France - From Toulon to Tarbes

Toulon was an unexpected pleasant surprise, we have not been there before and went there because we wanted to spend more time on the Med coast. Our GPS / SatNav with its huge choice of pre-programmed campsites, listed one near the Toulon bay area. Good one, quiet and max room for 6 motorhomes. Servicing facilities were nearby (WC, fresh water resupply and grey water dump) as were shops for basics. Boulangerie (French for bakery) walking distance - very important! The French bake the best bread and pastries in all of Europe!

We spent a day walking around the port area of Toulon, visited Fort Napoleon, where the famous French Marshall made a name for himself in 1793.

Fort Napoleon - Toulon

The fort is on a hill with a good walk to get there, but plenty of photo opportunities to compensate for the effort.

Luxury yacht service centre

A touch of north Africa

View of the French Navy from Fort Napoleon

Les Sablettes is the area we frequented during our one week stay in Toulon. It is an area and has an ambiance that can easily be revisited in future. We strolled around the non-military port area, which has a plethora of bistro's and cafe's and found it safe, well appointed and with a warm sunny day the place to be.

We also did a cruise around the naval facilities in Toulon, home for much of the French fleet. Of the many pictures I have .... here's one more ....

The aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, flagship of the French Navy.

We left Toulon and headed for the French Pyrenees, an area we have not been to. On our way to the Midi-Pyrenees region we spent a night in a camperstop at Ville de Gemenos, northeast of Marseilles and came across Chez Marius, a local fine dining eatery no less! Next time, next time.

Chez Marius .... !

A night was spent just outside Montpellier on the coast in a busy camperstop with all facilities and the next at a camperstop near Perpignan near the coast, quiet, secluded and free but no facilities. We now swung west making for the Tarbes / Lourdes area. Joan was going to visit friends in St Sever and me - I was going to take photographs in Tarbes, not that I knew it, but I soon discovered the where and what!

Aviation, of course.

Aeroclub de Bigorre at Laloubere, Tarbes.

For aviation pictures taken at Tarbes and elsewhere in France, please view my portfolio:-

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/member-profile.php?p=6981

 

France - Cote d'Azur

It's February and even on the famed Cote d'Azur in southern France it rains - well it has to rain sometimes. It's just that one takes it for granted that it should be sunny!
Thus was our entry as we motored along the A8 toll road going west to Villeneuve-Loubet, on the outskirts of Nice. We have been to this particular campsite before, well established, quiet, well run, nearby supermarket, trains and buses into Nice, making for an enjoyable stay. Not cheap at 26 Euro's per day, but you get what you pay for.

We booked in for a week and chose the same site that we had in 2013 when we were as now, making our way back to England. Right choice, we had no neighbours in the immediate area for the whole week! The upside of low season.

A day was spent in Nice walking the promenade along that famous stretch of beach both sides of the Negresco Hotel.

Hotel Le Negresco

Short finals into Nice airport

Along the promenade

Another full day was spent plane spotting from the beach at St Laurent-du-Var. Below is a link to some of the results:-

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/album.php?p=1221

Here's a sample ....

Nice / Cote d'Azur airport, next to the beach.

We journeyed on to Saint Maxime to a camperstop near McDonalds (good for Wi-Fi) and had a good walk to the local marina with views of Saint Tropez across the bay.

As is the case with millions of others, including the French themselves, the Cote d'Azur is a most enjoyable destination, for obvious reasons - safe, pleasant and it has little tolerance for the riff-raff of society. You either fit or get out.

Just on the edge of Saint Tropez was a good camperstop and we stayed two nights, giving us a full day to walk the town itself. From the large marina full of multi-million dollar boats to the quaint backstreets with cafes and eateries.

Bus stop into St Tropez - free!

'Secret Life'

On the marina facing the yachts

City hall / Mayor's office

Façade

One of many Brasserie's

The fishing marina and part of the yacht harbour beyond

Suffice to say that a visit to Saint Tropez has never disappointed, how can it? Be prepared for high prices, you need not eat out all the time though, we bought all goodies at local supermarkets and had good home cooked meals from Fifi's galley / kitchen area - not forgetting the product of the vine! You are in France and good wine is plentiful and well priced.

And then of course the 'working class' .... 

The need to stay close to warm weather was paramount, so we opted to go for Toulon - what a find! Next up our 8 day stay in Toulon and an excellent cruise around the French naval base.