Un Petit Tour de France
May 10-29, 1992
Introduction
From May 10 to May 29, 1992, Sharon and I traveled around France with brief excursions to Andorra, Spain, and Switzerland. We chose France because we wanted to conceive our first child there. Why we wanted to do such a thing, have a child, is beyond me. Or rather, why we, a couple of Anglophiles, were hell bent on having a child conceived in France is inconceivable. Perhaps it was the romantic in us. France, in our minds, was the land of love.
So for reasons of merit or not, France it was. In preparation we studied the Basic French course offered on cassette tape by the Official Foreign Service Institute Course for several months, perhaps four or more. We got to the point where we had memorized the first six dialogues. We undertook this arduous exercise so that we wouldn’t be perceived as ugly Americans, who expect the rest of the world to speak English. And all our hard work really paid off. Almost as soon as any French person heard us utter, and invariably mangle, so much as a few words of their lovely language, they would transition the conversation to English, which they invariably spoke far, far better than we did French.
During the trip, I kept a journal of where we went and what we did each day. Soon after the trip, I typed it up and printed copies for a few people to read. Since then it has sat on my hard drive collecting the electronic equivalent of dust. Until now. The 2020 online edition includes the photos we took and then some to fill out the narrative. And the narrative has been edited, as little as possible to stay true to the original, and as much as needed to be as accurate and readable as I could make it.
Finally, as a said before, we went to France to conceive a child. We all know what’s required to do that, and this journal isn’t shy about providing some of the details. So beware, gentle reader of modest disposition, there’s sex ahead.
Day by Day Account
The Hotels
5/11-5/13: HOTEL LA MOTTE PICQUET, 30 Avenue de la Motte-Picquet, 75007 Paris
TV, refrigerator, street view, shower, amiable English-speaking staff, small room, a little light on charm, owner a bit pushy. [345 francs]
5/14: ALTEA K-MOTEL, Route du Mont St Michel BP 8, 50170 Le Mont-Saint-Michel (nka Hotel Mercure)
New U.S. style, 3-star hotel with TV, full bath (sans shower curtain). Very large room without balcony or refrigerator. Friendly staff. [380 francs]
5/15: HOTEL LA BRECHE, 26 Rue Jules Ferry, 37400 Amboise (from R. Steves)
English-speaking family run hotel with medium sized, average charm rooms. Very nice view of garden out of large sit-in window. With bath, no TV. Comfortable bed. Very pleasant owner. [400 francs, included breakfast and dinner]
5/16-5/17: HOTEL MARCEL, nka Hotel le Madrigal, 8 Avenue de Selves, 24200 Sarlat (from R. Steves)
Charming hotel a few blocks from the center of town. Exquisite room with TV, bath, toilet in separate room, view of back yard. Sweet and very French owners. Overcharged 50 francs. [210 francs]
5/18: ARAGON HOTEL, 15 Montée Combeleran, 11000 Carcassonne
Hotel within fifty yards of La Cite. Very modern room with television, air conditioning, refrigerator, large bath, and nice purple decor. Run by a pleasant couple. Great coffee for breakfast. [300 francs]
5/19: HOTEL IBIS, 268 Rue de l’Hostellerie, 30900 Nimes
Large modern U.S. style hotel. Room with television, bath, and very little character other than pine furniture. [305 francs]
5/20: LE MANOIR, Quartier Salignan, (D 201), 84400 Apt
Country style inn in a rural setting. Smallish room with television, shower, walnut veneer furniture, and bay window with a good view. Very pleasant owners. [300 francs, included breakfast]
5/21: HOTEL CAP, 190 Avenue Georges Guynemer, 06700 St. Laurent
Hotel similar to the Ibis only more so. Cramped, entirely characterless room, with television, shower, two single beds, and view of a huge shopping mall. [346 francs, included breakfast]
