Results for "Massif+Central+hébergement"

Bonjour tout le monde,

J'aimerais bien faire 1 petite virée en cyclotourisme cet été, et je voulais savoir s'il est possible d'équiper mon VTT Décathlon 8.1 d'un porte bagages arrière.

Il me semble ne pas avoir vu de fixation pour ce dernier.

Merci de vos réponses

Je souhaite visiter les principaux quartiers de Londres. Je dispose de 3 jours. D'après mes recherches le bus reviendrait moins cher. Pour ceux qui connaissent bien Londres, peut-on aller à peut près n'importe où avec seulement le bus? ou le métro est-il plus précis? Ne perd -t-on pas trop de temps en bus à cause des embouteillages? Les rames sont-elles fréquentes? Bref....peut-on se contenter uniquement du bus ou le métro est-il vraiment plus pratique?

D'autres part, je possède des plans de Londres avec les arrets de métro (rues+ arrets)mais n'arrive pas à trouver la même chose avec le bus. Je ne possède que le plan des lignes de bus mais pas avec le plan des rues en mêm temps.

Suis-je claire???

Enfin merci beaucoup pur vos réponses.🙂

Bonjour tout le monde!!! Je voudrais partir 5 ou 6 jours et aller faier un saut a Varsovie, mais peut être n'y a-t-il pas beaucoup de choses a voir a Varsovie pour 5 jour. Qu'en pensez vous? J'ai le même doute pour Riga ou Tallin. Surtout pour cette époque ou il est plus dificil de bouger (stile louer une voiture etc...) Que me conseillez vous? Merci et bonne soirée

Je suis tombée dessus par hasard tout à l'heure, ça vient d'etre diffusé sur France3. Vraiment passionnant et émouvant. 🙂

"En 1924, Alexandra David-Néel et le moine Aphur Yongden parviennent à rentrer clandestinement dans Lhassa, la cité interdite du royaume tibétain, au terme d'une épopée qui les a conduits pendant huit mois d'hiver à travers les contreforts himalayens ; du Yunnan aux vallées du Brahmapoutre. 80 ans plus tard, Priscilla Telmon part à pied et en solitaire, sur les traces de cette fantastique aventure. Elle enrichit ce périple, partant cette fois d'Hanoï pour rejoindre Lhassa puis, beaucoup plus loin, Calcutta en Inde, associant ainsi d'autres périples de la voyageuse David-Néel."

En route vers de nouvelles aventures.

Comme d'habitude, Quoi et Où?

Bonjour à tous. Fin octobre (vac de la Toussaint) on va passer une semaine dans les Dolomites (oui, j'ai un tempérament optimiste, il VA faire beau!!) J'ai plusieurs questions: les téléphériques fonctionnent-ils encore à cette époque? les refuges sont-ils encore ouverts? peut-on louer du matériel pour via ferrata (casques, baudriers et longes) sur place? (je n'ai pas très envie d'investir des fois qu'il ne fasse pas si beau que ça...)

Merci à ceux qui connaissent pour vos conseils! Marie

Bonjour.

Ca fait quelques années que je pars en Ariège pendant les vacances, et je suis vraiment tomber amoureuse de ce département. Et donc, pour ceux qui y sont déjà allés je vous propose de mettre ici vos plus belles photos d'Ariège. Je vous met déjà 3 jolies paysages...

1° :La tour Lafont en octobre. Vu sur les vallées du couserans 2° : Cominac en Hiver ( février ) 3° : La tour Lafont en été

Je voudrais faire un safari photo au Kenya . Qui pourrais me donner des indications usr les prix, les meilleures périodes, les forfaits tout compris etc....

Salut à tous ! J'aimerais savoir ce que vous pensez de Hua Shan et de Huang Shan ? Si vous avez un à choisir, lequel des deux vous avez le plus appréciés ?

