Arcachon

As many of you may have heard Dennis became very ill in Bordeaux Friday. Was taken by squad to the emergency room at the University of Bordeaux Hospital. Was eventually diagnosed with Vestibular Neuritis (thought to be some sort of viral illness).

http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/unilat/vneurit.html

Was in hospital for 4 days and released yesterday. Excellent care and a surprising amount of English spoken by the medical staff although I surely could have used my French Canadian friends along on this trip! He is not allowed to travel until Friday so we have extended our trip by 3 days and are thankful we have medivac insurance! They are sending him (and me as his escort) home first class because he must be reclining.

We are glad we lit candles all over Southwest France and visited Lourdes or his outcome may not have been so positive!

While he does his R&R in the cottage here in Arcachon I thought I'd catch up on some of the travel blogs I didn't do before he got sick. Our friends Bob & Joan, who went home as scheduled yesterday, did a house swap for this cottage and the owners were very gracious in letting us extend.

The sand scuptures here are totally different than in PV. much smaller but using color and a different effect entirely.



















At home in the cottage. It rained most of the day. We just watched "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" complete with an almost perfect French Regis look-alike! Trying to figure out the questions in French.




¡Pase un buen día!-- Post From My iPhone

Gavirnie and the Pyrenees

After Lourdes we decided we didnt want to miss the Pyrenees National Park. It is only 35 miles away. Only. It is up and around the mountains and took two hours up! Although only one hour down. The view was so spectacular in Gavirnie we thought it well worth it.



On the way up we saw a gorgeous and fast moving rapids.
I have a video of it but not sure if I can load it from my iPhone. We found it because Dennis couldn't wait for a WC.....we pulled off so he could do his thing, not knowing this stream was there. Meanwhile before he could finish a tour bus pulled over coming from the opposite direction to point out the rapids and ended up pointing out Dennis instead! They all waved. ;).




¡Pase un buen día!-- Post From
My iPhone

Lourdes

A beautiful, quaint town set against the backdrop of the Pyrenees mountains, very close to Spain. Of course the story of St. Bernadette is one those of us raised Catholic know well. Suffice to say millions believe and visit annually. They come in wheel chairs and on litters hoping to be among those who claim cures.








We lit candles and Joan led a special intercession to Our Lady where we included all of you in our prayers. :). People touch the stone, let the dripping of water from the cave touch them and light candles. You also can take the healing water from the stream.


¡Pase un buen día!-- Post From My iPhone

Albi

Outside Toulouse in Albi is the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum. Really a great collection. We stayed in a darling Fodor recommended hotel. The George Cinq. Inexpensive with the largest bed I've ever slept in for €60. ;) the dinner in the Clos St Cecile was equally inexpensive and fabulous. The church has the largest pipe organ in ??? Europe or France. Not sure.









¡Pase un buen día!-- Post From My iPhone

Poppy fields

The Dordogne valley is breathtaking!

Leaving Rocamadour we saw amazing poppy fields! Got a little crazy, started sing "rocamadour (aka my soul) in the bosom of Abraham. ;). You had to be there....





¡Pase un buen día!-- Post From
My iPhone

Rocamadour

Unbelievable village built on the face of a rock mountain built beginning in the 1100's.
















There are offerings of bread at the altar.

¡Pase un buen día!--

Post From My iPhone

Chateau du Milandes

Yesterday afternoon we had another wine and cheese picnic along the banks of the Dordogne River and drove a quiet road through the Dordogne Valley. The enormous castle overlooking Begnac dominates the landscape for miles around. Unfortunately all of the fabulous pictures I took
are on my regular camera. :(

We toured Josephine Baker's chateau in Castle-naud. What a great find. Memorabilia and pictures from her interesting life.




This is sunset at Rocamadour. It is difficult to see but it is a castle and Medievil village built on the face of a rock mountain. Sorry, the pictures on my iPhone don't do it justice.