5/22: LE BELEZE, 1 Place Collette, Eze Village, 06360 Eze
Average looking hotel within 35 yards of castle. Room with broken toilet seat, zilch character, no television and the most obnoxious, rude lout for a manager in the country. Breakfast was a disaster. [300 francs, included breakfast]
5/23: HOTEL CHRISMA, 25 Avenue de Grenoble, 05300 Laragne-Montéglin
Large, empty hotel in small, quiet town run by a proper lady, who was quite helpful and pleasant about showing rooms. Very large room with television, shower, extra blanket, and not much heat. [250 francs]
5/24: HOTEL DU PORT, Rue du Quai 6, 1844 Villeneuve, Switzerland (approx. 5 miles from Montreux)
Across the street from Lac Leman. Large, bright, modern room with TV, high-powered shower, and balcony with lake view. Excellent hotel with delicious breakfast and pleasant owner. [130 Swiss francs]
5/25: LE HOME, 138 Route de Dijon, 21200 Beaune (from R. Steves)
Country style inn with gregarious English-speaking owner. Charming carriage style room in light green decor with television and bath. Breakfast extra and only so-so. [340 francs]
5/26: HOTEL CERF, nka Hotel L’Europe, 15 Route de Neuf-Brisach, 68180 Horbourg Wihr
Spacious, rustically modern hotel with rude and charmless manager. Very comfortable, spotless room with shower and good view but no television. [280 francs]
5/27: RENAULT 5, Autoroute service plaza a few mile outside Reims
I had the front seat, Sharon took the back. It was cold and cramped. [0 francs]
5/28: HOTEL DE FRANCE, 102, boulevard de la Tour-Maubourg, 75007 Paris
Medium-sized hotel in good location. Comfortable room with television, mini-bar, shower and view of other apartment buildings. [380 francs]
Finances, Souvenirs, & Gifts
BASIC FINANCE:
TOTAL CASH TAKEN: $2434.00 (M.E.) [Note: M.E. lent S.L. $1000]
CASH RETURNED WITH: $415.00 [M.E.—$250.00, S.L.—$150.00, M.E.—$15.00 in French francs]
TOTAL CASH OUTLAYS: $2019.00
CHARGES: AIRFARE: $1258.00 (M.E.)
OTHER: $1219.43 (M.E.)
OTHER: $782.55 (S.L.)
TOTAL CHARGES: $3259.98
REFUND: $50.00 (From Europcar for overcharge)
TOTAL EXPENDITURES = CASH + CHARGES - REFUND = $5229
Misc. notes:
There were virtually no travel expenses incurred for this trip stateside other that photo developing costs and travel books.
Photo developing costs amounted to $63.00
Not included in any of the figures is Sharon’s shirt from Montreux, which was received & paid afterwards.
SOUVENIRS & GIFTS:
MARC’S SOUVENIRS:
beret from Albi ($20)
5 stickers—EuroFrance, Languedoc, Montreux, Normandie ($10)
3 maps—Montreux, Provence, northeast Spain ($20)
brass cat figurine from Carcassonne ($20)
magazine ($8)
Edith Piaf CD ($20)
Bridgette Bardot photo from Paris ($5)
Degas Photo from d’Orsay ($3)
cat & mouse photo Montreux ($3)
wine cup from Beaune ($2)
Swiss Army knife from Montreux ($40) [S.L. paid]
Pecheresse beer from Montreux ($3)
small poster (free)
14 postcards ($8)
foreign currency ($15)
1 Monte Carlo 5-franc casino chip ($1)
dinner menu from Montreux (free)
various ticket stubs, guidebooks, brochures, etc. (free)
SHARON’S SOUVENIRS:
skirt from Albi ($80)
shirt from Montreux ($100)
shoes from Paris ($75) [M.E. paid]
2 Louvre photos ($6)
crystal parrot figurine from Beaune ($15)
pewter cat figurine from Montreux ($7)
shot glass from Montreux ($2)
2 patches—France & Montreux ($8)
ceramic cat figurine from autoroute ($2) [M.E. paid]
French flag pin from Paris ($2) [M.E. paid]
1 Monte Carlo 5-franc casino chip ($1)
wine cup from Beaune ($2)
GIFTS:
Gwen—dress from Paris ($80)
Shirley—perfume from Paris ($60)
Shirley—shot glass from Montreux ($2)
Andy—French Magazine from Paris ($7)
Andy—Edith Piaf CD from Paris ($17)
Steve—shot glass from Montreux ($2)
Sandy—blouse from Montreux ($70)
Patty—dress from Paris ($60)
Wally—Edith Piaf CD from Paris ($17) [note: was not given]
Curt & Cindi—2 photograph enlargements
Overview
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Map of our travels
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