Merci

Gave

salut à tous, J'ai chez moi un poster consolidé et plastifié des sites classés par l'UNESCO sur tous les continents. J'ai également un poster des sites classés par l'UNESCO en Europe, il se trouve sur la porte de mes WC ! quelle invitation à se rendre sur place pour comtempler les merveilles humaines et naturelles du monde et de l'Europe en particulier !! Depuis 3 ans, j'organise mes itinéraires en grande partie en fonction de ces cartes et de ces sites classés. De quoi s'agit-il? tous les ans, l'UNESCO, organe culturel dépendant de de l'ONU, publie une liste des nouveaux sites culturels (en fait surtout historiques), naturels et mixtes parmi les plus significatifs et et les plus remarquables du monde. Les pays proposent les sites, des ''spécialistes'' de l'UNESCO les sélectionnent. L'intérêt pour nous, voyageurs, c'est de savoir quels sont les sites culturels(villes, monuments religieux, militaires, etc.) qui ont un intérêt essentiel dans l'histoire de l'humanité. Pour les sites naturels, sont classés les sites les plus beaux, les plus sauvages et possédant des spécificités rares (espèces en voie de disparition, par exemple). Donc un petit conseil, avant de partir, consulter cette liste pour les endroits que vous désirez visiter et, faites comme moi, écrivez à l'UNESCO (à Paris) afin qu'ils vous envoient gratuitement ce poster des sites mondiaux ! bye

Bonjour, jaurai voulu savoir où sur paris je pourrai me renseigner au niveau des loi thailandaise pour l'ouverture d'un commerce en thailande.

On voudrez partir avec 2copines en Tunisie mais quelques personnes nous le déconseille parce qu'elles trouvent que c'est trop dangeureux pour 3 jeunes filles seules

Qu'en pensez vous sincèrement sachant que nous n'allons tout de meme pas nous ballader dans de petites rues tardivement...

Merci de repondre nombreux et honnetement😏

Aruba is a small island in the Dutch Caribbean located off the coast of Venezuela. It’s part of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao).

After visiting the island of Curaçao a few years earlier, we decided to explore Aruba in November 2023.

We stayed for three weeks in an Airbnb-style accommodation and rented a vehicle for the entire period to visit the various tourist attractions on the island.

These are listed below.

You’ll find several supermarkets (Carrefour, Super Food, Jumbo, etc.) as well as a wide variety of restaurants.

*****

Note:

Please be aware that since July 2024, Aruba has implemented a $20 sustainable development tax for visitors arriving by air.

This tax is payable via the online ED Card platform during the ED card application process to enter Aruba.

I invite you to continue reading this travel journal and watch the videos that will help you discover this sunny destination.

*****

Videos are embedded throughout the summary. Click on the image to start the video.

To jump to a specific post, here are the relevant links:

Noord - California Lighthouse Noord - Bubali Bird Sanctuary Paradera - Casibari Rock Formations Santa Cruz - Ayo Rock Formations Bushiribana - New Natural Pool (Cave Pool) Noord - Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins Santa Cruz - Natural Bridge Oranjestad - Hooiberg San Nicolas - Seroe Colorado Natural Bridge Spanish Lagoon Mangrove Trail Shoco Habitat - Spanish Lagoon Oranjestad - Balashi Gold Mill Ruins San Nicolas - Lourdes Grotto Arikok National Park - Daimari Beach, Boka Keto Beach (Moro), Conchi Natural Pool Arikok National Park - Boca Prins Beach Arikok National Park - Fontein Cave Arikok National Park – Quadirikiri Cave Arikok National Park – Hike to Sero Arikok Oranjestad & Noord - Walking tour San Nicolas and its murals San Nicolas and its mosaic street benches The famous seafood restaurant Zeerover Noord - Snorkeling around the Baboo shipwreck Noord - Arashi Beach Noord - Boca Catalina Beach Noord - Boca Catalina Beach - Snorkeling Noord - Snorkeling at Tres Tapi - Turtle and Ray Noord - Snorkeling at Malmok Beach - Flying gurnards Noord - Hadicurari Beach (Fishermen's Huts) Noord - Palm Beach Noord - Eagle Beach Noord – Manchebo Beach Oranjestad - Divi Beach Oranjestad - Druif Beach Oranjestad - Surfside Beach Pos Chiquito - Mangel Halto Beach Savaneta - Santo Largo Beach Savaneta - Battata Beach San Nicolas - Rodgers Beach San Nicolas - Baby Beach San Nicolas - Baby Beach - Snorkeling San Nicolas - Bachelor’s Beach (Boca Tabla) San Nicolas - Boca Grandi Beach San Nicolas - Colorado Point - Snorkeling at Bachelors Beach San Nicolas - Grapefield Beach Hike - Blackstone Beach via Natural Bridge Noord - Wariruri Beach

