Xmas lights in Clermont-Ferrand. Ooooh... sparkly!
Only 2 hours in & first bakery craving shot of the trip! Quick stop for snack of quiche & gateau basque. Nom!
Hike to Lac de Greziolles via reservoir des Laquets. Shadows, sun & a few drops of rain. Beautiful up there though!
Go on then, as we're over this way...afternoon walk to Cirque de Gavarnie. Low clouds making it very moody up there!
Lac de Gaube & Pont d'Espagne... always a great hike. Beautiful (mostly) sunny autumn morning.
Grey day down low so little hike above the clouds. Part way to Hount Blanque + Le Courouaou. Amazing up here today!
Lac d'Estaing stroll. Making friends with locals Bit calmer than visit the other week & lake is like a mirror!
Grey start today, but when the sun came was beautiful hiking through autumnal forest, passing small streams & falls.
Return of Octave statue to his winter home in BdB. Couple of cheeky beers and a chat with our local pro. Nice event.
More random sightseeing: autumn forests and saying hi... erm... moooooo!... to cattle at the Col d'Aspin.
Back on theme... quick bubble tea stop. Someone is very happy!
Obligatory bakery craving photo: San Sebastian edition. Spoiler alert: we went in for a slice & a... erm... beer!
Sightseeing at a *VERY* windy Lac d'Estaing. 100+kph recorded at the local airport so who knows what it was up here!
Out walking and stumbled across these... that's lunch sorted!
Bienvenue en France! Not quite the warm welcome home I'd hoped for!
Last snack in Madeira: more treats from another bakery
Monte Palace garden, Funchal. The perfect place to visit with your plant obsessed wife!
Dinner at O Polar, Funchal. More superb meat - this time steak skewers & roast chicken. And dessert of course Nom!
Post hike refreshments... coffee, beer & passion fruit dessert (which was both unusual & delicious). Nom!
Miradouro da Bica da Cana. More sublime views from mountains to the sea!
Today's hike part 2: Fanal forest. Many of these beautiful trees have been dated at 5-800 years old! So cool!
Part 1 of today's hike: down to the waterfall source of this levada, through lush forest & past fern walls. Magical!
In the grounds of Hotel Quinta da Serra, this Eucalyptus is allegedly the tallest tree on Madeira. Sure is a big boy!
First part of today's hike: Levada do Furado all to ourselves. Didn't see a soul until we were almost back to start!
We skipped the touristic looking places & had lunch snack in a side-street bar. Tasty fish sandwich, coffee & cake.
Obligatory bakery craving photo ... Funchal edition.
Coastal hike from Canical, along the levada to Pico do Facho & back. Mostly dry & dusty but very quiet which is nice.
Crystal clear Lac d'Estom & the equally pristine Gave de Lutour. Many shallows & waterfalls on this hike. Stunning!
Lunch stop on the pretty main street of Morestel. Random cafe we chose had interesting mains & amazing desserts. Nom!
Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne cathedral & cloisters. Very interesting & cool (literally!) break from the hot summer sun.
Great lunch at L'Indochine (Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne). Bit warm for fried dessert but glad we had them - super nom!
Views from the road today: Driving down to La Thuile, over Col du Petit Saint-Bernard & through La Rosière.
Part two of our hike today. The impossibly beautiful Lago d'Arpy. Lost for words!
Easy hike through pine forest carpeted with buttercups to Belvedere d'Arpy, which has an amazing view of Mt Blanc!
Couple of views up and down the Aosta Valley from Sarre. What a beautiful place!!
Well this is alright! Camping right by Lake Maggiore. Even a little beach here, but not hot enough to warrant a swim.
Sanctuary of the Nativity of Mary, Vicoforte. Very ornate inside. Beautiful square with archways opposite. Love it!
Obligatory bakery craving photo ... Italian edition.
Dinner & short stroll around Diano Marina. We just stopped here by chance but turns out to be a lovely little town
Stroll in village of Seillans. Fountains & immaculately presented eateries a theme, but sadly bit early for lunch
Beautiful short hike by Rio Aguas Limpias. Saw a few falls but from noise in gorge below are plenty more out of view.
We normally avoid campsite restaurants, but the menu del dia here looked good & didn't disappoint. Nom!
After lunch, obligatory 'town square by the big name' photos... and a random wheat/poppy field on the walk home
What? You didn't think we could walk round the Basque capital at lunchtime & not have a few pintxos, did you? Nom!
Adios Donostia! Until the next time...
Brunch part 2: coffee & hot chocolate so thick you can almost eat it like pudding! Banoffee pie to die for! OMG!
After dinner stroll by the beach. Goodnight La Concha, see you in the morning...
Dinner venue I had in mind booked out, so plan 'B': Korean/Mongolian. Superb, especially fried chicken balls. Nom!
Somehow we ended up here again after wondering the old town. Great atmosphere, food & just the right amount of chaos!
Intended to just snack on pintxos at lunch then have a big evening meal. But once we started couldn't wait. Oops!