Results for "Causses+ou+Cévennes+|+127"
7893 results found.
Around Cape Town in 15 days in May
Hi there,
I’ve got a bit of time to share my latest Cape Town – Cape Town trip... A fairly short itinerary, but it was just before heading to Kruger for an extension. In May... Honestly, I’d usually recommend a different time to visit CT—I’ve been there in August, September, and October before. But as they say, "Do as I say, not as I do" or "Only fools never change their minds." Why? Whale season peaks from August to October... and seeing whales right by the shore or breaching out of the water is absolutely spectacular. The end-of-year holiday period—take this year, for example—can get absolutely packed, with beaches closed due to overcrowding, etc. June and July are freezing (for me)... early August isn’t always great either. That said, 2024 saw a September-October with rain, cold, and fog like never before. The Postberg section of West Coast National Park (WCNP) is only open in August and September. Flower season is roughly from mid-August to mid-September.
So, May... The weather? Gorgeous (lucky me!). The route... Not super original (I’ve done it before, though it’s been a while). I didn’t go too far from CT because I prefer slow travel. Cape Town – Langebaan (for WCNP, again) – Cederberg (at Mountain Ceder, again) – Bontebok NP (new to me, and on the way) – De Hoop NR (at De Hoop) – Agulhas NP – Boulders (for Boulders Beach and the peninsula, again and again).
The trip started off badly due to storms in Frankfurt... My overnight flight was delayed until the next day, but via Amsterdam, so a daytime flight instead. A bit stressful, but Lufthansa and KLM handled it well. Now it was my turn to sort things out... "Well, I need you to keep the car for me... I’m arriving tonight!" (aroundaboutcars, a Chinese Haval, blue and 4x4—though I didn’t actually need the 4x4... which waited for me).
"Well, I need you to keep my room for me... I’m arriving *very* late tonight." A hotel perfectly located by the lagoon, right by the gates of WCNP, but still close to Langebaan and its restaurants. I spotted it myself and booked it during Black Friday...
Yep, what was normally a short 1.5-hour drive *in daylight* from the Mother City to Langebaan... was now *at night*. And here I am, usually the one telling people, "Don’t drive at night, folks!" Well, I know the route, and Google won’t let me get lost... until Langebaan, that is. The last few kilometers were rough—"Don’t they put up signs? Don’t they have streetlights?"
Alright, it’s late, the day’s been long—time for bed! !
I’ve got a bit of time to share my latest Cape Town – Cape Town trip... A fairly short itinerary, but it was just before heading to Kruger for an extension. In May... Honestly, I’d usually recommend a different time to visit CT—I’ve been there in August, September, and October before. But as they say, "Do as I say, not as I do" or "Only fools never change their minds." Why? Whale season peaks from August to October... and seeing whales right by the shore or breaching out of the water is absolutely spectacular. The end-of-year holiday period—take this year, for example—can get absolutely packed, with beaches closed due to overcrowding, etc. June and July are freezing (for me)... early August isn’t always great either. That said, 2024 saw a September-October with rain, cold, and fog like never before. The Postberg section of West Coast National Park (WCNP) is only open in August and September. Flower season is roughly from mid-August to mid-September.
So, May... The weather? Gorgeous (lucky me!). The route... Not super original (I’ve done it before, though it’s been a while). I didn’t go too far from CT because I prefer slow travel. Cape Town – Langebaan (for WCNP, again) – Cederberg (at Mountain Ceder, again) – Bontebok NP (new to me, and on the way) – De Hoop NR (at De Hoop) – Agulhas NP – Boulders (for Boulders Beach and the peninsula, again and again).
The trip started off badly due to storms in Frankfurt... My overnight flight was delayed until the next day, but via Amsterdam, so a daytime flight instead. A bit stressful, but Lufthansa and KLM handled it well. Now it was my turn to sort things out... "Well, I need you to keep the car for me... I’m arriving tonight!" (aroundaboutcars, a Chinese Haval, blue and 4x4—though I didn’t actually need the 4x4... which waited for me).
"Well, I need you to keep my room for me... I’m arriving *very* late tonight." A hotel perfectly located by the lagoon, right by the gates of WCNP, but still close to Langebaan and its restaurants. I spotted it myself and booked it during Black Friday...
Yep, what was normally a short 1.5-hour drive *in daylight* from the Mother City to Langebaan... was now *at night*. And here I am, usually the one telling people, "Don’t drive at night, folks!" Well, I know the route, and Google won’t let me get lost... until Langebaan, that is. The last few kilometers were rough—"Don’t they put up signs? Don’t they have streetlights?"
Alright, it’s late, the day’s been long—time for bed! !
Dream Islands: Greece, French Polynesia, Mauritius...
Hello,
Who among us hasn’t dreamed of having a ticket to Tahiti, Bora Bora, or the Marquesas in their pocket—preferably a one-way ticket to “paradise”?
Idyllic landscape of a dream island, but difficult to access: the Bay of Virgins in Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands
Among the values conveyed by literature, tourism, and advertising is the quest for “elsewhere,” for a change of scenery, in the truest sense of the word—that is, the need to leave one’s country. This need for otherness, for difference, is projected onto dreamlike, idealized, even mythicized places. In our imaginary world, the island is often that place.
Yet we forget that islands have also been ideal prisons. The examples are numerous: Elba and Saint Helena, Alcatraz and Poulo Condor, If and Yeu, the Devil’s Islands and Leros. The latter, located in Greece in the Dodecanese, hosted a sinister forced labor camp during the colonels’ dictatorship as well as a psychiatric hospital. Despite the beauty of its bay, tourism has remained marginal there due to its bad reputation, unlike the neighboring island of Patmos.
I’d like to share a selection of about a dozen islands from across the world’s seas and oceans. For dreaming...
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
SANTORINI
July 27, 1967
At dawn, the ferry from Agios Nikolaos (Crete) enters the immense caldera of Santorini. From the ship’s deck, Rainer, my travel companion, and I are left in awe by the sight of these towering, multicolored cliffs looming over us. We disembark and begin the steep climb on foot via the winding mule path up to the village of Fira, the capital perched above the cliff. Though it’s still very early, we head to the youth hostel. There wasn’t a soul in the alleys that morning—or rather, there were only cats! I have a fond memory of that encounter with Santorini: a sensory shock, a breathtaking volcanic site, a harmony of blue, ochre-red, and white. A welcoming island, as it was traditional to welcome the xénou, an island that hadn’t yet fully recovered from the terrible 1956 earthquake, a Cycladic architectural marvel where local life was still preserved.
It’s easy to see why, in antiquity, the island was named Kallisté (καλλίστη), “the most beautiful,” as it’s nearly impossible to resist gazing at this landscape shaped by tectonic forces. Indeed, a massive volcanic cataclysm—the Minoan eruption—shaped this scenery in the 17th century BCE, creating a caldera that was quickly filled by the sea. The enormous tsunamis that followed reached Crete, leading to the disappearance of the Minoan civilization.
A cliffside path along the caldera leads us to the peaceful village of Oia, at the northern tip of the island. Blue-domed churches and flower-filled villages with whitewashed houses line the way. This walk is a continuous marvel, offering splendid views of the caldera and the neighboring islands formed by the breakup of the ancient volcano (Thirissa, Nea Kameni). Oia is a large, picturesque village, like Fira perched on the cliff’s edge, which was severely damaged by the 1956 earthquake, and its scars are still visible. Its cave-like houses with vaulted roofs haven’t yet been turned into luxury hotels or shops. Absolute tranquility reigns here.