After five trips to the American West, we had planned to switch countries and continents to visit Turkey. However, by the time we made up our minds, flight ticket prices had nearly doubled, reaching 400 € for a round-trip ticket. A bit disappointed, I started looking at transatlantic flight prices and stumbled upon discounted tickets from Basel-Mulhouse to Dallas—at the same price as our tickets to Turkey!

No hesitation needed; we bought the five tickets for a total of 1,860 € excluding baggage!

From Fort Worth Airport, we had two options: - Head west on a loop through Texas, New Mexico, and southern Colorado - Head east to change the scenery and explore East Texas, Louisiana, with a possible detour into Florida.

The latter option won unanimously, so here we are, off to discover new states, mainly Louisiana and Texas.

One of the main post-COVID challenges is finding a reasonably priced car rental. After an initial booking around 1,300 €, we kept an eye on prices a few weeks before departure and managed to snag a better deal at around 900 € for a comfortable sedan.

Yes, this summer will also be a first: no 4x4, no camping, and plenty of restaurants!

As always, I’ve planned a packed itinerary, ready to adjust on the go. A few weeks before departure, we learned we’d be at full capacity—our eldest son, Maxime, got his first-year med school results. By finishing as a top admit, he avoided the mandatory July-August internship that would’ve kept him from joining us. Instead, he wrapped up his internship at the last minute the night before our big departure.

We’ll get to savor these special moments together.

The itinerary: Day 1 - 07/15: Fort Worth Day 2: Dallas Day 3: Jefferson - Caddo Lake Day 4: Black Bayou Lake - Natchez - Stanton Hall and Rosalie Mansion Day 5: St. Francisville - Rosedown Plantation - Cat Island Wildlife Refuge Day 6: Mobile - USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park Day 7 - 8: Pensacola Beach Day 9: Bellingrath Gardens - New Orleans Day 10 - 11: New Orleans Day 12: Plantation Route Day 13: Jungle Gardens - Tabasco Factory - Vermilionville - Lake Martin Day 14: Baton Rouge - USS Kidd Day 15: Houma - Cajun Man's Swamp Tour Day 16: Galveston, Texas Day 17: Space Center Houston - Painted Churches Day 18: San Antonio Day 19: Texas Hill Country Day 20: Texas Hill Country and evening in San Antonio Day 21: Austin and Waco

Day 0 - 07/14: The departure timing isn’t exactly relaxing. On Thursday late afternoon, we hit the road to Alsace, aiming to drop off our two cockers with family before reaching the airport at 2 AM for a 3-hour power nap. Not exactly fresh, we arrive at the terminal looking for a British Airways counter. None in sight, so we try our luck at a United Airlines counter—who knows, maybe it’ll work out. And bingo! The agent checks us in. We didn’t quite understand why, but maybe there’s some agreement between airlines. For the first time, we’re traveling without checked baggage, so no extra fees. Not a huge feat, given the scorching temperatures awaiting us!

The connecting flight to London goes smoothly.

During the layover, liquid checks get stricter—now requiring small bottles to be in a pre-approved clear bag, with only one bag allowed per passenger. Normally, no big deal, but between deodorant, sunscreen, after-sun lotion, hand sanitizer, contact lens solution, etc., we spend 20 minutes optimizing the arrangement! When we finally succeed, one of the security staff bursts out laughing and congratulates us!

With our stomachs growling, we grab an American breakfast before browsing the airport shops.

We then discover our plane for the long-haul flight and are thrilled to see it’s an A380—a first for Laetitia, though the rest of the family experienced it during our winter getaway. Still just as impressive!

With a hint of uncertainty, we take off for the States—my third trip in barely 12 months. This time, no endless badlands, canyons, slot canyons, hoodoos, or brain rocks, but a journey through five states (Texas, Louisiana, a quick stop in Mississippi, Alabama, and the northwest tip of Florida), where we hope to soak up a unique vibe... with a packed schedule of diverse visits.

