European Vacation 2008

On Saturday, 18.May, we drove about 450 km from Rocamadour in southern France to “Mama’s” in Empuriabrava on the northern Meditarian coast in Spain (Costa Brava). We used the fast A roads via Toulouse, Carcassonnne and Narbonne and only go back onto local “N” roads after Perpignan to go along the spectacular coastal road via Port Vendres, Banyuls-sur-Mer into Spain and on to Llanca and finally to Empuriabrava.

The 5 nights (4 days) were spent mainly with family and eating home cooked meals as one would when visiting “Mama” . We needed to update the TV (with a new 26″ flat screen) as the old one had just died the day before our arrival, as well as the Laptop with another second hand unit (only is used for family eMails by Mama – who is after all 87 this year).

We did manage to go back to Ca La Maria for Lunch before we left. As on previous visits we had an excellent traditional Spanish meal – including Pigs Trotters, Pigeon, Leg of Kid (Goat) and of course the famous local Anchovies.

Leaving Mama and her trusted little dog companion “Teddy” was not easy as usual.

On Thursday 15. May we set off from Saint Remy on the long journey to Rocamadour. As expected the trip was through the hills between Nimes and Milau was slow going. We again used a short section on the A75 to pass over the valley of Milau via the impressive Viduct which marked the half way point of the days travel. After this it was back to ‘N’ roads via Rodez towards Rocamadour.

This is the 4th time Jacqui & Hans (3rd for Jim) have been to this Cite Medieval built against the rock of a deep valley. The Grand Hotel Beau Site [ www.bestwestern-beausite.com ] and it’s Restaurant Jehan De Valon has seen us celebrate a number birthdays – this time it is Jacqui’s 50s (and she’s not too happy about this one ). We always stay in our favourite suite ’22′ on the second floor of the old building [comprising a good size bedroom and a seperate small sitting room.  The bedroom is overlooking the narrow single lane main street and the bistro court yard with the valley beyond.

On Jacqui’s Birthday we took the car south to the wine district of Cahor, and followed the “Le Lot” river first west along the southern bank and after reaching Puy-l’Eveque we returned east towards Cahor on the other side (northern bank) – unfortunately the weather was not on our side and by about the half way mark the rain had really settled in. Sadly for us – but without it this region well known for it’s rich wine, Walnut and Safron would be able to produce it’s goods.

In the evening we enjoyed one of the splendid meals “Jahan De Valon” is famous for – see our seperate report under the food category.

The last day (Sat 17.May) in Rocamadour was devoted to shopping in the small shops lining the cobble stone single lane street of this village as well as visiting one of the many Foi Gras producers of the region to get Jacqui’s “fix” of this godly delight for the next couple of days :-)

We have arrived in Saint Remy at the same place we have stayed at on our two previous visits to the small famous (think Vincent von Gogh) town in the Provence area in southern France. The Hotel Villa Glanum [ www.villaglanum.com ] is a group of small cottage style rooms in an L shape formation with Olive trees in main court yard area. Some of the rooms face the large swimming pool – and we always have so far been lucky enough to be able to stay in a couple of those rooms facing south. Privacy is made possible by hedges and lot’s of bushes and flowering plants. Originally it was only a Bed and Breakfast place (this time the dining room also offers a small menu of basic very good french cuisine. We are pleased to report that the place has undergone some improvements in all areas since the new proprietors took over some 3 years ago. (the original owner passed away just two days before our stay 4 years ago)

We took the first day of our stay and visited the old roman aquaduct site at Pont-du-Gard. [Something I have been meaning to do for some time ]. It is a very impressive monument from the roman days and the current presentation and support site has been developed extremly well by the appropriate Authority.
It is a tourist attraction well worth the visit – there is no entrance fee, instead a high parking fee is charged. The support building complex has a small cinema and an excellent historical display as well as a good selection of the usual tourism geared services.

