Archive for December 31st, 2022

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December 31, 2022

Curiosities of Metz !!

I like to tell about my far road warrior trips and found me pictures not yet in my blog, which they should, The city of Metz is no different to this practice which is recommended to all. Walk it and enjoy it, let me tell you about some curiosities of Metz !!  The city of Metz is in the dept 57 of the Moselle in the new region of Grand Est of my belle France. Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Comfort Hotel Cecil Metz Gare offers easy access to the autoroute or highway A31. The city center is a 10-minute walk away, and the train station 700 meters away. The hotel is ,also , located 25 km from Metz-Nancy-Lorraine airport, and 150 meters from the Roi George bus stop. Many of Metz’s notable attractions, from the cathedral to the Pompidou Center (a regional branch of the famed Parisian Museum of Modern Art), are close to the hotel. In the neighborhood there are several restaurants, grocery stores, a pharmacy and a gas station. The info is from hotel site but this is the hotel we stayed when visited Metz and would stay there again.

The official Cecil Hotel : http://www.cecilhotel-metz.com/fr/hotel-3-etoiles-metz-site-officiel.php

Metz cecil hotel rue pasteur mar11

The Ministere De La Defense hq is at 1 Rue Maréchal Lyautey , well not much to tell you here you know this is like a branch of the Defense dept and I just saw a beautiful sculptured wall to have me a picture voilà !!  The building is name the Ney or Engineering Barracks. The Engineering Barracks were built from 1841 to 1844. Its buildings form a “U” 170 meters long and 95 meters wide. In 1854, the brothers Antoine Husson and Francois-Desiré Husson, and Gustave Hennequin, sculpted the arms trophies in high relief, at the entrance to the barracks.

More info on the site Memories of Men on the Ney Caserne: https://www.memoiredeshommes.sga.defense.gouv.fr/en/arkotheque/navigation_facette/fiche_detail.php?f=musees&ref1=43&mde_present=

Metz min de la defense metz pedro remi xavier dec06

The Cathedral of Metz (see post) is the 3rd highest cathedral in France, with 42 meters in height, it is also the cathedral with the largest area of stained glass windows in France: 6,500m² of colored glass, having given it its nickname of “Lantern of God “. From place d’Armes and rue d’Estrées to rue Paul-Bezanson and rue Ambroise-Thomas is a vast square where it is at. This square was formed at the beginning of the last century, previously, it was the courtyard of the former bishopric or episcopal palace. A municipal decree of July 10, 1816 gave it the name of Place de la Cathédrale.

I will put the official Cathedral of Metz: http://cathedrale-metz.fr/

Metz pl de la cathedrale pf dec06

Former water tower of the train station, which supplied water to the steam locomotives. Its base is in black stone which contrasts with the grey-yellow stone used for the train station and the upper part of the water tower. A balcony with balusters encircles the tower with the color transition, at the level of the quays and the current car park. The body is ribbed with reinforcing walls and the tank is perforated with small openings. The small windows and the relief vaults of the base hardly relieve the massive aspect of the work. There is now a big EFFIA parking car park there.

The EFFIA on the water tower parking: https://www.effia.com/parking/parking-gare-de-metz-chateau-deau-effia

metz tour jean XXIII near train station mar11

Further info on Metz, you have the official Metz tourist office : https://www.tourisme-metz.com/en

And the city of Metz on its heritage :https://metz.fr/decouvrir-partager/patrimoine.php

There you go folks , a wonderful City to be fully enjoy it. You will love it at Metz, very quant, traditional, and yes very French indeed. Again, hope you have enjoy reading this post on the curiosities of Metz !!

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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December 31, 2022

My personal curiosities of Occitanie !!!

Another of my favorite regions of my belle France, this is the new Occitanie that is really very old… I found me some older pictures not yet in my blog,and they should. After all, this is my life’s story and like to share it with the world. Therefore, here are my personal curiosities of Occitanie !!!

