Cité Europe, Calais - France

The gateway to the Channel Tunnel, Cite Europe is an international trade center. Both the mall and coastal tourist stage is a must for all those who cross the Channel, Cité Europe offers more than 140 shops, a hypermarket, 12 cinema halls and an incomparable "City Gourmet" which brings together some twenty restaurants.

The Gaumont cinema complex offers you 12 screens, including one Big Screen 20 @ meters, it is unique in the region. There are 4200 parking spaces and 50 spaces for coaches are available for free.

Contact & Information Regional Shopping Centre Cité Europe 1001 Boulevard du Kent 62902 Coquelles Cedex
 GPS Coordinates Latitude: 50.93452 Longitude: 1.80787

 Tel: 03 21 46 47 48 Fax: 03 21 85 21 10

Cite Europe decked for Christmas 

Gallery - Access map PDF format

Lille - France

Lille Christmas Market Open every day from 11:00 - 20:00 19th November - 30th December
Closed 25th December

With approximately 80 wooden chalets in the winter wonderland. All the usual european christmas market goodies plus some unusual items as well

Place du General de Gaulle host the large ferris wheel. Costing 4 Euros per adult. We had some 6 trips around. So if you think it's just a couple of circuits and that is the end of the ride. Think again.

The views across the top of the city are great and I would recommend a giving it a go.

Lulworth Castle & Lulworth House, Dorset

Lulworth Castle & Lulworth House - Dorset -  England

Lulworth Castle, in East Lulworth, Dorset, situated south of Wool, is an early 17th century mock castle. The stone building has now been renovated as a museum.
In 1610 Lulworth Castle was built as a hunting lodge by Thomas Howard, 3rd Lord Bindon, who was the son of the 2nd Duke of Norfolk. In 1641, Humphrey Weld purchased it from Howard. A chapel was built in 1786. Following the French Revolution, the surviving members of the French Royal Family were allowed to use Lulworth as one of their residences-in-exile.
The castle was gutted by fire in 1929 and was left as a roofless ruin, the family building a new residence for themselves nearby. In the 1970s, restoration work begun with the help of the English Heritage.

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If you are driving there then I would suggest using a sat nav. Then use co-ordinates 50.63613, -2.20402 rather than the post code otherwise you may possibly end up at the back of the estate.
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Highclere Castle - Downton Abbey

Highclere Castle is a country house in high Elizabethan style, with park designed by Capability Brown. The 1,000 acre estate once part of much larger estate is in the English Highclere Park, Newbury RG20 9RN. It is the country seat of the Earls of Carnarvon, a branch of the Anglo-Welsh Herbert family.

The TV series Downton Abbey filmed at Highclere Castle is set in an Edwardian country house in 1912. It portrays the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them.
The Crawleys have been the Earls of Grantham since 1772. In the drawing rooms, library and beautiful bedrooms, with their tall windows looking across the park, live the family, but below stairs are other residents, the servants, who are as fiercely possessive of their ranks as anyone above.
(Image copyright ITV)

Puilaurens Castle, Puilaurens-Lapradelle - Aude - France

Puilaurens Castle,  Puilaurens-Lapradelle - Aude - France

Cite du pay Cathare

Located approximately 500 metre above the town of Puilaurens is located one of the Cathare castles.
As you head up the road through a few bends there is a sharp right turn, lookout for the sign. Then up an winding roard and then a bend which has signpost saying parking. (Good photo point to look up at the castle). Carry on up to the main visitor car park. There are toilets  (nb: CA These are not hole in the ground) on the right and the visitor entrance and shop on your left.
The current entry fee is 4.00 euros per adult (June 2011)
Word of caution this is steep walk up a wooded path with only dirt and the root of the trees that line the path at the bottom, followed by uneven rock and gravel until you get the to stepped zig-zag trenches. The guide available in the language of your choice says that it takes 15-20 minutes to the main gate at the top. It took me 25 but did have a few stops on the way up. There are also a number on name tags indicating the various types of plants and trees.
Before you enter the main arched entrance take a look around at over 2072 acres of what was royal, mainly fir-tree forest. Now state owned there are other conifers such as beech, cedar and pine trees.

History

The village of Puilaurens-Lapradelle is actually made up of hamlet of Lavagnac and Puilaurens which gives it an area of some 7410 acres.
Archaeological human existence has been found in the cave under the river Boulzane dating back some 12000 years ago.
"Mont Ardu" the name of the mountain where the castle was built, appeared the first time in 958 in a charter which Lothraire cenceded to the abbey of Saint Michel de Cuxa the provostship of Puilaurens. This consists of the valley of Boulzane or Saint Croix.

The first of the lords of Puilaurens that we can identify with any certainty, Pierre Catala, appears as a witness in on Guillaume de Peyrepertuse in 1217. In 1229, Guillaume de Peyrepertuse commanded Puilaurens it withstood attack by Simon de Montfort and his successors until the end of the crusades. After 1243, its owner was Roger Catala, Pierre's son, but it was defended, like Quéribus, by Chabert de Barbaira, a Cathar military commander who was the last person to defend the Occitan cause.