Arrival at Fort Worth Airport and customs go smoothly. Since we have no checked baggage, we’re first in line at the Dollar counter. In just 3 minutes, the formalities are done. We decline the Toll Pass, which I don’t think we’ll need based on my "calculations," and head to the Dollar parking lot, where an employee tells us we can pick any car we want!

There are about thirty cars waiting. Too many choices!

After last year’s mishap in Oakland, where our 4x4’s trunk was broken into, we’re looking for a sedan to hide our luggage this time. Unfortunately, there are none—only SUVs. We finally settle on a comfortable 7-seater Ford SUV with a massive trunk when set up for five.

On the road from Fort Worth to Dallas, we accidentally take a toll highway without realizing until it’s too late to exit. Let’s hope Dollar doesn’t charge us a week’s worth of their pricey Toll Pass for a $2 toll. We’ll see... In the meantime, Maxime sets up Google Maps to avoid toll roads.

Since it’s not too late, we stop by the nearest Walmart for groceries before checking into our hotel room for three nights in East Dallas suburb.

This adventure began during Covid... Yep, Covid turned a lot of things upside down, but most of all, it kept us cooped up for a few months and stopped us from traveling for a while—even longer for a die-hard fan of the American West like me.

While borders were closed, I started imagining what an ideal itinerary might look like—one that would string together all the Southwest must-sees in just two weeks, during the best time of year: September and October. When the U.S. announced in September 2021 that borders would reopen in the coming weeks, I regained hope and began scouting flight tickets for a departure in September 2022.

But here’s the thing: tackling solo hikes, each one tougher than the last, right in the heart of the Wilderness, could be a risky—even reckless—endeavor for a father of three. After a quick chat with some virtual friends who are just as passionate about the Southwest as I am, with good physical condition and nearly the same list of must-visit spots, Franck and his brother Sullivan were in! 🙂

In November, we snagged flight tickets from Nice to San Francisco for the modest sum of 400 €, and a few days later, I booked a Toyota Tacoma pickup for 840 € !

It’s not cheap for just 15 days, and a pickup isn’t exactly ideal for luggage, but the prices for full-size 4x4s have become totally outrageous! Due to border closures, rental companies had to offload a lot of these big 4x4s, which tourists love. Then, supply and demand did the rest !

Franck and I spent the winter and spring trying to cram the equivalent of three weeks of hikes into two. But even with physical limits, we had to stay reasonable! Three to four months before departure, we entered the lotteries for different must-see spots: The Subway, Coyote Buttes North (home to the famous Wave), and Coyote Buttes South (CBS).

The Wave is the holy grail for any Southwest enthusiast. Since 2015, we’ve tried our luck with the online and on-site lotteries about ten times, but the spots are unfortunately limited: just 20 per day. A glimmer of hope, though—since early 2022, that number has increased to 64 people allowed per day, with 48 spots awarded via the online lottery.

After all three of us tried our luck for The Wave, on June 1st at exactly 5 PM, I got an email that started with, "Congratulations! You were successful in the Coyote Buttes North (The Wave) September 2022 Permit Lottery at Coyote Buttes North (The Wave)...". At 5:01 PM, I called Franck, whose dream it’s been for over 20 years—ever since the first photos were published in a travel magazine! He didn’t believe me when I told him, and I had to forward the email for him to finally accept the unbelievable: we were going to The Wave and all the incredible spots scattered across the protected area of Coyote Buttes North.

I’ve already been to Coyote Buttes South twice, but there are areas I couldn’t explore in the middle of summer because they were too remote. So, I had no trouble letting my buddies convince me to go back for a third time. Plus, given how hard it is to access, we had no trouble securing a permit online as long as we logged in at exactly 8 PM on the dot!

For The Subway, all three of us struck out. No big deal—we won at CBN and CBS!

Among the sites to visit, there are two that I’m particularly attached to because I know my chances of wanting to see them again are slim. The first is Angel Arch, one of the most legendary arches in the Southwest, due to its remoteness from any trace of civilization. To get there, the recommended hike is Upper Salt Creek, and you’re looking at a 50 km round-trip in an area with no water (in September) and populated by bears.