Oia in 1967—a peaceful village overlooking the caldera. But where are the pools and trendy bars?
A lush countryside covered in olive trees and vineyards welcomes us for a pleasant hike, interrupted by the kindness of a friendly islander who gives us a lift in his truck for a few kilometers. He’s off to harvest his tomatoes, which he grows at the foot of Pyrgos Hill. The delicious little cherry tomato of Santorini earned an EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in 2013. We climb up to the village of Pyrgos, perched on a hill and dominated by the elegant bell tower of its church. Finally, we reach the black sand beach of Kamari on the island’s eastern coast to enjoy a swim.
{...} To be continued
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
RAIVAVAE (French Polynesia)
November 15, 2007
Éléonore from Pension Tama welcomes us with traditional flower leis, as if she’d been waiting for old friends she hadn’t seen in ages. The small airport terminal is lively, the atmosphere warm—people hugging, rejoicing in reunions, all under kilos of flowers. Then, just as quickly, the place empties until the next flight... in a few days.
In the Austral Islands, a ninety-minute flight from Tahiti, Raivavae is a world away from the frenetic pace of Papeete or the tourist crowds of the Leeward Islands. The true paradise of the South Seas can still be savored here—it’s a bit like Bora Bora half a century ago. Our first feeling upon arriving on this island is wonder, with smiles that could melt even the gloomiest among us, landscapes so stunning they take your breath away, and above all, a sense of disorientation and fulfillment. Picture a mountainous island, about ten kilometers by three and a half, encircled by a coral reef and wild motu, cradling a lagoon with shades of blue that would make Bora Bora green with envy.
The roughly one thousand inhabitants of Raivavae are spread across four villages around the island. Children are everywhere, as is typical in Polynesia, and they greet you with open, genuine smiles. Here, ancestral values have survived progress. The predominantly Protestant population is very devout, as evidenced by the several temples built across the island. Religious fervor sets the rhythm of daily life. Sundays are reserved for worship and Sunday school (catechism). Work is forbidden on that day, and tourist activities are suspended. These rules are strict and respected.
Hat contest for the worship celebration
Yet a sense of resignation is ever-present. The people of Raivavae know they are—and will remain—isolated. Despite the construction of an airstrip in 2004 and a few weekly flights to Tahiti and its nearest neighbor, Tubuai (200 km away), the island remains on the fringes of the world. One painful aspect is the separation of children from their parents when they leave for middle school in Tubuai starting in fifth grade. Television brings daily images of a world the islanders will likely never know, but one they often aspire to.
We are privileged. We have the pristine white-sand beaches of the motu and some of the most beautiful bays in Polynesia all to ourselves. The jewel in the crown, the island’s emblematic spot, is the “motu-pool,” about twenty minutes by boat. A natural, exquisite basin with crystal-clear water, gradients of blue, and white sand. And best of all, there’s almost no one there. In fact, lounging on the beach is frowned upon, especially for young women. Religion looks very unfavorably on sunbathing and lazing around. And yet, everything here leans toward that philosophy of life.
The "motu-pool"
{...} To be continued
Who among us hasn’t dreamed of having a ticket to Tahiti, Bora Bora, or the Marquesas in their pocket—preferably a one-way ticket to “paradise”?
Idyllic landscape of a dream island, but difficult to access: the Bay of Virgins in Fatu Hiva, Marquesas IslandsAmong the values conveyed by literature, tourism, and advertising is the quest for “elsewhere,” for a change of scenery, in the truest sense of the word—that is, the need to leave one’s country. This need for otherness, for difference, is projected onto dreamlike, idealized, even mythicized places. In our imaginary world, the island is often that place.
Yet we forget that islands have also been ideal prisons. The examples are numerous: Elba and Saint Helena, Alcatraz and Poulo Condor, If and Yeu, the Devil’s Islands and Leros. The latter, located in Greece in the Dodecanese, hosted a sinister forced labor camp during the colonels’ dictatorship as well as a psychiatric hospital. Despite the beauty of its bay, tourism has remained marginal there due to its bad reputation, unlike the neighboring island of Patmos.
I’d like to share a selection of about a dozen islands from across the world’s seas and oceans. For dreaming...
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
SANTORINI
July 27, 1967
At dawn, the ferry from Agios Nikolaos (Crete) enters the immense caldera of Santorini. From the ship’s deck, Rainer, my travel companion, and I are left in awe by the sight of these towering, multicolored cliffs looming over us. We disembark and begin the steep climb on foot via the winding mule path up to the village of Fira, the capital perched above the cliff. Though it’s still very early, we head to the youth hostel. There wasn’t a soul in the alleys that morning—or rather, there were only cats! I have a fond memory of that encounter with Santorini: a sensory shock, a breathtaking volcanic site, a harmony of blue, ochre-red, and white. A welcoming island, as it was traditional to welcome the xénou, an island that hadn’t yet fully recovered from the terrible 1956 earthquake, a Cycladic architectural marvel where local life was still preserved.
It’s easy to see why, in antiquity, the island was named Kallisté (καλλίστη), “the most beautiful,” as it’s nearly impossible to resist gazing at this landscape shaped by tectonic forces. Indeed, a massive volcanic cataclysm—the Minoan eruption—shaped this scenery in the 17th century BCE, creating a caldera that was quickly filled by the sea. The enormous tsunamis that followed reached Crete, leading to the disappearance of the Minoan civilization.
A cliffside path along the caldera leads us to the peaceful village of Oia, at the northern tip of the island. Blue-domed churches and flower-filled villages with whitewashed houses line the way. This walk is a continuous marvel, offering splendid views of the caldera and the neighboring islands formed by the breakup of the ancient volcano (Thirissa, Nea Kameni). Oia is a large, picturesque village, like Fira perched on the cliff’s edge, which was severely damaged by the 1956 earthquake, and its scars are still visible. Its cave-like houses with vaulted roofs haven’t yet been turned into luxury hotels or shops. Absolute tranquility reigns here.
Oia in 1967—a peaceful village overlooking the caldera. But where are the pools and trendy bars?A lush countryside covered in olive trees and vineyards welcomes us for a pleasant hike, interrupted by the kindness of a friendly islander who gives us a lift in his truck for a few kilometers. He’s off to harvest his tomatoes, which he grows at the foot of Pyrgos Hill. The delicious little cherry tomato of Santorini earned an EU Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in 2013. We climb up to the village of Pyrgos, perched on a hill and dominated by the elegant bell tower of its church. Finally, we reach the black sand beach of Kamari on the island’s eastern coast to enjoy a swim.
{...} To be continued
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
RAIVAVAE (French Polynesia)
November 15, 2007
Éléonore from Pension Tama welcomes us with traditional flower leis, as if she’d been waiting for old friends she hadn’t seen in ages. The small airport terminal is lively, the atmosphere warm—people hugging, rejoicing in reunions, all under kilos of flowers. Then, just as quickly, the place empties until the next flight... in a few days.
In the Austral Islands, a ninety-minute flight from Tahiti, Raivavae is a world away from the frenetic pace of Papeete or the tourist crowds of the Leeward Islands. The true paradise of the South Seas can still be savored here—it’s a bit like Bora Bora half a century ago. Our first feeling upon arriving on this island is wonder, with smiles that could melt even the gloomiest among us, landscapes so stunning they take your breath away, and above all, a sense of disorientation and fulfillment. Picture a mountainous island, about ten kilometers by three and a half, encircled by a coral reef and wild motu, cradling a lagoon with shades of blue that would make Bora Bora green with envy.
