Auvergne
I love my country–but if I had to live elsewhere it would be France. I am in the Auvergne staying at the house of friends for a week. Landed at Lyon airport and picked up a hire car. It was a Lancia and I have never before driven a car that is a hybrid between an automatic and manual.
As we set off on the 200 mile journey to Ambert it was just like George Segal in A Touch of Class– all crunches and kangaroo petrol. The Auvergne is very hot at present and Ambert is an attractive town with a superb creperie where we have already lingered enjoying the food and wine.
Today we took a walk along the Path of the Papermakers through the forests above. Ambert past many old mills — Ambert’s industry was based on paper production. We also walked through the village onto higher ground to a statue of the Virgin Mary and also visited the Chorch of St Jean in Ambert..The interior of the church was much plainer than most Catholic churches and we spent some time there and I lit a candle.
Sarko has clearly hit the ground running and is proving a massive hit. His Big Tent approach of including political opponents in government is paying off.
Dinner beckons….
This has been sent via a blackberry, so please excuse any typo errors!