The second site is the Hopi Salt Trail, in Navajo land, which, after a very tough hike, lets you marvel at the turquoise-blue waters of the Little Colorado before it meets the Colorado River. The Hopi Salt Trail is, like The Wave, the holy grail for any Southwest enthusiast, and the windows of opportunity to see the water in that magical color are very short each year. For this, you have to monitor the Little Colorado’s gauges downstream from Cameron: if the level stays at its lowest for 10 consecutive days—meaning no rain—you can hope for turquoise water. The ideal period rarely exceeds 30 days a year, and it’s usually in June that all the stars align.

But unfortunately, one month before departure, while the flow rate at Cameron looked promising, several storms in September dashed our hopes of doing the Hopi Salt Trail, even at the end of the road trip.

We still had two consolation prizes, though:

After a last-minute cancellation, while keeping an eye out for available spots for The Subway, it turned out that three spots opened up exactly on the day we’d planned to go—so we rushed to grab them!! Regarding the 4x4 rental, the prices for full-size models dropped by several hundred dollars, and we ended up finding a Chevrolet Tahoe for less than $1000. A steal and a serious boost in comfort, so we could store all our gear and food without worry!

Here’s the initial plan in a perfect world: D1 The White Domes - Camping D2 Sunrise at The White Domes - The Subway D3 Coyote Buttes North D4 Coyote Buttes South - White Pocket D5 Wahweap Hoodoos - Sidestep Canyon - Colourful Canyon - White Rocks - Sunset at Yellow Rock D6 Broken Bow Arch - Reflection Canyon D7 Coyote Gulch D8 The Volcano (or The Oasis - Zebra Slot Canyon if the weather’s good) - North Caineville Mesa D9 The Needles: Squaw Canyon - Lost Canyon combo - Druid Arch - Chesler Park D10 Upper Salt Creek Day 1 - Camping D11 Upper Salt Creek Day 2 D12 Hopi-Navajo Territory: Ha Ho No Geh Canyon, Coal Mine Canyon, Bends of the Little Colorado D13 Grand Canyon: South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel Trail D14 Upper East Zion: East Temple Loop, Jughandle Arch, Center of the Universe, and Checkerboard Mesa Summit And several backup options in case of bad weather, including Spencer Trail, West Cove, and Buffington Pockets.

Enough talking—time for action!

Monday, August 21, 2023 - Rochefort - Marans

No journal for the first two days. Day 1 - CARCANS-ROYAN Day 2 - ROYAN - ROCHEFORT Tonight I'm in MARANS in the "dry marsh" according to the campsite manager—it’s the first time I’ve heard of a "dry marsh"?!

Photos from the first two days

My gear



The Landes region—nothing extraordinary, but the calm and serenity are nice.



Le Verdon



The wild coast



This marsh isn’t dry, though.

Today is the third day of my trip, and I’m writing to you from a campsite in Marans. I’ve set out to bike from Carcans Maubuisson back to Plaisir. Why Carcans? Because we spent a week there as a family—a great week that lets everyone reconnect for a long stretch. Also, on Saturday, we all headed home—some by car, and me by bike. This journey is about 850 km via bike paths and small cycling roads. It’s not a sporting feat, just a nice long ride for fun. As the old Chinese sage says, "The destination doesn’t matter—it’s the journey that counts." But he also told me, "Traveling is great, but what’s the point if you don’t share it?" You see, this old sage has told me a lot of things—he often keeps me company when I’m biking. Of course, he doesn’t pedal, but we travel in harmony. Sure, he can be a bit annoying sometimes, but we still get along. All this to say I’ve created a group to share my story. I’d be happy to share this experience with you—it’s an adventure for me. On Saturday, I wasn’t sure I’d even leave because I’d been dealing with sciatica for days. Luckily, Juliette, a friend of the old Chinese sage, recommended a lifesaving remedy: Alternately stretching your legs with an elastic band under your foot. Obviously, a jam jar rubber band won’t cut it.

From Marans - The mosquitoes are attacking; time to head back to shelter.

