday in the 12th century with a population of nearly 3000 within the Cite walls. With th
e modernization of warfare and shifting geographic importance the site fell into decline by the 16th century but was restored by the architect Viollet Le Duc in the 19th century. The walled city is now a UNESCO world heritage site and the 5th most visited National Monument in France. But there are now only about 50 permanent residents as most of the homes have been turned into shops and restaurants.
morning we arrived at the gates of Carasonne just in time for lunch at a restaurant specializing in casoulet, a hearty stew of beans and a variety of meats and sausages. After dropping our backpacks at the hotel, we met our local guide for a walking tour which included the castle inside its own walls and a cathedral which seemed far too grand for such a small community.
ity and had a chance to walk once more around the outer walls, but we had to leave bright and early the next morning. I could easily have spent another day exploring this charming place.
We arrived in Bordeaux by high speed train and had to scurry to quickly find lunch on our own because the chef at the restaurant where we were supposed to eat had decided not to come back from holiday. 
informative but grueling. Bordeaux has an interesting history as a port city which has been around since Roman times and spent much of it’s life under English rule. Many of it’s 17th century structures feature arched windows which have faces on the keystones representing the diverse population of the city.
After a brief rest in our new hotel it was time to proceed back to the streets to make our way to dinner which didn’t end until close to 10pm. Not an unusual event in France.
wine making followed by a walking tour of the town and the Monolithic Cathedral. After lunch it was back on the bus and back to Bordeaux for some free time exploring the streets of the city on our own.
some of his many inventions. I haven’t gotten a photo processed of the house itself but I liked this shot of the bust of the man himself with some flowers.
r the women who owned and designed it. It is partially built over the river so the reflections are spectacular. I wasn’t expecting all the boaters but they added a nice touch.
was Chateau d’Azay le Rideau. We had a private guided tour and it wasn’t too crowded so lots more good pictures coming. I am trying to get this finished before breakfast which starts now so there is not much time to go into details.
modernization of the city in the late 1800s. Some buildings are more ornate than others and some have the flatiron style of angled intersections. But for the most part they have a similar look. It must have been an interesting time of building and redevelopment. It was explained to us that before elevators the choices apartments were on the ground and 1st floors. Widows lived on the 3rd and 4th floors and the cheap seats were near the top of the stairs. After elevators came along the higher floors became the realm of the rich.
Besides the Eiffel Tower we buzzed by the Louve, the Arc de Triumph, the Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame, the Musee Orsy and a few other landmark buildings and institutions located along the banks of the Seine.
as a light meal but it seemed like a full dinner to me. We had the most delicious fish I have ever eaten, spinach and a lovely sauce, no doubt loaded with butter. For dessert they brought out cream puffs loaded with ice cream and swimming in chocolate sauce. I don’t know how I am going to be able to start turning these deserts away.
Bottom line, I saw enough of Paris to be intrigued and want to come back. Someone suggested visiting in the winter to find the museums less overcrowded. Might have to give that a try.
