Greetings from the Sahara

So it is a very bright, sunny day and we are here at the fab-u-lous Sahara desert getting ready to climb a sand dune.

Howdy, y'all -- got my hat an' shades on for sun protection

Just kidding!  We are at the largest sand dune in Europe -- Dune of Pyla or La Dune de Pila or Dune du Pilat -- depending on which sign you read.  It was a nice side-trip to do while we were staying in Bordeaux.

 So there is this stairway that allows for an easier climb to the top than just trying to scale the sandy slope.  We chose to go up via the stairs and we came down via the slope.  Coming down you would sink to mid-calf in the sand.  Upon that discovery I was glad that we hadn't tried to struggle up to the top in that fashion.  The stairs were tiring enough.

Once at the top there were a lot of nice views and I have the pictures to prove it.  Then there is the climbing down, climbing back up, and climbing back down.  Definitely worked up a thirst and an appetite for dinner.

We are above the trees -- the dune is slowly moving into the forest

You can see the severity of the slope and some of the taller trees that have already been engulfed

A view of the slope from halfway up the stairs

Yay!  We made it to the top of the stairs!  Look, it's the Atlantic!

The forest, and Dustin, in the background --- hi, Dustin!

Looking down the backside of the dune from the top

Now, for the long walk down to the water

Welcome to the EAST coast of the Atlantic Ocean! :)

It is a looooong way back up

View from the top -- there are ice cream and cold drinks down there

There you have it!  The largest sand dune in Europe AND the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean!  It is crazy to think about it being the east coast of the ocean when we call it the east coast back home, but our east coast (land wise) is really the west coast (water wise).

Mountains and Geologists -- Grenoble part dieu

You can see part of the original wall that was built around the city.  Grenoble is in a valley surrounded by mountains.

Mountain range on one side of city.  There is a highway on-ramp here to get people headed toward Lyon.

There are green spaces everywhere -- this one is in the middle of a round-about intersection.  Flowers and French flags make this green area look nice against backdrop of the city and mountains.

Our destination -- the Bastille of Grenoble (the old fortifications)

The building is blowing bubbles -- just kidding.  That is the start of the gondola ride we are going to take up to the Bastille.  The first gondola was built in 1938 -- glad they have updated it since then.

Guess what I found -- it's another "lost in translation" -- whilst boarding 

We are heading out (and up, up, up) over the street and river in the gondola -- our own trip inside a bubble.

 The plaque below says it all.  This monument is dedicated to the memory of the geologists of the French Alps.  We thought Greg would appreciate the fact that geologists are appreciated here.

Mountains, mountains, and more Alps  :)

See those black holes in the base of that cliff face?  There are caves there -- and an emergency escape route from the Bastille.  See photo below -- they are a little bit bigger in that one.  Path leads toward the caves.

Mountains on the other side and mountains in the distance -- yes, they do a lot of skiing in the winter.  FUN FACT --   The 1968 Winter Olympics were held in Grenoble.  I learned that fact -- I wasn't born yet when they were held here.  :)

A view of the city from up at the Bastille.  It was a cloudy day so some of the view (of more mountains) was obscured.

This is looking directly below where we were standing at the Bastille.  You can see part of an old tower and wall that made up some of the ancient fortifications in the middle of the picture.

Yep, another mountain.  Haven't seen a molehill yet though.

I could add another dozen photos of mountains, but I think you get the point.  Grenoble has beautiful scenery as it is surrounded by mountains; a nice valley with a river running though it   We had a good walk back to the Tour de France after riding down from the Bastille in one of the bubbles.  It was a very lovely day.

Tour de France - Grenoble time trial

These were the motorcycle escorts that went out in pairs in front of each racer.  The gendarmes would complete the circuit with one racer and upon return prepare to escort another racer through the circuit.  I would rather be on the motorized bike myself.  :)

The launch ramp -- cyclists would appear in the circle, be announced, await the countdown, and then hit the circuit.  Every rider was cheered as they left -- some more loudly than others, but all were given the crowd's encouragement.

The press were everywhere -- they also had barriers up that made getting from one side of the race to the other a bit difficult.  We managed to find our way through the maze.  It rained in the morning before the start so the pavement is wet and there are puddles here and there.

See the 100 in a circle?  That is part of the countdown to the finish line (100m to go).  In the background that yellow arch across the photo is the finish.  The area with tables and umbrellas was for special invited guests or team members -- not open to the public.  Lots of people wearing credentials to be allowed into areas that were blocked off from everyone else.