The first two legs took me to Royan and then Rochefort. The Sèvre Niortaise flows nearby, and I followed a canal from La Rochelle. You could say the area is as dry as the marsh, judging by the state of the crops.



As I mentioned, it’s the third day, and if Jesus rose again on this day, for me it was more like the crucifixion. The scorching heat—only bearable when you’re moving—combined with rough trail conditions, and the old Chinese sage says, "Terrible roads, slow speed, and watch your limbs." I set out to do 60 km but ended up doing 80, and the last 20 were tough. I kept checking the GPS to see how much farther until the campsite. Today: Rochefort to Marans, sticking to the coast until La Rochelle, then no notable towns after that—just a constant canal. But since the sky isn’t too low, it hasn’t gotten lost. I’ve still got plenty of anecdotes to share, but it’s pitch black out, and the mosquitoes are still around. This morning, I counted ten in my tent, all full of my blood. Yesterday, at the end of the leg to Rochefort, I was really looking forward to crossing the Charente using the transporter bridge, but a sneaky GPS conspiracy led me far from it. I ended up crossing the Charente on a completely ordinary bridge, watching the transporter bridge in the distance with disappointment.

End of the first episode. Until tomorrow, if you’d like!

Hello, We’re planning a trip to Zambia in 2 years. This will be our 4th trip to Southern Africa—the last one this year was Moremi, Boteti, KCGR, and KTP as a self-drive with campsites and no guide, just my wife and me. For this year’s trip, we prepared 2 years in advance—bookings are really complicated. We were lucky to get a spot at Bitterpan in KTP (there are only 4 chalets).

We’d like to know if it’s easy to get around Zambia, especially when it comes to restocking supplies. Should we rent a 4x4 in Zambia, Namibia, or South Africa? Botswana is very expensive. Which parks are the most interesting? We’re into wildlife photography.

Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks in advance! Best regards, Jean-Marc

In this time of general travel-journal scarcity, I’m stepping up to tell you about a far-too-short getaway to the Top West End, a local term for the very northern part of Western Australia, right on the border ( ;) ) with the Northern Territory.

As usual, I didn’t manage to keep it short, but this time I’ve got photos to go with it!

August 2020. Since the opportunities to explore the world are extremely limited right now, all we (R&X) can do is explore our own island! Well, just a part of it, because with the state borders still closed, we’re stuck in Western Australia (WA).

Luckily, we’re pretty fortunate because this state is huge: over 2.5 million km² (that’s more than four times the size of France or 1.5 times Quebec). What’s more, stretching over 20 degrees of latitude between the Antarctic Ocean and the Timor Sea, you’ll find climates ranging from Mediterranean to arid to tropical. That’s actually why we decided to head as far north as possible. Sick of the endless rainy winter in Perth, bring on the heat of the Kimberley... way up Nooorth!

Friday. At the airport, the main terminal was closed (not enough flights), so we ended up in the annex (where flights to the various mines usually depart from). There was no crowd at the gate, and in this huge, single departure lounge, empty seats were plentiful. Only three flights were listed on the screens for the rest of the morning: the first to Coondewanna (?), the second to Darwin, and ours to Kununurra (code KNX).

A cool breeze swept through the half-open corridors along the runways. At the top of the walkway leading to the Fokker 100 (the Airbuses and Boeings are now parked!), a flight attendant greeted us with a basket full of sanitary masks. We were actually the only masked passengers (the staff weren’t wearing them either). With zero Covid-19 cases in WA at the time, the only rule was to maintain social distancing—something pretty hard to do on a full plane!

It was also my first time wearing a mask—it felt weird, pretty uncomfortable, and after a while, painful behind the ears. I really feel for those who have to wear one all day, every day. The flight lasted three long hours, but luckily, I had a good book. From the window, I watched an endless expanse of salt lakes in all shapes and sizes—round, elongated, gray, white, sometimes blue and green—and an infinity of winding, capricious meanders, along with long straight lines that led nowhere. The last half-hour got more interesting as rocky, swollen formations and long, sloping plateaus appeared. Against the vast ochre landscape, green patches became more frequent.







Just before landing, rows of green fields briefly appeared, along with an surprisingly wide river—but we were already rolling down the tarmac. A few hangars, a myriad of small, stationary planes, and a tiny terminal topped with a sign: “Welcome to Kununurra.”