The roughly one thousand inhabitants of Raivavae are spread across four villages around the island. Children are everywhere, as is typical in Polynesia, and they greet you with open, genuine smiles. Here, ancestral values have survived progress. The predominantly Protestant population is very devout, as evidenced by the several temples built across the island. Religious fervor sets the rhythm of daily life. Sundays are reserved for worship and Sunday school (catechism). Work is forbidden on that day, and tourist activities are suspended. These rules are strict and respected.
Hat contest for the worship celebrationYet a sense of resignation is ever-present. The people of Raivavae know they are—and will remain—isolated. Despite the construction of an airstrip in 2004 and a few weekly flights to Tahiti and its nearest neighbor, Tubuai (200 km away), the island remains on the fringes of the world. One painful aspect is the separation of children from their parents when they leave for middle school in Tubuai starting in fifth grade. Television brings daily images of a world the islanders will likely never know, but one they often aspire to.
We are privileged. We have the pristine white-sand beaches of the motu and some of the most beautiful bays in Polynesia all to ourselves. The jewel in the crown, the island’s emblematic spot, is the “motu-pool,” about twenty minutes by boat. A natural, exquisite basin with crystal-clear water, gradients of blue, and white sand. And best of all, there’s almost no one there. In fact, lounging on the beach is frowned upon, especially for young women. Religion looks very unfavorably on sunbathing and lazing around. And yet, everything here leans toward that philosophy of life.
The "motu-pool"{...} To be continued
French company CFC
Hi
Has anyone sailed with the French company CFC? What do you think?
Haven’t seen many reviews about this company.
Annulation croisière Costa 2020 English translation pending
Bonjour à tous,
Nous avions réservé en fin d'année une croisiere costa pour cet été
Debut mars pour raisons perso nous avons annulé notre croisiere et avons donc reçu un net à nous rembourser avec 50 EUR de penalites par personne. Pendant 2 mois aucune nouvelle , ni mail rien. En mai on a encore reçu un doc avec encore un net à rembourser et les pénalités. Sans virement on a donc écrit au service client, qui ne veut rien entendre se basant sur le décret rétroactif alors que ce décret précisé que Costa aurait du nous informer au plus tard un mois après la parution de ce décret d'un avoir. N'ayant pas fait cela nous demandons donc un remboursement et pas un avoir. Depuis les échanges avec le service client sont de plus en plus tendus et ils nous ont répondu qu'il clôturé notre dossier et que notre avoir partirai de juillet 2020 !! Nous sommes très déçus et choqués de ce comportement
Certains d'entre vous ont ils eu les mêmes problèmes ?
Merci pour vos réponses
Pays basque, nouvelles mesures à partir du lundi 17 août English translation pending
Hola 😉
Le gouvernement espagnol ayant décidé de laisser à chaque région autonome (17) le soin de déterminer les mesures à prendre pour évider la propagation du coronavirus, c'est donc demain (lundi 17/08) que nous devrions connaître ces décisions, même si nous savons d'ores et déjà que rien de "spectaculaire" n'est dans les tuyaux !!
Pour le pays basque (là ou je suis) il se murmure que l'essentiel résidera dans la manière d'appliquer et de faire respecter ces mesures.
Deux particulièrement seront sans doute confirmée pour l'une et nouvelle pour l'autre. Confirmation du port du masque obligatoire dans TOUS les lieux publics, quelle que soit l'affluence (rues, places, marchés, transports, magasins, etc...)
La deuxième mesure si elle est confirmée sera une nouveauté : interdiction totale de fumer dans les lieux publics (les mêmes que précédents)
Les services de sécurité, municipaux, provinciaux ou nationaux seront chargés du contrôle du respect de ces règles, et la grande différence sera que le temps de la bienveillance à l'égard des contrevenants semble appartenir au passé, ce sera directement la sanction pécuniaire !!
Pour la prochaine rentrée scolaire ou universitaire, le port du masque sera obligatoire à tous moments, à l'extérieur comme à l'intérieur des salles de cours ou des amphis. Cette obligation de porter un masque s'applique à tous dés l'âge de 11 ans.
Bien sûr, seront également reprécisées les règles de distanciation.
Toujours selon "radio-couloirs", un re-confinement n'est pas à l'ordre du jour, du moins pour l'immédiat avenir !! Mais si la propagation du virus s'amplifie, l'autorité politique autonome n'hésitera pas à revenir à cette mesure si lourde de conséquences.
Dernier "potin du jour", il ne semble pas qu'une quelconque restriction de la circulation à la frontière avec la France soit envisagée.
Voilà ce qui se raconte du côté des services du Lehendakari (président de la communauté autonome du pays basque). Ceci n'est valable que pour le pays basque !!
Chaque région autonome a la liberté d'énoncer les mesures qu'elle jugerait utiles, sans que Madrid n'intervienne. Même si la majorité des décisions évoquées seront vraisemblablement prises par toutes les régions, il ne serait pas surprenant que certaines de ces autonomies, en fonction de leurs situations particulières, annoncent des mesures plus "sévères" pour les unes ou plus "libérales" pour d'autres !! Demain, Lundi 17 Août, nous devrions être fixés quel que soit le coin d'Espagne qui nous intéresse.
Cette procédure de délégation totale aux régions, de la prise de décisions pour enrayer la pandémie, fait suite au "torrent" de critiques qu'avait subi les gouvernement central à l'occasion des mesures adoptées, au moment du déclenchement de l'épidémie au printemps dernier. Ces critiques étaient plus souvent fondées sur des arguments "politico-politicien", la plupart du temps bien éloignés de la réalité sanitaire des régions. C'est pour cela que le gouvernement de Pedro Sanchez a adopté ce modus operandi, afin de mettre chaque région, donc les différents partis politiques qui les dirigent, devant leurs responsabilités en leur coupant la possibilité de se retrancher derrière le centralisme étatique!!!
Mañana sabremos como van a comernos !! Vivos o cocidos ... 😄 Hasta luego 😎
Le gouvernement espagnol ayant décidé de laisser à chaque région autonome (17) le soin de déterminer les mesures à prendre pour évider la propagation du coronavirus, c'est donc demain (lundi 17/08) que nous devrions connaître ces décisions, même si nous savons d'ores et déjà que rien de "spectaculaire" n'est dans les tuyaux !!
Pour le pays basque (là ou je suis) il se murmure que l'essentiel résidera dans la manière d'appliquer et de faire respecter ces mesures.
Deux particulièrement seront sans doute confirmée pour l'une et nouvelle pour l'autre. Confirmation du port du masque obligatoire dans TOUS les lieux publics, quelle que soit l'affluence (rues, places, marchés, transports, magasins, etc...)
La deuxième mesure si elle est confirmée sera une nouveauté : interdiction totale de fumer dans les lieux publics (les mêmes que précédents)
Les services de sécurité, municipaux, provinciaux ou nationaux seront chargés du contrôle du respect de ces règles, et la grande différence sera que le temps de la bienveillance à l'égard des contrevenants semble appartenir au passé, ce sera directement la sanction pécuniaire !!
Pour la prochaine rentrée scolaire ou universitaire, le port du masque sera obligatoire à tous moments, à l'extérieur comme à l'intérieur des salles de cours ou des amphis. Cette obligation de porter un masque s'applique à tous dés l'âge de 11 ans.
Bien sûr, seront également reprécisées les règles de distanciation.
Toujours selon "radio-couloirs", un re-confinement n'est pas à l'ordre du jour, du moins pour l'immédiat avenir !! Mais si la propagation du virus s'amplifie, l'autorité politique autonome n'hésitera pas à revenir à cette mesure si lourde de conséquences.