Eye in the sky -- camera crane.  It was really up there and not much room to move about on the platform

The actual award platform -- at the end the winner's received their colored jersey's (yellow, green, spotted, and white) on this stage.

We were really close to the action when it came time for the racers to cross the finish line.

Here is a close-up of the finish line that was hinted at in a previous photo.  Vittel is a brand of bottled water here in France.  Festina 2 and 3 are TV channels.  On the top it says     2011 - Arrivee     Grenoble     More press boxes visible behind the finish line.

It was a very interesting experience.  There were people from all over with flags and signs for the racers they were supporting.  We met a lady from New Zealand and a man from Luxembourg on the way to the race.  The rain stopped early enough in the morning that the race did not have to be delayed and by the end of the afternoon the sun was out and it felt quite warm.  I would have wanted to be one of the earlier racers as conditions were a bit nicer (cooler) earlier in the day.  We left the race area and crowds to explore some of Grenoble while the racing continued, but got back to the finish in time to see the last few riders come across and the jerseys awarded.  Then we made our way back to the train and headed back to Roanne.  It was a fun day trip to Grenoble.

The Med -- ooo la la

Yes, I have been MIA for a bit.  I left you hanging out in Pisa with the leaning tower.  I have been busy with letters and emails home, laundry, and   . . . okay, I have been procrastinating.

So, to recap --- we left Roanne and drove to Florence (Firenze), Italy and then to Rome.  We left Rome and went to Pisa on our way back to France in time to celebrate Bastille Day (well, at least to see the fireworks).  So this is where we pick up . . . the French Riviera and Nice, Toulon, and Marseilles.

Nice smooth rocks, not sand, for a beach and in the water.  Water was cool and very salty.  It drops off very fast and has very strong currents.  The Mediterranean Sea is not to be taken lightly although at Nice it is lovely.

Well, duh -- what else are you supposed to do when you come up to a ticket plaza on the highway?

 So we enjoyed Nice (France).  After we arrived and settled into the hotel we walked along the shore and enjoyed the evening.  Some of the festivities were still continuing, building up to the fireworks at 10:00pm.  They put on a really nice show.  We walked back along the shore to the hotel afterward while some of the portable stages were still hosting different musical groups.  There were a variety of street performers and clowns as well (more pictures to come).  We spent the night in Nice and left the next morning for Toulon and Marseilles.

Kinda looks like the desert southwest, doesn't it?  This is scenery on the way to Toulon.

 I bet y'all are wondering why were we going to Toulon.  Well, that is an easy question to answer.  To tour the harbor and see their Navy base.  A base for naval operations has been there since 1599.

Entrance gate to base -- there is a sign posted that translate to No Photography Allowed

Prior to harbor tour M. Souris checks that the emergency equipment on board is in ship-shape order.

Lots of boats in the marina -- the naval vessels are out in the harbor

M. Souris decides to take a turn at the wheel (luckily this is just in the Maritime Museum)

From Toulon we continued to Marseilles.  We heard about a tour to the Chateau d'If.  If the the name sounds familiar, chances are that you have either read The Count of Monte Cristo or saw one of the many film versions.  It was an early version of Alcatraz.  We took a boat from Marseilles to the island and toured the old building.

Notice on approach -- very few windows and desolate grounds

Handsome fella at edge of ramparts with city of Marseilles in background.  Freedom so close!

M. Souris on the wall -- thinking of going for a swim?

The water is very clear and blue -- you can see the rocks from on top of the wall

Iron bars still in place although the Chateau hasn't been used as a prison for a long time

From cell window -- can see the city beyond the water -- so close, yet so far away

Leaving Marseilles behind and heading back to Roanne.  Wouldn't you know it, more mountain travel ahead.  And if you remember the 13km tunnel that we were glad to avoid meeting a 2nd time, you should see . . .

the Millau Bridge.  One of the world's highest suspension bridges (there are a few higher) and an incredible monument to engineering.  It spans a very deep river gorge.  It took them a long time to work out the design and 3 years (2001-2004) to construct it.  We saw it on a clear day.  You can find images of it where the valley below is filled with clouds and it would seem that you were driving on top of them.

We continued from here through Montpelier back to Roanne.  On our way through Montpelier the gendarmes were guarding portions of the road (and others were blockaded) as the Tour de France racers were heading into the city as that stage of the race was coming to the end.  We were in a hurry to get back to Roanne before nightfall so we didn't hang around to see the race that day.

Next blog . . .the Tour de France in Grenoble.  We went to see the time trial.  Pictures to be posted soon. :)