Tuesday 5 June

Today did not start well.  I had tried to withdraw cash from my CommBank Cash Card, but the ATM's kept telling me my PIN code was incorrect.  Numerous calls to CommBank could not solve the problem.  I could make purchases but not withdraw cash.  Could not resolve it so I used my normal ATM card.  My Cash Card has Euro's whereas when I withdraw using my normal card, I pay extra fees.

This delayed our departure from the apartment, as today we were picking up our brand new Peugeot 308.  The plan was then to travel to Monet's Garden, but it was getting later and later - all because of this damn card (it did resolve itself later in the week).  We finished packing and then tried to get a taxi as we had to get from our apartment in Rue Favaut to Peugeot Courbevoie Office, 115 Ave de l'Arche.

Getting a Taxi was difficult, the ones that did pass our location were usually occupied.  The bar across the street from us assisted by ringing the taxi company and ordering a taxi for us.  The taxi driver got us to the area pretty quick, but he saw the Peugeot dealer yard and dropped us off there, it turned out to be the wrong place.  So Maria and I had to drag our bags back up the road to the correct office, it wasn't far but enough to make us frustrated.

We picked the car up after completing the paper work, had to find a service station to fill up.  It took 50 Litres of Gas Oil or diesel at €1,445/lt.

Peugeot 308 2L GPS Cielo

 The route from Peugeot to the Hotel les Grands Chenes was as follows:

• South along the Bd de la Mission Marchan;
• onto the A14 via the ramp underground through the tunnel to the N13;
• followed the N13 - Av Charles de Gaulle;

Av Charles de Gaulle heading towards the l'Arc de Triomphe

• take the ramp to the right down to the Bd Périphérique and headed south;

The l'Arc de Triomphe is in the center of the photo in the distance

• onto the A6A - Autoroute du Soleil;

• follow the A6;
• turn right onto the A77 - Autoroute de l'Arbre

•  turn off at the D965 - Route de Lavau until we arrived at Saint Fargeau

 

Turn off the A77 onto the D965, turn left to Saint Fargeau. Nuclear power station in the distance.

D965 - road to Saint Fargeau

Sign announcing our arrival in Saint Fargeau

Driving into Saint Fargeau

 Map of the route:

A = 15 Avenue de l'Arche, Courbevoie  B = Hôtel les Grands Chênes, 89170 Saint-Fargeau

The trip took approx 3 hrs and we traveled approx 200 kms, we stopped along the way for food and the toilet arriving at the Hotel about 4.00 pm.

Hôtel les Grands Chênes
We drove into what we can only describe as a picturesque scene.  An old style chateau with beautiful looking gardens.  We met our hosts Rachel and Alan, owner/operators of this fascinating hotel.

Entrance to the Hotel

Our first view of the Hotel

Looking out from our room on the ground floor

After we unpacked and settled in, Christopher and Ludivine joined us to take us to meet Ludivine's parents for the first time.  We had a great evening, Jaquelin prepared a simple but tasty meal which was complimented by local wines.  Marc and Jacqueline made us feel very welcome despite the language difficulties.

We were enjoying ourselves so much we forgot to take photos.  This photos is of their home, it is a converted farm building contracted some 500 years ago.  Marc and Jacqueline bought it and renovated it 20+ years ago and have lived on the small rural community of Blandy since then.