Dernier "potin du jour", il ne semble pas qu'une quelconque restriction de la circulation à la frontière avec la France soit envisagée.
Voilà ce qui se raconte du côté des services du Lehendakari (président de la communauté autonome du pays basque). Ceci n'est valable que pour le pays basque !!
Chaque région autonome a la liberté d'énoncer les mesures qu'elle jugerait utiles, sans que Madrid n'intervienne. Même si la majorité des décisions évoquées seront vraisemblablement prises par toutes les régions, il ne serait pas surprenant que certaines de ces autonomies, en fonction de leurs situations particulières, annoncent des mesures plus "sévères" pour les unes ou plus "libérales" pour d'autres !! Demain, Lundi 17 Août, nous devrions être fixés quel que soit le coin d'Espagne qui nous intéresse.
Cette procédure de délégation totale aux régions, de la prise de décisions pour enrayer la pandémie, fait suite au "torrent" de critiques qu'avait subi les gouvernement central à l'occasion des mesures adoptées, au moment du déclenchement de l'épidémie au printemps dernier. Ces critiques étaient plus souvent fondées sur des arguments "politico-politicien", la plupart du temps bien éloignés de la réalité sanitaire des régions. C'est pour cela que le gouvernement de Pedro Sanchez a adopté ce modus operandi, afin de mettre chaque région, donc les différents partis politiques qui les dirigent, devant leurs responsabilités en leur coupant la possibilité de se retrancher derrière le centralisme étatique!!!
Mañana sabremos como van a comernos !! Vivos o cocidos ... 😄 Hasta luego 😎
Lieu de séjour dans les Gorges du Tarn English translation pending
Bonsoir,
j'ai commencé à cette heure tardive à planifier mon séjour dans les Gorges du Tarn prévu pour la dernière semaine de ce mois-ci. L'annulation d'un voyage à cause de la crise sanitaire m'a conduit à éviter à prendre trop d'avance dans l'organisation d'un voyage.
Néanmoins, je constate que les lieux de séjour dans les endroits "centraux" des gorges du Tarn (Sainte-Enimie, La Malène …) sont tous complets. Les lieux de séjour disponibles sont situés à la Canourgue, Meyrueis ou Monstuéjouls. De ces différents lieux, il faudra au moins parfois 30 min en voiture pour visiter une partie des gorges. Et j'ai cru comprendre que les routes étaient assez sinueuses.
Parmi ces 3 endroits, y en aurait-il un qui serait préférable ? Monstuéjouls est à côté du Rozier mais à l'opposé de Quézac.
Faudrait-il combiner trajet en voiture et en canoë (sachant que je n'en ai jamais fait et j'ignore si la rivière est relativement calme) ?
Merci de vos avis et conseils.
j'ai commencé à cette heure tardive à planifier mon séjour dans les Gorges du Tarn prévu pour la dernière semaine de ce mois-ci. L'annulation d'un voyage à cause de la crise sanitaire m'a conduit à éviter à prendre trop d'avance dans l'organisation d'un voyage.
Néanmoins, je constate que les lieux de séjour dans les endroits "centraux" des gorges du Tarn (Sainte-Enimie, La Malène …) sont tous complets. Les lieux de séjour disponibles sont situés à la Canourgue, Meyrueis ou Monstuéjouls. De ces différents lieux, il faudra au moins parfois 30 min en voiture pour visiter une partie des gorges. Et j'ai cru comprendre que les routes étaient assez sinueuses.
Parmi ces 3 endroits, y en aurait-il un qui serait préférable ? Monstuéjouls est à côté du Rozier mais à l'opposé de Quézac.
Faudrait-il combiner trajet en voiture et en canoë (sachant que je n'en ai jamais fait et j'ignore si la rivière est relativement calme) ?
Merci de vos avis et conseils.
Randonnée dans les Gorges du Tarn en couple English translation pending
Bonjour à tous,
Auriez-vous un GR en particulier à conseiller pour une semaine de randonnée à deux dans les gorge du Tarn ? Nous sommes des marcheurs amateurs mais volontaires. Nous cherchons un point de départ et d'arrivée accessible en train. Idéalement possibilité de faire du canöe kayak !
Merci pour vos retours,
Aurélien
Auriez-vous un GR en particulier à conseiller pour une semaine de randonnée à deux dans les gorge du Tarn ? Nous sommes des marcheurs amateurs mais volontaires. Nous cherchons un point de départ et d'arrivée accessible en train. Idéalement possibilité de faire du canöe kayak !
Merci pour vos retours,
Aurélien
Les gros bagages cabine interdits de/vers l'Italie English translation pending
https://www.lesoir.be/309754/article/2020-06-26/voyages-litalie-interdit-lutilisation-des-compartiments-bagages-en-cabine
L’utilisation des compartiments bagages en cabine sur les vols à l’arrivée ou au départ de l’Italie est désormais interdite pour des raisons sanitaires. Cette nouvelle règle, annoncée jeudi aux compagnies aériennes, résulte d’un décret gouvernemental précisant que les voyageurs peuvent seulement monter à bord avec un sac de petite dimension à glisser sous le siège situé devant soi.
L’utilisation des compartiments bagages en cabine sur les vols à l’arrivée ou au départ de l’Italie est désormais interdite pour des raisons sanitaires. Cette nouvelle règle, annoncée jeudi aux compagnies aériennes, résulte d’un décret gouvernemental précisant que les voyageurs peuvent seulement monter à bord avec un sac de petite dimension à glisser sous le siège situé devant soi.
Reprise des vols à Bruxelles et Charleroi English translation pending
https://www.rtbf.be/info/economie/detail_plus-de-100-destinations-cet-ete-a-brussels-airport?id=10515927
Ryanair annonce 90 destinations a partir du 1er juillet (mais certaines dans des pays fermés aux Belges a ce jour).
Wizzair recommence aussi a Charleroi (également vers des pays fermés)
Le masque serait obligatoire a l'aéroport de Bruxelles a partir de 6 ans (ce qui est contraire aux directives officielles en Belgique, 12 ans).
Obtenir la capacité de mariage au Cameroun English translation pending
Bjr, je suis camerounaise et mon conjoint est francais, nous aimerons connaitre comment proceder pour obtenir la capacite a mariage , en ce moment ou le covid 19 bat son plein, de plus comment il le fera puisqu, il est en france en ce moment?, est ce que je peux le faire ici?. Merci pour une eventuelle intervention ca nous sauvera la vie
Recherche de plans au grand air pour cet été English translation pending
Bonjour à tous !
Je sors d'une année difficile faite d'isolement et de choix perturbés, j'aimerais faire quelque chose cet été au grand air, si la situation sanitaire le permet d'ici là. J'ai vraiment pas d'idées précises en tête (c'est pour ça que j'écris ce message). Ma palette de pays est vraiment large, même en dehors des continents que j'ai cités, mais j'ai globalement en tête les pays d'europe du nord (Pays scandinaves, finlande ; irlande...) ou le canada, (états-unis) mais c'est vraiment vraiment pas fixe, ça peut très être aussi en Euorpe de l'est par exemple, je serais super content de découvrir cette région, ou dans d'autres endroits. Pareil pour le "cadre" (les "activités"), j'ai pas vraiment quelque chose de précis en tête, bénévolat, job saisonnier, ou truc préparé soit même (rando/solitaire/ cabane...). Je suis ouvert à tout. Cabane serait cool ^^ mais jsp, je pense que je pourrais gérer moi-même. Y en a de vous qui ont déjà eu des expériences du types, en cabane en solitaire ? Ce serait vraiment cool.