On our way back to our hotel we stopped over in Beaucaire – enjoyed a walk along the large boat harbour with many specially build / modified barges and modern “house boats” to enjoy the french canal system. The town is supplying good mouring and repair facilities for these new age boating community. We enjoyed and excellent lunch at the La Marine Brasserie (see seperate entry under Food Reports).

Hertz had our reservation for a vehicle from Mestre – I made sure of this the day after we arrived in Mestre – Thursday 08.May.

When I went to pick up the car on Saturday 10.May morning – as arranged at 08:30 – it turned out that the car I had requested (Ford Mondeo Station Wagon) was in fact not available and I was handed the keys for C220 Mercedes Station Wagon (the arrange price was still the same – including a Return “Drop” fee of 735 EUR. This is charged when you take a car out of one country and they have to return the car to the originl country of pick-up. Obviously I was expecting an Italian licenced vehicle (in the normal Hertz standard clean condition) and I would drop the car in Nimes (France) on 12.May in the afternoon.

To my surprise I found the car to be dirty – ie NOT cleaned at all after the last hire – outside with dead insects all over the grill, panels, mirrors and windscreen and “dirt road” dust and water marks all over the rear of the car – and inside we (Jacqui) found old chewing gum and some what appears to wire from a bra on the floor on the passenger side. And as if this was not enough of an insult – I discovered the vehicle was in fact registered in France and I was taking the car back to France for Hertz – ….. I have obviously taken photographs of all the outside of the car.

QUESTION: Why should I pay a “Drop” (one way) fee of 735 EUR for a vehicle that we are taking back to it’s country of origin for the Hertz company ? – Obviously the last person who hired the car and left it in Italy (Mestre) has also been charged a “Drop” fee for the vehicle to be returned to the place he picked it up from.
I call that “double dipping” – Note: Obviously I also paid for the hire of the vehicle for 3 days – 10, 11 & 12. May as I did not return it before 08:30 on the 12. in Nimes.

We will follow this up on our return
NOTE: You can not get any response from the desk of a Hertz branch about your hire if you do not drop it back to the same place where you picked it up – certainly never if their are two countries involved!
Hertz FR is NOT able (or willing) to give (or offer) any help about the actions of Hertz IT.

I do wonder how HERTZ head office feels about this (?)

PS – The requested Renault Scenic was not available in Nimes either and we had to settle on an Opel Zafira 1.7l Diesel – which will only just serve our requirements for the rest of the trip.
And once again the usual spotless condition is not as expected. And I had to take a photo of a bad scretch on the Driver’s Door.

Venice / Venezia : Everybody who does any travel should see it – obviously!
However it’s not a place we would come and visit a second time. It’s not our kind of enjoyment, as we really do not enjoy too many people and big crowds. And it goes without saying – Venice is one of those places that attracts large crowds and many of these in large groups.

We did all the usual tourist bits one must do – a trip in a Gondula, Waterbus from the Railway station to the Piazza S. Marco and later a round tour including the island of Murano (famous for it’s glass). We did our walks through the narrow streets – window shopping, visited the local markets at Rialto and of course (one of the main reasons Jim wanted to come here) visited “Harry’s Bar”. The last could only be achieved on the second day as we (actually Jacqui was told) were not allowed in the establishment in our shorts – Jim & Hans that was. So on the second day we had our long pants on and were allowed in to order their expensive drinks.  Cost: 42 EUR (=~AU$ 67) for one cup of coffee and 2 “bellinis” (small glasses of sparkling italian wine with a dash of fruit juice) which this place is “famous” for. We were not the only ‘suckers’ – it seems they don’t have to do much else and as to standard of dress – well as long as men have long pants on it doesn’t matter about anything else ….. they quite happy to take anybody’s money.

But this establishment steeped in history isn’t the only one robbin’ you of your Euros. A trip taking 15 minutes from S.Marco to the Railway Station along the Grand Canal (3 people) sets you back 90 EUR. The cheapest cup of coffee I bought in Venice was 4.50EUR in a small backstreet cafe in Rialto

- BUT we had a great time and it was well worth the once of visit.

