Back on the road, leaving Switzerland driving through the countryside to our next stop Anecey. This was a serene town and was gorgeous, we did a little shopping as the weather was getting cooler and I only had summer clothes and was starting to feel the cold. We walked through the town which was so quaint with ponds and running water over little weirs and locks in the canals with landscaped garden beds and flower pots around the town. We decided to take a boat cruise to tour around the adjoining lake which lied between mountains studded with mansions and houses it was so picturesque and full of history, well we think it was as the guide had plenty to say but it was all in French!

We then headed of to Lyon which is the second biggest city in France. After we arrived we were quite bushed so decided to find a place to stay and do about two weeks worth of washing; luckily we found a hotel that had coin operated machines to do this as this was the cheapest way to do washing when you are in and out of hotels, as they were charging about €6 per item which was quite steep and would have broke the bank!

Also the best part of doing the washing here was that a spa pool just down the hall, so Carmel and I soothed our muscles from all the walking we have been doing during loads.

As this was a big city and we only had a a couple of days to get to Paris we pressed on so we could get to see some of the Burgundy region.

The next day we arrived in Autun which was a little town in the middle of the Burgundy countryside surrounded by green pastures and vineyards. Carmel finally got to stay in a chateaux that she was longing for. The chateaux we stayed at was once a convent years ago which has now been converted into a hotel and a small row of flats. At last another little quaint country town which we yearned for; we had agreed that these little places were the most traditional and interesting. We seemed to enjoy the history, atmosphere and culture especially the food in these places the most.

The following day we headed off into wine country here we had a chance to taste some wines at a cellar door or a cave as the French call it. Actually we were busting and the place had a toilet. So you could say a pee stop cost us €17 as we felt bad not buying anything after we used their toilet so we bought a bottle of Pinot. We would have loved to do more tastings but time was thin and we really couldn't bring back a case!

Our next stop was a truffle farm in the middle of nowhere where we tasted and bought some truffles. We had a long talk to a Dutch expat at the store who's English was very good and welcoming as the French use very little. She recommended us a great little restaurant for lunch. Carmel and I thought we couldn't pass up the beef burgundy from the menu which did not let us down, the flavour was so intense, it was out of this world. Next stop Paris a city we have to visit! Although I would have loved to stay longer in the Burgundy region; maybe on our next visit!