J'aimerais bien aussi faire quelque chose "d'utile", genre bénévolat ou job saisonnier. J'ai d'ordinaire un très bon tact avec les animaux et je suis plutôt sensible aux causes animalières, donc sanctuaires pour animaux m'irait bien, ou aider des bergers irlandais pendant l'été. Après y a des milliers de façons de faire du bénévolat ou de travailler l'été. Les petites villes touristiques ou centres de vacance en campagne doivent avoir besoin de beaucoup de monde aussi en été... Voilà, mon message, on pourrait croire que plus la palette de choix est large, plus c'est simple de chercher, mais non, pas du tout, donc si vous avez des tips, des conseils, des sites internets, des expériences à me partager, elles seraient plus que bienvenue ! Merci à vous, et bon courage pour le virus et le confinement
J'aimerais bien aussi faire quelque chose "d'utile", genre bénévolat ou job saisonnier. J'ai d'ordinaire un très bon tact avec les animaux et je suis plutôt sensible aux causes animalières, donc sanctuaires pour animaux m'irait bien, ou aider des bergers irlandais pendant l'été. Après y a des milliers de façons de faire du bénévolat ou de travailler l'été. Les petites villes touristiques ou centres de vacance en campagne doivent avoir besoin de beaucoup de monde aussi en été... Voilà, mon message, on pourrait croire que plus la palette de choix est large, plus c'est simple de chercher, mais non, pas du tout, donc si vous avez des tips, des conseils, des sites internets, des expériences à me partager, elles seraient plus que bienvenue ! Merci à vous, et bon courage pour le virus et le confinement
Pollution au nord de la Thaïlande English translation pending
Bonjour à tous,
le sujet a été plusieurs fois abordé mais je voudrais apporter ma contribution puisque je séjourne tout au nord du pays depuis mi décembre. Elle a atteint depuis quelques jours des pics élevés, je me base sur le site aqicn.org : on est un peu partout dans les provinces du nord au dessus de 150 microgrammes par mètre cube de particules fines avec un indice de 300 cette après-midi vers Chiangdao au nord de Chiang Maï. Bangkok avec des taux en dessous de 100 est en ce moment beaucoup moins pollué. Je ne vais pas aborder la question des masques qu'il faut ou non porter mais plutôt essayer de donner des causes, en souhaitant que d'autres complètent ou éventuellement rectifient mes propos. Je pense que la raison principale est tous les feux qui sont allumés dans les champs: soit on se débarrasse des mauvaises herbes à moindre prix ( champs de cannes à sucre )mais surtout à cause de l'idée sans fondement selon laquelle brûler la rizière après récolte serait bénéfique pour celle-ci agissant comme un engrais. Ces pratiques sont interdites à partir de mars (début ou mi-mars ?) résultat: on se dépêche de le faire avant et de plus :
quel sera le degré d'efficacité de la mesure d'interdiction?
ces pratiques concernent les pays limitrophes Laos et Birmanie où la législation et son contrôle sont encore plus hasardeux pour ne pas dire inexistants. En effectuant un vol Heho( lac Inlé)-Tachileik( frontière thaie de Mae Sai) en Birmanie j'ai vu nettement d'en haut la couche grise dans les vallées.
La pollution est moins élevée dans la journée, l'indice monte le soir et dans la nuit. A cela s'ajoute la pollution automobile dans les villes: Lampang en tête.
En conclusion, vous pouvez consulter le site ou télécharger l'application aqi pour vous faire une idée plus précise. Vous pourrez y constater qu'il n'y a aucun relevé (de ce site en tout cas) au Laos et une seule mesure en Birmanie au consulat américain de Rangoun
Remboursement billets Air France pour l'Inde English translation pending
Bonjour a tous,
J'ai prévus de longue date pour cette année 2020 un super voyage d'un mois en Inde et plus particulièrement au Ladakh du 29 Aout au 29 Septembre. Je viens d'apprendre très recemment que ma soeur attend son 1er enfant (le 1er de la famille) pour le 15 Septembre. Très bonne nouvelle pais incroyable timing ^^.
Je ne pense donc pas pouvoir faire ce voyage. Je souhaitais savoir s'il y avait un moyen de me faire rembourser mon aller retour à New-Dehli avec Air France ou peut-être par l'assurance de ma carte bleu visa ? Je n'ai pour une fois bien entendu pas pris d'assurance annulation contrairement a mes précédents voyages où elle ne m'avait jamais servie ...
Merci d'avance
Renaud
Trop tard pour planifier un voyage à Madagascar cet été? English translation pending
Bonjour à tous,
La nouvelle trotte dans notre tête depuis cette semaine. Pourquoi pas Madagascar comme destination ! Avant de faire des recherches, j'ai une question toute simple. Est-il trop tard pour organiser 3 semaines de voyage en juillet/août ? Nous viendrons du Canada. J'imagine que les européens y vont beaucoup durant les grandes vacances...
Merci
La nouvelle trotte dans notre tête depuis cette semaine. Pourquoi pas Madagascar comme destination ! Avant de faire des recherches, j'ai une question toute simple. Est-il trop tard pour organiser 3 semaines de voyage en juillet/août ? Nous viendrons du Canada. J'imagine que les européens y vont beaucoup durant les grandes vacances...
Merci
Le GR48 dans la Sierra Morena en Andalousie English translation pending
Bonjour,
Simplement pour vous recommander ce GR dans l’Andalousie plus sauvage. Ce sentier part de Barrancos (dernier village portugais avant d’entrer en Espagne). Après vous traverserez toutes les provinces ( comme les départements en France) de l’Andalousie, côté nord, en suivant toute la Sierra Morena. Un territoire où on peut trouver encore le lynx ibérique, le félin le plus menacé au monde. Personnellement j’ai fait la partie qui va de Barrancos jusqu’à Córdoba et c’était incroyable. C’est un GR sauvage où on croise presque personne (seulement on trouve du monde dans la partie qui partage avec el camino de la Plata, le chemin de pèlerinage de St Jacques qui va du sud au nord c’est-à-dire de Sevilla à Compostela en Galice. Cependant, c’est un chemin où c’est très facile de trouver du logement (si vous êtes intéressé, je peux vous filer des adresses. En plus, comme on est dans l’Andalousie, les prix sont très bas. 20-30€ par nuit.
De tous les GR que j’ai fait en Espagne, que je connais bien, c’est celui qui m’a plus impressionné. Aussi le GR de Serra de Tramuntana à Majorque.
La distance de celui de Sierra Morena est de 550km entre Barrancos et Santa Elena à Jaen, mais c’est possible de faire des petits morceaux si on est fatigué comme c’est mon cas. L’avantage, que tu peux sortir du chemin et aller visiter des grandes villes comme Sevilla ou comme dans mon cas, Córdoba.
Carles
Concours photo du mois de janvier 2020: Allons à la pêche! English translation pending
Meilleurs vœux à tous pour cette nouvelle année !
Je vous propose de commencer 2020 par un concours dont le thème est la pêche. Ainsi, vos photos pourront faire apparaitre des scènes de pêche en mer, en rivière, en lac, industrielle ou non, des hameçons, des pêcheurs à pied, en bateau, avec canne, filet, carrelets... Bref, tout l'univers de la pêche pourra être représenté sans pour autant tomber dans la poissonnerie (à savoir des étals de poissons). C'est davantage l'activité même qui nous intéresse ici.
Dépôt des photos jusqu’au mercredi 22 janvier minuit. Vous pouvez poster jusqu’à 3 photos, numérotées et postées dans des messages différents, accompagnées d’un petit descriptif (lieu, anecdote...)