At the top of the medieval city of Cordes-sur-Ciel, it was in 1989 that Mr. Yves Thuriès, twice Meilleur Ouvrier de France, opened the Museum of Sugar and Chocolate Arts, where he set up his pastry laboratory. A Gothic-style bastide dating from the 14C where a man from the Tarn, passionate about good taste and a job well done, cooking, his pastry, his chocolate and his transmission, all the qualities of a companion of duty. From the start of your visit, you will be amazed by the permanent and unique exhibition of works of art made of sugar and chocolate. You will (re)immerse yourself in the worlds of the Middle Ages, mythology, nature or even tales and legends. A wall exhibition will accompany you throughout your visit, retracing the journey of a visionary, creator and companion of duty that is Mr. Yves Thuriès. Finally, to end this visit and delight your taste buds, a gourmet tasting of their specialties will be offered to you around an exchange on the know-how of the house in the shop area. To complete your gourmet experience and by booking in advance, you will be able to ask their sugar and chocolate specialists for a demonstration where they will share their secrets with you. (Exclusively for groups from 10 and up to 25 people per demonstration.) After discovering the museum and its works made of sugar and chocolate, you will have the pleasure of finding all their chocolate and biscuit delicacies in the boutique. And of course, my boys!!!

The Yves Thuriés pastry chocolate shop on the museum: https://yvesthuries.com/page/le-musee-des-arts-du-sucre-et-du-chocolat-7

Cordes sur ciel musee sucre boys jul10

The Place de la Bride offers you a vast panorama to the north, over the Cérou valley. You are almost at the top of the Puech de Mordagne. However, this is not where Cordes sur Ciel was to be built. The Count of Toulouse had chosen a nearby hill, the Puech Gaubel. Alas, the construction site was a disaster, the walls demolished every night by an evil spirit. Exasperated, a workman threw his trowel away, then searched for it in vain. It was a shepherd who found the tool on … Puech de Mordagne. Sign from heaven, obviously! It is therefore this summit that was chosen for the construction of the new city. And my boys and dear late wife Martine, our Frenchie!!!

The city of Cordes sur Ciel on its heritage: https://www.cordessurciel.fr/en/discover/cordes-sur-ciel-cites-medievales/

Cordes sur ciel pl de la Bride et grand rue family jul10

The Place aux Couverts, or Place Paul Saissac is the largest covered place in the South West of France with about 4425m². It remains the center of Lisle sur Tarn ; visit there, it is simply sublime. The Griffoul fountain in the center of the square was done with a frieze which adorns the basin interrupted by the Occitan cross and the fleur-de-lis which symbolized the union of the county of Toulouse and the crown of France. This basin, dating from the 13C, is overhung by a bronze cherub fountain, cast in 1611. And of course, more of my boys!!!

The Toscane Occitane tourist office on Lisle sur Tarn:  https://www.la-toscane-occitane.com/place-lisle-sur-tarn

Lisle sur tarn pl paul saussac jul10

Bar Les Clips at Les Arcades Boudidou, 1 Pl. de la Trebaille, Albi, Has the great anecdote that walking all over the City and late we stumbled upon on it behind the Basilica and settled for a quick snack and some drinks, Memories forever indeed, I have briefly mentioned in other post but no pictures lol! Here I found them for you and me! Nowdays the reviews are down but it was a memorable moment in a memorable spot behind the Cathedral Basilicaof Saint Cecilia (see post). Below of course, two of my boys, my dear late wife Martine, and me ;;))

The RestaurantGuru reviews on the Bar Les Clips of Albi: https://restaurantguru.com/Snack-Bar-Les-Clips-Albi

Albi bar Les Clips MF PF XF NF jul10

There you go folks, another dandy road warrior trip in my belle France and gorgeous Occitanie region, Hope you enjoy my personal curiosities of Occitanie as I and thanks for reading along my escapades.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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December 31, 2022

The new train station of Auray !!!

