Pictures from France

Small narrow streets are the norm in the small towns we drove through in southern France.

We became very good friends with our GPS navigator (I've named her Stella), and we have had no trouble driving around the Aude region where we visited a number of small villiages. Many streets are only wide enough for one lane of traffic so it is alternating one way, then the other.

We lit candles for some friends in need of extra prayers in a Monastery next door to our small hotel in Carcassonne. This Monestary was built in 1457 and is still used for worship. In fact, a villager came in to pray while we were there and we asked that she remember some of our friends in her prayers! She was more than glad to do so. We have found the french people to be very friendly. No matter our request, everyone was been more than willing to give direction, or help in any way requested.

By way of a little background on our travels here, we had an uneventful flight from O'Hare to Franfort. In Frankfort we had a 3 hour lay over. We needed ever minute of the three hours, even in the middle of the night. Security is unbelievable tight in Germany. We were made to leave the terminal, although our departing plane to Barcelona was leaving from the same terminal in which we arrived. The complex at Franfort is just that- COMPLEX. tunnels, hallways, and concourses, all meandering around to take you to a passport checkpoint. All arrivals from non-european union countries must go through this labrinthe. You go through passport check and then another complex maze and finally a security check. Security stopped all the Doeblers!!! We were all detained, searched, patted down vigorously, and my computer was singled out for extra checks. They required that I open the computer, turn it on, and then they swabbed the computer keyborad and sides, and did an analysis of the swab. I assume checking for trace amounts of explosives, etc. I was not the only one that was picked from the arrivals in our group. There were numerous people. It appeared that one out over every 3 or 4 people were detained in some fashion. In contrast, we passed through U.S.security, no problem.

Upon arrival in Barcelona, we rented a car. The traffic and driving in Barcelona is extremely chaotic. I would say it was not as bad as Beijing and other cities in China, but it was much worse than in any city I have driven in the U.S.

In the "small world" category, one of the flight attendants on our trip to China in June, was also a flight attendant on our flight from O'hare to Frankfort. She actually remembered Chuck, but not Lindsay or I. Hummm...I guess I'm very quiet and unassuming, just as I've always thought!

This is a picture of the entrance way to the Old City of Carcassonne. You walk across the drawbridge and this is the street through which you enter into a world reminiscent of the 13th and 14th centuries. Much of this city is as it was; old city squares where residents still draw water from a central well, old ramparts still exist, and are maintained by the locals, from the castle that protected this medieval city from enemies, now including time and tourists. We ate dinner at one of the old pubs in one of the town squares. We feasted on wild boar stew and cassolette. Slow cooked and delicious. We returned to another local establishment for breakfast and ate omlettes from fresh eggs and local cheese. They were not fluffy, like we are familiar with in the U.S. No coffee, only expresso was available, so we tried it. I was surprised to enjoy it! It was stronge, but not bitter, as I had thought it might be. Sadly, we have to leave this beautiful city within the walls of it's fantastic castle...

We traveled next to a small castle that has historical and religious significance to many Catholics. Rennes le Chateau is known for it's Knights of the Templar lore and the church of St. Madeliene, where scrolls found centuries ago, claiming that the bones of Christ and Mary Magdalene were buried here. This is a medieval town that has been preserved by people who understand the importance of history.

The view from the castle is extraordinary. They picked the site well, no enemy could ever sneak up on this castle or town!

Another castle, in ruins now, is seen in the distance. In sadness we leave the Aude valley in southern France. We will return some day to this beautiful area! I did not expect to be this taken aback by the people and wonders of the region.

Tomorrow, we will be in Barcelona!!