Vote du jeudi 23 janvier au jeudi 30 janvier minuit. Merci d’indiquer le numéro de la photo, le pseudo et le nombre de points attribués. Photo n°1 = 3 pts Photo n°2 = 2 pts Photo n°3 = 1 pt Tous les membres de VF peuvent voter (même ceux qui n’ont pas déposé de photos).
En cas d’égalité de points pour la première position, la photo gagnante sera celle ayant obtenu le plus grand nombre de 1ères places, puis de secondes places ! L’heureux (se) gagnant(e) devra organiser le concours photo de février 2020.
La discussion, c'est par là
3,2,1 Partez !
Je vous propose de commencer 2020 par un concours dont le thème est la pêche. Ainsi, vos photos pourront faire apparaitre des scènes de pêche en mer, en rivière, en lac, industrielle ou non, des hameçons, des pêcheurs à pied, en bateau, avec canne, filet, carrelets... Bref, tout l'univers de la pêche pourra être représenté sans pour autant tomber dans la poissonnerie (à savoir des étals de poissons). C'est davantage l'activité même qui nous intéresse ici.
Dépôt des photos jusqu’au mercredi 22 janvier minuit. Vous pouvez poster jusqu’à 3 photos, numérotées et postées dans des messages différents, accompagnées d’un petit descriptif (lieu, anecdote...)
Vote du jeudi 23 janvier au jeudi 30 janvier minuit. Merci d’indiquer le numéro de la photo, le pseudo et le nombre de points attribués. Photo n°1 = 3 pts Photo n°2 = 2 pts Photo n°3 = 1 pt Tous les membres de VF peuvent voter (même ceux qui n’ont pas déposé de photos).
En cas d’égalité de points pour la première position, la photo gagnante sera celle ayant obtenu le plus grand nombre de 1ères places, puis de secondes places ! L’heureux (se) gagnant(e) devra organiser le concours photo de février 2020.
La discussion, c'est par là
3,2,1 Partez !
Voyage au Maroc en Disco 3 en avril 2020 English translation pending
Bonjour a tous,prévoyons sur fin mars a mi avril 2020 voyage au Maroc en disco 3 équipé raisonnablement. pour le moment arrivée a Ceuta, on file sur Beni-Mellal sans doute par casa pour pas perdre trop de temps, et commencement des pistes (plus ou moins goudronnées maintenant...) petit trip a travers l 'atlas Imichil, ensuite on file sur El Rachidia pour aller gouter en 4X4 un peu le sable ou ca sera ma première expérience on va descendre ensuite par les pistes Gandini jusqu'a m'hamid et ensuite foum zguid par irika l 'idée ensuite est de filer vers Taroudant et revenir vers marrackech ensuite et on remonte tout ca en 15 jours. on a déja fait une partie de ces pistes en moto (Gs 1200) mais au depart de france et avec notre auto c 'est une expérience nouvelle du coup si ca interesse quelqu'un... on va faire un mix bivouac/hotel on cherche pas a faire du rally... et le parcours n 'est pas encore totalement fixé ni sur le parcours, ni sur les dates exactes enfin selon la fatigue, les contraintes et plaisir on peut changer a souhait notre parcours initial. n 'hésitez pas merci.
Eau du robinet filtrée avec gourde Lifestraw (Thaïlande - Laos - Vietnam) English translation pending
Bonjour, je voudrai emmener une gourde filtrante lifestraw pour boire l'eau du robinet
Elle filtre 99% des bactéries mais j'ai peur quelle ne filtre pas les produits chimiques tels que les pesticides ou métaux lourds
Est ce que en Thaïlande, au Laos et au Vietnam il y a des produits toxiques dans l'eau du robinet ou le risque n'es que au niveau des bactéries ?
Impressions sur Berlin English translation pending
Bonjour !
Je suis nouvelle et je veux vous parler de mon voyage à Berlin
Depuis des années, je n'entends que du bien de Berlin. En effet, quand on se balade sur le web, les compliments ne manquent pas ! Une ville à l'histoire riche, aux nombreux musées, une ville où il fait bon vivre, une ville jeune, dynamique, une ville où le street art est très présent... Tous ces arguments auraient du me convaincre de découvrir la ville, mais en fait pas vraiment.
Depuis des années, je n'entends que du bien de Berlin. En effet, quand on se balade sur le web, les compliments ne manquent pas ! Une ville à l'histoire riche, aux nombreux musées, une ville où il fait bon vivre, une ville jeune, dynamique, une ville où le street art est très présent... Tous ces arguments auraient du me convaincre de découvrir la ville, mais en fait pas vraiment.
Louer un pick-up pour road trip sur la côte ouest américaine English translation pending
Bonjour,
Nous allons faire un road trip sur la côte ouest des usa pendant 3 semaines et nous voudrions louer un pick-up.
Savez-vous si le coffre de ces véhicules est fermé par un rideau ou pas ?
Merci d'avance pour vos réponses🙂
État d'urgence à Santiago (Chili) English translation pending
Bonjour,
Une hausse des tarifs de transport en début du mois a provoqué de nombreuses manifestations plus ou moins spontanées dans le métro de Santiago.
Le phénomène a pris de l'ampleur et des pillages de grandes surfaces ont maintenant eu lieu aussi.
L'État d'Urgence a été déclaré, pour le moment, UNIQUEMENT EN CE QUI CONCERNE LA RÉGION MÉTROPOLITAINE, càd Santiago et les environs immédiats.
Mais. des manifestations ont actuellement lieu dans d'autres villes du Chili et la situation pourrait empirer encore.
La situation s'est fort dégradée ces dernières heures.
Restez particulièrement attentifs.
Bonne chance.
Thierry
Une hausse des tarifs de transport en début du mois a provoqué de nombreuses manifestations plus ou moins spontanées dans le métro de Santiago.
Le phénomène a pris de l'ampleur et des pillages de grandes surfaces ont maintenant eu lieu aussi.
L'État d'Urgence a été déclaré, pour le moment, UNIQUEMENT EN CE QUI CONCERNE LA RÉGION MÉTROPOLITAINE, càd Santiago et les environs immédiats.
Mais. des manifestations ont actuellement lieu dans d'autres villes du Chili et la situation pourrait empirer encore.
La situation s'est fort dégradée ces dernières heures.
Restez particulièrement attentifs.
Bonne chance.
Thierry
Trajet de Managua à San Carlos en février English translation pending
Bonjour à tous
Nous partons au Nicaragua en février prochain et aimerions savoir s'il est possible de relier Managa à San Carlos et comment ?
Merci pour votre aide😎
Béa
Masai Mara and Melting Pot Safari... So disappointed!
Hello everyone,
I imagine many of you have been captivated by the Masai Mara park and/or your safari experience with Tony Crocetta/Melting Pot Safari. Still, I’d like to share my perspective. First, I’m an avid traveler, especially in love with Africa, which my partner and I have explored a bit (Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia...). That said, I want to express my deep disappointment with both the Masai Mara and Tony Crocetta’s camp, Melting Pot Safari, where we stayed last year.
First, about the park: it’s stunning, no doubt. But what a highly touristy place! I can’t find the words to describe the horror of being among 30 4x4 vehicles lined up in front of a lioness hunt, let alone encircling her right after her kill while her prey is still alive in her jaws... no respect for wildlife. The same goes for surrounding a young leopard playing with its small prey, a moment when I counted over 50 vehicles, most with their engines running... sickening. I turned away, both my gaze and my camera. What a disaster to see this natural wonder of Africa turned into a tourist hotspot.
