Europe 2026

 Well our last day in Vizille. Or so we thought. But with Paris only a 6 hour drive and looking at all the places we could stay, we had already visited most of them. Poor us. And not needing to be in Paris till the 13th, we added a day in this lovely little town.  Today started with the Great Escargot Escape. The snails that were captured last night, got out of the bag they were in and were all over the area of the house. They were everywhere.  Didn’t bother me, but an elderly neighbor was not happy. So he and I gathered them up again and pit them back in their plastic bag prison.  It was only after this that I learned of the special bin outside for snails.  Good start of the day.  Then Jessica and Marco show up with baguettes, butter and cheese and pastries for breakfast.  To day being Tuesday means it is market day in Vizille, so we walk to the place where the weekly market comes to town. And oh how I love markets like this.  The place selling c...

 Finally a slow day. Nothing planned. I wake up rested from 8 hours of driving yesterday. Finally can organize my clothes and things down to one suitcase. Jessica has agreed to take the backpack with stuff on her plane when she goes to the USA for the baptism.  Victory today was figuring out how to lock the doors of our AirB&B. Not that we felt unsafe last night because we couldn’t figure out how to lock them. And a shoutout goes to David and Mary Blinkoff for having those kind of locks in their home. Had to turn the handle all the way up and then turn the key.  I shower and organize some more. Jessica invites is to breakfast at her place, which is just next door. Very convenient. While she is cooking a neighbor appears at her window bringing her things the lady no longer needed and thought Jessica could use. The same window in normal times.  Very French.  That is Jessica’s garden outside. Next a trip to Lidls (yes they are everywhere) to pick up supplies. V...

 So we started the day in Clermont with a beautiful breakfast where I feasted on baguette bread and cheese. Oh so good. Stomach back to normal   An early start for us on our way to Vizille with a stop in Lyon for lunch. Some photos from Lyon.  Lyon street cafes on a Sunday Lyon  Cathedral  Lower portion Larger Cathedral on the hill.  Crazy burger joint.  Selfie at cafe with Cathedral behind me.  Jessica, Mary Ann and Pinochio.  Where we had Crepes and something else whose name I cannot remember.  My chocolate crepe.  The unnamed Lyon specialty that Jessica and Marco had.  Lyon Sunday street scene.  Lyon is famous for hidden alleyways between streets. These are inside one.  The doors leading to secret alleyways between streets  Better view of Cathedral on hill.  One of the Caminos passes through Lyon. Too long for me.  We are about to get back in the car when Mary Ann realized she had left her medication...