I knew all about the renovations, and have posted updates in my blog, but finally went in to see the new beautiful train station or Gare d’Auray. I like to give you a pictorial of what it looks like as have already plenty on connections, history, and older pictures in my blog on it. Therefore , this is new text and pictures on the Gare d’Auray ; bringing back many memorable trips from/to it over the years in my beautiful Morbihan. Hope you enjoy the post as I

As you know if anything from reading my previous posts , Auray train station  was my first train in the Morbihan dept 56 way back when I came into the area from  Versailles,  Yvelines dept 78 in 2011. I needed to go on business trips and this was the closest station to my first foothold in the area at Brec’h (rental apart) . Even moving to Pluvigner (own house) early on ,I still used the station for my trips to Paris, especially on TGV to Montparnasse. Also, using TER from here for connections in Redon, Le Mans, or Rennes or Nantes airport. Later on, there was plenty of parking and better schedules from Vannes train station (see posts) so moved there for my trips.

Auray gare entr ground floor dec22

Auray gare upper floor waiting room depart screen dec22

It will always be my first train station in the Morbihan. I have great memories here arriving late , missing trains as public transports in France goes, and having a break at the bar with a nice cold beer, Eventually, the first train ride into the region of Bretagne was a train from Paris Montparnasse to Rennes on a business trip while still living in Versailles, therefore, Rennes is my first train station in Bretagne!  The first train station in Auray or gare d’Auray was located in the district of la Gare of the city of Auray. It was commissioned in 1862, The new train station is on same location, The old station building will be preserved because of its historical and heritage value. Rehabilitated to accommodate catering for travelers and residents, it will contribute to the attractiveness of neighborhood life.

Auray gare front dec22

Auray gare former train station now for cultural events dec22

The Gare d’Auray train station is the first station in Brittany to have a digital twin thanks to “BIM” technology (Building Information Modeling). The project is thus modeled in 3D, With modern, spacious, bright architecture, it mixes glass, wood and metal, on two levels, with elevator/lifts on each platform, instead of a single underground one. It now has 250 parking spaces on Auray side and 250 on Brech side passing to them easy on the footbridge.

Auray gare from parking park dec22

The Passarelle or footbridge, located 7 meters above the ground, and 100 meters long is done quite nice and great views in addition to easy moving from Brech to Auray and additional parking spaces ,You have a good viewpoint to the Chartreuse ( see post) area. Plenty of space on the platforms waiting for trains too,nice.

Auray gare passerelle from Brech to Auray dec22

Auray gare wharfs platform trains dec22

There is now a great interurban bus station with 8 platforms for  BreizhGo  and TER  coaches , close to the passenger building and connections to the AurayBus network. The BreizhGo lines are 1,5,6,and 18 My boys have used quite a bit the no 1 and No 5 by here, There is network office inside the train station for your convenience, The station hosts counters that offer transport tickets for the train, coaches and boat for Belle-Ile. This is the first BreizhGo space of this type in Brittany !

Auray gare Breizhgo bus network office dec22

Auray gare bus terminal breizhgo buses dec22

There is a wonderful Avis rental car office inside, which I have used on business trips but on personal trip Europcar a few steps from the train station was better,fyi Europcar is just to the right coming out station roundabout left into 38 Rue Jean Jaures.

Auray gare Avis car rental office dec22

The SNCF Auray train station: https://www.garesetconnexions.sncf/fr/gares-services/auray

The TER Bretagne on the Auray bus/train station : https://www.ter.sncf.com/bretagne/se-deplacer/gares/auray-87476200

The Local Bay of Quiberon tourist office on Auray :https://www.baiedequiberon.co.uk/auray

There you go folks, a dandy modern train station just 14 km from my house, just enticing to try the trains again. Easy connection from Paris, even if now in retirement have not used it yet , at least visited this afternoon and it looks fabulous, Hope you have enjoy the post on the new beautiful train station or Gare d’Auray.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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