Yes, I loved this place on Earth, but no, I won’t "promote" it anywhere or to anyone.
Next, I also wanted to share my dissatisfaction with Tony Crocetta’s famous camp, Melting Pot Safari: where to begin? We booked a private vehicle for four with two friends, and I have no complaints about the vehicle itself (though it obviously came at a cost). The windows and the vehicle weren’t very photo-friendly, but let’s move on. The trip between the sisters’ guesthouse (which was fine) and the camp went smoothly, except we arrived a bit too late. Result: "We’ll leave for the safari an hour later today because the driver has to respect his rest hours." Perfect—with park formalities, we only spent about an hour in the park that evening. The safari got off to a great start... During our 12-day stay, we saw some amazing things. Tony wasn’t at the camp—I don’t know what the atmosphere is like when he’s there, but it was rather cold during our trip. Sylvie, his wife, barely looked at us, never asking how our day, night, or game drive went (I think she spoke to us once during the stay, plus the day we arrived, of course). We felt invisible... (if I were mean, I’d say the money had already been deposited into Melting Pot’s bank account.) The evening meals, if I may say so, were a joke: not enough dessert (aside from fruit, but the few elaborate desserts—like 10 for 18 guests) for everyone, barely enough meat or sides. If you were unlucky like us and ended up with a group of 15 people who decided to skip the starter, you’d better hurry to get your main course, or there might not be any left—and no refills... We always ate our fill, but sometimes we had to serve ourselves in advance. Finally, I want to correct something about the quality of the meals: seriously, this buffet was really mediocre and far from the culinary standards I’d read about in my pre-trip research (see their Facebook page). Anyway, let’s move past the food—after all, the avocados were sublime, and we’re not there primarily to eat.
About the tent: the river views were beautiful, and the beds were very comfortable. No running water, individual showers outside the tent, and dry toilets—but it’s Africa, so we weren’t shocked. However, I’m disappointed that for this "modest" price, I wasn’t warned there’d be no soap (and no, I don’t travel with my own soap—and for the price, a little bar in the tent wouldn’t be a luxury). But let’s move on—the hippo views were fantastic. Oh, and to preserve the Masai Mara’s water (which makes sense) and for hygiene reasons, underwear isn’t washed by the camp staff—fair enough. But then what’s that little sign next to the bed? Oh right, for a hefty sum, underwear suddenly becomes "washable"...
Finally, my biggest gripe is about the essential part: the game drives. In France, they sell you a dream with a "photo safari" (what’s the difference, really? A room with a few more electrical outlets?). They promise guides especially suited for photography (not a given, sorry) and vehicles that can get close to animals and go off-road... but here’s the catch: the guides are bound by park laws and hounded by rangers looking to fine rule-breakers. Result: as soon as a white ranger vehicle is spotted, we have to abandon our spot for a wild chase through the grass. Fun once... The next day, we learned that another group’s guide got caught and had to pay $100 for breaking the rules—a sum he casually asked the travelers in his vehicle to cover... because of course, Melting Pot lures tourists with dreams, the poor rangers try to get close, all while breaking park laws... and they break those laws for Crocetta’s company, which, of course, won’t dip into its profits to pay the fines. Basically, it’s "keep the clients happy, but don’t get fined—or the fines are on you or you’ll have to ask the clients directly." Nice boss! Anyway, there were long discussions about this last year, especially among the guests in the fined vehicle. My partner and I found these practices unacceptable, and we were deeply disappointed by this attitude.
I know many people adore this park and/or this company—maybe you were luckier... or maybe you’re less demanding than we are when it comes to respecting rules, nature, and clients. But after traveling through much of southern Africa, I can tell you we personally came back frustrated from this experience and aren’t eager to return... You’ve been warned.
I imagine many of you have been captivated by the Masai Mara park and/or your safari experience with Tony Crocetta/Melting Pot Safari. Still, I’d like to share my perspective. First, I’m an avid traveler, especially in love with Africa, which my partner and I have explored a bit (Zambia, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia...). That said, I want to express my deep disappointment with both the Masai Mara and Tony Crocetta’s camp, Melting Pot Safari, where we stayed last year.
First, about the park: it’s stunning, no doubt. But what a highly touristy place! I can’t find the words to describe the horror of being among 30 4x4 vehicles lined up in front of a lioness hunt, let alone encircling her right after her kill while her prey is still alive in her jaws... no respect for wildlife. The same goes for surrounding a young leopard playing with its small prey, a moment when I counted over 50 vehicles, most with their engines running... sickening. I turned away, both my gaze and my camera. What a disaster to see this natural wonder of Africa turned into a tourist hotspot.
Yes, I loved this place on Earth, but no, I won’t "promote" it anywhere or to anyone.
Next, I also wanted to share my dissatisfaction with Tony Crocetta’s famous camp, Melting Pot Safari: where to begin? We booked a private vehicle for four with two friends, and I have no complaints about the vehicle itself (though it obviously came at a cost). The windows and the vehicle weren’t very photo-friendly, but let’s move on. The trip between the sisters’ guesthouse (which was fine) and the camp went smoothly, except we arrived a bit too late. Result: "We’ll leave for the safari an hour later today because the driver has to respect his rest hours." Perfect—with park formalities, we only spent about an hour in the park that evening. The safari got off to a great start... During our 12-day stay, we saw some amazing things. Tony wasn’t at the camp—I don’t know what the atmosphere is like when he’s there, but it was rather cold during our trip. Sylvie, his wife, barely looked at us, never asking how our day, night, or game drive went (I think she spoke to us once during the stay, plus the day we arrived, of course). We felt invisible... (if I were mean, I’d say the money had already been deposited into Melting Pot’s bank account.) The evening meals, if I may say so, were a joke: not enough dessert (aside from fruit, but the few elaborate desserts—like 10 for 18 guests) for everyone, barely enough meat or sides. If you were unlucky like us and ended up with a group of 15 people who decided to skip the starter, you’d better hurry to get your main course, or there might not be any left—and no refills... We always ate our fill, but sometimes we had to serve ourselves in advance. Finally, I want to correct something about the quality of the meals: seriously, this buffet was really mediocre and far from the culinary standards I’d read about in my pre-trip research (see their Facebook page). Anyway, let’s move past the food—after all, the avocados were sublime, and we’re not there primarily to eat.
About the tent: the river views were beautiful, and the beds were very comfortable. No running water, individual showers outside the tent, and dry toilets—but it’s Africa, so we weren’t shocked. However, I’m disappointed that for this "modest" price, I wasn’t warned there’d be no soap (and no, I don’t travel with my own soap—and for the price, a little bar in the tent wouldn’t be a luxury). But let’s move on—the hippo views were fantastic. Oh, and to preserve the Masai Mara’s water (which makes sense) and for hygiene reasons, underwear isn’t washed by the camp staff—fair enough. But then what’s that little sign next to the bed? Oh right, for a hefty sum, underwear suddenly becomes "washable"...
Finally, my biggest gripe is about the essential part: the game drives. In France, they sell you a dream with a "photo safari" (what’s the difference, really? A room with a few more electrical outlets?). They promise guides especially suited for photography (not a given, sorry) and vehicles that can get close to animals and go off-road... but here’s the catch: the guides are bound by park laws and hounded by rangers looking to fine rule-breakers. Result: as soon as a white ranger vehicle is spotted, we have to abandon our spot for a wild chase through the grass. Fun once... The next day, we learned that another group’s guide got caught and had to pay $100 for breaking the rules—a sum he casually asked the travelers in his vehicle to cover... because of course, Melting Pot lures tourists with dreams, the poor rangers try to get close, all while breaking park laws... and they break those laws for Crocetta’s company, which, of course, won’t dip into its profits to pay the fines. Basically, it’s "keep the clients happy, but don’t get fined—or the fines are on you or you’ll have to ask the clients directly." Nice boss! Anyway, there were long discussions about this last year, especially among the guests in the fined vehicle. My partner and I found these practices unacceptable, and we were deeply disappointed by this attitude.