We wanted heat, and here it was—34°C the moment we stepped off the plane! We felt alive again and totally ridiculous in our jeans and sweaters. We quickly grabbed our suitcase and picked up the 4x4 we’d rented—more out of necessity, since only that type of vehicle can access the national parks we planned to visit.

Just four kilometers separated us from Kununurra, a town of 5,000 people founded in 1961 during the construction of the Lake Argyle Dam and the development of the Ord River Irrigation Area Scheme (more on that later). On the horizon, mountain ranges (a bit of an exaggeration, since we know Mt. Meharry, WA’s highest ‘mountain,’ doesn’t even reach 1,250 meters!) and closer to the road, a few irrigation canals cutting through stretches of bush, then a huge park overlooking a small lake lined with reeds.

A row of baobabs (yes, there are baobabs in Australia too!), a series of motels with immaculate lawns, a gas station, and there’s the main street leading to the town center—that is, the parking lots of the two supermarkets, the bottleshop, the pub, the Town Hall, the municipal pool, and the Tourist Office (already closed!), and at the next roundabout, another park, the Presbyterian church, and a few other shops. In short, two or three green blocks that you can explore in no time.

One road leads to the small industrial area and one of the town’s three or four campgrounds, while another heads toward the residential neighborhoods, which look just like the typical suburbs you find in any Australian city—except with tropical vegetation. We stocked up at Coles, an identical copy of the one near our place, and—surprise—the prices were practically the same.

We checked into one of the motels. The receptionist listed the town’s three or four restaurants, insisting that it’s always better to book a table. She recommended the Pump House, a bit outside town on the lake’s edge. “Best spot to watch the sunset, but hurry up.” she told us. It was only 5:00 PM!

When we got there half an hour later, the place was packed, and the sun had already disappeared behind a row of trees! Sure enough, we’d see a few days later that the sunset can be a stunning spectacle—if you wait a bit for the sky (especially if it’s cloudy) to blaze and reflect in the lake’s calm waters. A little disappointed, we headed back into town, where we easily found the other lively spot in town: the pub (nothing like an old English pub). Above the long L-shaped bar, several giant screens (thankfully muted) were broadcasting live footy, rugby league, etc. In one corner, players circled the pool table, while in another, customers were digging into plates of the day’s special. Instead of rooms, there were various patios where groups of friends and coworkers (easily recognizable by the fluoro vests they were still wearing) were gathered. We found a table under a mango tree—unfortunately, a little too close to the guitarist strumming his entire Country Music repertoire, complete with Keith Urban-style tremolos. Guaranteed culture shock!

Since it’s the custom here, we called the Country Club to book a table before the kitchen closed! The CC is the town’s—and even the region’s—fancy spot. Dark decor, modern furniture, dim lighting, and the air conditioning blasting. The twenty or so customers had taken refuge on the vast terrace, lit by torches. The view of the tall eucalyptus trees, illuminated by spotlights shifting from red to blue, was breathtaking.

The menu was minimal, but the grilled salmon was excellent, and the Pavlova (the meringue dessert Kiwis and Aussies have been arguing over since 1906) with melon and watermelon was absolutely divine.

It wasn’t even 9:00 PM, and we were already in bed. Had we already adopted the Top West End’s chicken schedule?!

To be continued... Journal dedicated to Attila

Bonjour à tous,

Le hasard total de mes "promenades " sur le net m'ont amené à un article du Huffington post qui explique que le centre mémorial d'Auschwitz a été contraint de faire un " rappel à l'ordre " devant la recrudescence des visiteurs ( comme si on visitait en ce lieu ! ) faisant des selfies devant la porte, devant les bâtiments, devant des photos de prisonniers décharnés, sur les rails....

J'ai eu peine à le croire et en regardant sur G images en tapant selfie Auschwitz, j'ai pu constater le summum de la honte ! Déjà, cette mode des selfies m'agace un peu, mais alors là, cela dépasse mon entendement et le respect qui doit prévaloir en ce lieu.

C'était mon " coup de gueule de ce soir,

Respect à vous toutes et tous et bonne soirée.