So I had all good intentions to write at the end of last week, but then things happened, we got busy, and here we are now finally with a chance to update you on our world of travels!

We left you after Paris, and after catching up with Mum and Dad Bradley for a night at the Paris airport, we headed for the land of the Chateaux, the Loire Valley. What an amazing region we were in for. Driving through lush greenery and some amazing villages, James and I passed the time by inventing a game we liked to call ''Spot the Chat (eau)'. There was quite an abundance, and needless to say, this wasn't the hardest game in the world. They were just beautiful and so grand! Many were privately owned houses, lots had been turned into B&Bs (unfortunately making ours in Senlis look like the servants quarters!), and the pick of the bunch opened to the public to see how the other half lived. We visited 'Chateau Chenonceau', built traversing the Loire River and with gardens that any semi-green thumb would die for. It was stunning. We also managed to fit in some wine tasting in the Loire, and be treated to a gastromic French feast of 5 courses by our B&B hosts, a definite highlight.

We left our gorgeous Loire Valley accommodation (in a tiny town called Tauxigny) and said goodbye to The Loire (albeit too soon!) and headed for the 2nd of our 'famous region quartet' - The Dordogne. Arriving to the most beautiful B&B we have stayed in yet (Les Meyrandiers) our time in Argentat was off to a positive start! We also happened to turn up on the final day of a fly fishing exhibition on the river just outside our bedroom window, and while neither of us are fly fishing enthusiasts, it was definitely a bit of fun and a nice local villagey thing to do!

Our one full day in the Dordogne was filled with a fabulous drive through some breathtaking scenery. Our B&B host Phillippe had suggested a route that would take in some volcanoes (obviously not live), some villages, and the beautiful river, and it didn't disappoint. While not both of us made it all the way up the volcano (which in hindsight meant I had a better view when the fighter jets came past on their training run as they were at my eye level rather than having to look down on them as James did), the views from the volcanic areas were truly truly amazing. We experienced our fair share of tiny French farming villages, most of which we don't think had seen a car before, let alone foreigners, and loved every minute of it. It was quaint, it was beautiful, and it was so French! We even happened to drive one of the Tour de France routes (by accident), only realising we were on it when we stumbled across the 'Come on Cadel Evans' written in huge letters on the road. Kinda cool!

Again, we left The Dordogne wishing we had more time, but vowing to return. But it was onward and upward (literally) to The Pyranees! Again, what a beautiful region. We stayed in a little skiing village called Luchon, where we were looked after by more fabulous hosts and given plenty of advice on what to do. Also being a spa town, we made sure we had a bit of R&R at the local thermal hot springs (slightly delayed by James who tried to wear boardies, only to be awkwardly asked by the young, non-English speaking pool girl if he 'had anything smaller', James knowing the whole time what she was trying to say but enjoying making it very uncomfortable for the poor girl, and finally relenting and purchasing 'Euro' swimming shorts....yukkkkk!), and it is the only one in Europe to have a naturally heated 'cave' (hammam / sauna) which was pretty interesting.

We spent our time in the Pyranees driving up some pretty wicked mountains, doing some great walks, and trying to imagine what Cadel was feeling like when he rode around the region - we struggled in the car! It was pretty cool to see some of the beautiful alpine villages that we did, no wonder The Tour spends so much time in the Pyranees, it's beautiful! We also managed to fit in a quick trip into Spain one day for Tapas for lunch, so that was cool.

We said 'au revoir' to our B&B in Luchon and (again) vowed to return, next time in ski season to see the town and the area in a whole different way. But we will be watching Le Tour closely next year, as little Luchon has an overnight stay which they are very excited about!

We next headed to the fourth and final of our 'famous quartet region' tour, Provence, via the medieval fortress town of Carcassone (a must do - wow!), and after picking up our traveling buddy Anna (Carter) on route from Italy, we were off to the small town of St-Remy-de-Provence which we would call home for the next week.

And that's where we have been until now. It's been a great week of everything you would imagine a week in Provence to be. We strolled around markets laden with every cheese and bread, olive, and wine you can imagine, we visited tiny towns on hillsides that have been around since the 12th Century, we walked through olive groves and vines, we shopped in boutiques that you would only find in France, we picnicked next to Van Gogh's bridge and under the amazing Pont du Gard, and we even trekked through a natural park made up almost entirely of salt marshes and flamingoes - yup, flamingoes in the South of France!

But if one thing characterizes our week in Provence, it's been the food. While we ate some beautiful food and drank some great wine, if I never see cheese again for as long as I live it'll be too soon. I can honestly say that while our week in Provence was lovely, our waistlines are a lot worse off for it! France really is famous for cheese for good reason, and we made sure we tried it all! That, coupled with the stunning desserts and pastries we were continuously faced with, and the quality of wine that France produces ($5 for a half litre carafe of beautiful French wine!), how could we say no!? It was a perfect week to relax and enjoy what the South of France has to offer, and Anna was the perfect addition to help us do it.

We unfortunately packed her off on a train this morning however, and she is somewhere in the skies between here and Melbourne after a whirlwind trip. We now find ourselves at our last night in France, before heading to Monaco tomorrow for some glitz and glamour! We finish France in style though tomorrow morning, with a hot air balloon ride over Provence (courtesy of Michael and Shy- thanks guys!!) which we can't wait for. It's because of that, (and perhaps also due to the fact that we have both eaten and drank our bodyweight in rich French cuisine and wine this past week!), that I'm happy to report that today also marks a milestone for us - our first AFD (Alcohol Free Day) of our entire trip!!!

So, I will leave you on that note as we have an early start tomorrow. We will write again soon, from somewhere in Italia!

Much love to all,
(a slightly heavier version of) James and Nic xx