PS – You are not allowed to feed the pigeons – but there is a special photographer who will take your money for a picture with you feeding the pigeons on S.Marco Square.

We did wish somebody somewhere had told us about internal EU flights – like the one we booked online with BA from London Gatwick to Venice Marco Polo – only allowing one suitcase per person into the hold and only one into the cabin (plus a Laptop and a hand bag).

We had to repack our suitcases at the airport.
We were VERY lucky to get an extremely helpfull service manageress – A lovely Irish lady – who helped us with selecting our cabin cases and than we repacked all our “sharp” and liquid items so that none were carried on board. The cabin items are allowed to be a lot bigger than we would ever get at the International in Perth [which is not allowing much into cabins at all ;-( ]

After that the flight to Venice was easy and over in a flash – just enough time for a coffee and two sandwiches supplied as in-flight meals

We had some wait (long line of passengers) before getting a taxi to our Hotel for the next 3 nights in Mestre. 30 EUR was not cheap – but than we found out nothing is cheap in Venice …… (except the water busses when there isn’t a strike and you only can get to some stations).

We have survived the long flying stage from Perth to Hong Kong and after a brief period in transit on to London Heathrow airport.

The 8 hours stage from Perth to Hong Kong (departure 15min past midnight from PER – arrival 08:00 in HKG) must go down as one of the most uncomfortable flights we have been on for many years. The aircraft should have been taken out of service a long time ago. The Business Class area seating reminded me of “cattle class” on a Qantas flight I was on in 1994. OK – Anybody who knows me will agree that it is not easy finding seating for me that is comfortable – I am 2m tall and built like a “BSH”. That is one reason we do spend the considerable extra money on Business Class. I also make sure I have a seat in the front row so that I have that little extra leg room.
NONE of this was of any use in this aircraft.
But we were told by another frequent flying traveller that this airline (Cathay Pacific) is not the only one (he mentioned our own National carrier doing the same thing) who will put clients travelling this route (Perth to Hong Kong) into this out of date accommodation during a night flight where one expects to have some possible sleep time …… definately not possible on this flight !!

On a positive note: The cabin staff was most helpfull and attentive and even apologetic ….

The next stage to London was much more up to date with the modern business style seats etc. We got some good sleep at last and landed on time (4pm) at LHR. – The taxi driver gladly took my Google Map print out to get us for a fee of 65 pounds to our hotel in Windsor – where the familiar friendly staff made us feel at home. A couple of drinks and some food at the local corner pub before hiiting the pillows for a good nights sleep.

…… end of day 1 – 03.May 2008

All bookings have been confirmed and we have the e-tickets for our flights

• Perth – Hong Kong
• Hong Kong – London
• London – Venice
• Amsterdam – Hong Kong
• Hong Kong – Perth

The Car Hire has been done online with Hertz

• A Ford Mondeo Wagon from Mestre (Venice) to Nimes
• At Nimes we will hand back the expensive Ford and take delivery of a Renault Scenic for the rest of the journey through France – Spain – France – Germany until we will hand it back in Amsterdam.

Our house sitter will arrive tomorrow (Monday 28.April) to get familiar with the house, our animals and her travel needs to Perth etc for the next two month while living at our home.

We will be going to Perth in two cars – Jim in his and Jacqui and Hans in the Colt – to the city house on Friday 02.May. After dinner in town  we will be going together to the airport about 21:00 hours in time to check in and hand our cases over to the care of Cathay Pacific.

OK – next post will now be “from the road”
  J & J & H

This section of this website will have our observations recorded as much as we have time (and feel like) – Don’t expect too much – as from past experience we did not always have access to the ‘net and often just didn’t feel like sitting in front of a keyboard to record what we had seen and done …..

I will try this time – also as it will help us remember details later