I know many people adore this park and/or this company—maybe you were luckier... or maybe you’re less demanding than we are when it comes to respecting rules, nature, and clients. But after traveling through much of southern Africa, I can tell you we personally came back frustrated from this experience and aren’t eager to return... You’ve been warned.
Choix du siège payant English translation pending
Bonjour voilà je voudrait savoir j ai réservé un voyage pour l île maurice vol inclus dans le voyage sauf que quand je vais sur le site de la compagnie aérienne choisir mes place il me dise que c est payant ?C est payant si je choisi mes place ou on m atribu directement des places première fois que nous allons prende l avion
Really disappointed with Costa Rica!
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages. 3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer. Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness. My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place. On the main routes, we visited: San José Alajuela Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side) Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side) And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched. He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown. What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor. At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José: It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken. On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox. From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire. Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets. Bars with security guards out front. I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel. The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses. The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in. A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park. Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further. We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it. A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces. A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures. But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business. Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse! According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable. Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos. A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park! A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park. The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color. Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded! Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30. The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches. As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves. A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!" For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex! The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for? For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places. In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs: Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you. For everyone else: run!
The country where animals are free and people are in cages. 3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer. Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness. My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place. On the main routes, we visited: San José Alajuela Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side) Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side) And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched. He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown. What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor. At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José: It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken. On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox. From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire. Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets. Bars with security guards out front. I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel. The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses. The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in. A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park. Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further. We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it. A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces. A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures. But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business. Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse! According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable. Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos. A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park! A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park. The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color. Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded! Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30. The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches. As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves. A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!" For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex! The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for? For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places. In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs: Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you. For everyone else: run!
Emménager dans le Lot English translation pending
Bonjour,
D'ici quelques semaines je vais m'installer dans le Lot, à priori autour de Gourdon. Aussi, ne connaissant pas du tout la région j'aurais aimé avoir des retours.
Fait-il bon vivre à Gourdon ? Ou alors Souillac ? y a t'il une ville entre les deux qui soit sympa ? Je pense que mon emménagement se fera autour de ces deux villes, mais plus sur gourdon peut-être...
Bref, je cherche des expériences de connaisseurs qui puissent me fournir les infos nécessaire à une bonne installation 🙂
merci d'avance !
D'ici quelques semaines je vais m'installer dans le Lot, à priori autour de Gourdon. Aussi, ne connaissant pas du tout la région j'aurais aimé avoir des retours.
Fait-il bon vivre à Gourdon ? Ou alors Souillac ? y a t'il une ville entre les deux qui soit sympa ? Je pense que mon emménagement se fera autour de ces deux villes, mais plus sur gourdon peut-être...
Bref, je cherche des expériences de connaisseurs qui puissent me fournir les infos nécessaire à une bonne installation 🙂
merci d'avance !
Arnaque Europ Assistance English translation pending
J'ai pris un billet d'avion sur Opodo à ma maman pour qu'elle vienne me voir en Martinique,
j'ai souscrit à l'assurance tous risques EUROP ASSISTANCE, car elle à 83 ans; il s'avère qu'elle n'a pas pu prendre le vol,
pour maladie, son medecin lui avait fait un certificat,
europ assistance m'a dit par mail qu'elle ne serait pas remboursée
le contrat disait
- Annulation pour maladie grave, accident ou décès - Annulation pour toutes causes justifiées
"Votre demande n’entre pas dans le cadre des garanties prévues au contrat, dans la mesure où votre pathologie n'entre pas dans la définition de maladie"
le contrat disait
- Annulation pour maladie grave, accident ou décès - Annulation pour toutes causes justifiées
"Votre demande n’entre pas dans le cadre des garanties prévues au contrat, dans la mesure où votre pathologie n'entre pas dans la définition de maladie"
Billets de train payés en ligne pour un trajet Schiphol - Amsterdam English translation pending
Bonjour
Pour un séjour du 13 au 17 mai, je voudrais réserver par internet mes billets de train AR de l'aéroport d'Amsterdam à la gare Centrale et je dois préciser les heures, aussi je me demande pour le retour, combien de temps je dois prévoir pour être à temps pour l'enregistrement. Donc j'hésite un peu. Et pourtant ça m'éviterait la billetterie de la gare et les attentes. Quelqu'un peut donner des tuyaux sur ce sujet ?
Merci
Kate
Le refuge d'Ortu, sur le GR20, détruit par un incendie English translation pending
Le refuge d'Ortu di u Piobbu a été détruis dans un incendie aujourd’hui 04 mai 2019, il ne peut donc plus accueillir de randonneurs.
Ce refuge est la fin de la première étape du GR20 (au départ de Calenzana).
Renseignez-vous avant de partir ou auprès du Parc naturel régional de Corse (PNRC) : page FB ou leur mail : info@pnr-corse.fr
Tél. 04 95 51 79 00
Je pense que le PNRC fera ce qu'il faut assez rapidement (avant mi-juin, sûrement).
D'Aswan à Khartoum, janvier 2019 English translation pending
Pour éviter de faire 2 fois la route et pour voir Philae que nous n'avions pas visité lors de notre 1ère venue à Aswan en 2011 où nous avions pris une felouque pour descendre le Nil jusque Edfou( génial ) j'ai décidé de remonter le Nil depuis l'Egypte .
Ma canne anglaise ayant franchi les contrôles sans trop de Pb nous voici à Asw à l'hôtel Keylani , modeste mais propre . Petit dej modeste également , puis discussion avec un voyagiste local convoqué à ma demande pour organiser notre voyage jusqu'à Wadi-Halfa porte d'entrée au Soudan . J'avais passé un temps fou pour l'organiser depuis la France : en vain. Là en trois coups de cuillère à pot c'était réglé . Le car pour les touristes part à 4h du mat.!!!J'ai jamais été foutu de me lever si tôt sauf urgence ; en fait le car part en convoi militaire . je discute dur et j'apprends qu'il y a un bus local qui part à 8h30 à moitié prix sans convoi adopté ! Puis nous partons à Philae avec Geffrey , un Ecossais rencontré à l_' hôtel . Première surprise une présence policière incroyable avec cabanons de béton tous les 500m et automitrailleuses à l'abri du soleil à côté . Le taxi nous fait passer par la grande digue sans intérêt mais payante . Enfin arrivée au débarcadère (pas un touriste ) où Geffrey marchande comme un fou la traversée et où nous récupérons un espagnol muy sympatico . Philae pour nous seuls ou presque vraiment chouette . Retour à Asw où Geffrey nous propose d'aller en felouque visiter les îles . O.K. remarchandage forcené . La felouque se traine et finit par s'arrêter faute de vent vers l'autre côté du Nil . Pas vu les îles mais nous assistons à un coucher de soleil splendide . Un collègue de nos marins d'eau douce , motorisé , nous remorque jusqu'à la rive . Je hèle un taxi collectif qui nous amène au " Salah ed Din " , repéré dans le petit Fûté , pour nous remettre de nos émotions : excellent et mérité . Retour à l'hôtel tout proche par le souk où en passant j'achète un superbe jean , égyptien garanti .