The Cathars' presence in Puilaurens seems to be related to the role of refuge run by the fortress. In 1241, the Cathar deacon for Fenouilldès, Pierre Paraire stayed there and from 1245 - 1246 several Cathars lodged here

Is not known exactly when the castle came under royal control, but the annexation seems consumated around 1250. In a letter of August 1255, Saint Louis ordered the seneschal of Carcassonne to fortify the castle. The Treaty of Corbeil 1258 defines it as one of the main fortresses defending the border against Aragon.

In 1259 Puilaurens is occupied by a garrison commanded by Odon de Monteuil with a chaplain and 25 sergeants at arms. The castle was restored  around 1263, and again  under  Phillipe-le-Hardi (Philip the Bold) 1270 - 1285.

In its current state, the fortress essentially dates back to the start of the royal period in Languedoc and is not earlier than the thirteenth century.

Until the Treaty of the Pyrenees (1659), Puilaurens had to face repeated incursions from Spain. After the Treaty of the Pyrenees, Puilaurens was decommissioned and was no longer occupied other than by a small garrison of "mort-paid" (veterans).

If you like castles or interested in Cathar history, don't mind a bit of walk; then worth a trip for the view and historical value.

Additional information.
List of castles in France

Location

WGS84 42° 48′ 13.5″ N, 2° 17′ 58″ E
      42.80375, 2.299444

UTM 31T 442717 4739260

Famagusta / Varosha - Cyprus

Went on a Jeep Safari today to Famagusta and the ghost town of Varosha. The town being under the control of the UN since the Turkish invaded the north of the island on Monday 15 July 1974 the ruling military  in Greece staged a coup in Cyprus with the collaboration of its supporters in order to achieve immediate Enosis (union with Greece). Makarios, whose aim was to achieve Enosis in the long term, was overthrown.
There is a kind of no mans land across the north east of the island from Kerynia to Famagusta.
You will need to take your passport and require a temporary visa which will get stamped in and out. On the south side this is patrolled by British forces who have 3 bases on the island. This being part of the deal after being under British rule since the Ottoman Empire,was handed back to Republic of Cyprus in 16 August 1960.

There are empty houses,hotels,shops etc and all fenced off with wire and empty oil drums along with no entry,photo and so on. You can clearly see the devastation of what was once the richest city in the med. I once saw tv programe that showed the original Nicosia airport and apart from vandals and being deserted it lies the same as the day of the invasion. Another landmark is a crane on one the waterfront hotels which we are told was finished on the day of the event where time has really stood still.

While relations between the two parts of the country have improved there is still a division of opions some wanting total independance from mainland altogether.

All that aside if you get a chance to go then do. I am told you can see some of it from top of the Debenhams store but I cannot verify that. The view from the many boat trips are somewhat distant due to the exclusion zone and you need some strong binoculars.

Aiya Nappa - Cyprus

We took the local Famagusta bus to Aiya Nappa which went via Protaras town and Greko bay. For 2 euros for a return trip where you can hop on and off all day was a bargain. (osea.com.cy/index.php) However the age and quality of the bus did vary somewhat but could be put down to part of the travelling experience. If anyone has been on the Yellow vintage buses in Malta you will get the idea. Having said that the council has invested substantially in improving bus routes and improving timetables. That said don't rely on the timings we waited for over 35 minutes for a bus that was supposed to be there on the hour. If you need to be somewhere on time get a taxi there are plenty of them and most look like limo.

Still on he subject of busses there is a Red Tour bus that does trips around villiages and the ghost town of Famagusta but this does not start till the second week of May.

 The party town of Aiya Nappa was more of a ghost town. With many of the bars and resturants still closed from the winter hibernation. It was hard to imagine the place sprawling with teenagers that have escaped for a holiday "Wiv me mates". I`m sure give a few more weeks the place will be transformed to it`s busy self.

For the more adventurous if you head down to the harbour you can go paragliding,jetskiing ride a doughnut or take a trip on  glass bottom boat. There is the popular yellow submarine style but this James Bond looking Galaxy caught my eye. Morning trips 11:00 ~ 14:30 are 20 euro. Afternoon trips 16:00 - 18:00 are 40 euro the trip is also longer.
There are simply loads of boat trip options along the harbour from 5 euro upwards it reall depends how long you want on the water and if food is provided.

You can take a trip on the The Black Pearl,which leaves daily from the harbour. Join Jack Sparrow and the pirates with lunch provided.

One of the things that you probably will not see unless you take a trip on the Shirley Valentine is this surfing dog Keo who takes a break with Captain Kristos in Greko Bay

As I am doing this from the Kindle I will add the pictures and edit it later so excuse the typos.

Protarus - Cyprus

On first arrival we were greeted with names on the board and our own taxi limo to the Crown Resort hotel. The driver who lived in the next villiage had actually lived in Manchester had in fact married a girl from there. He also gave us a few tips on what to see.

The morning whilst hazy and breezy to start with soon went leaving a bright sunny day. Went for a walk along the new promenade to Protarus beach which was unbelieveably quiet.
After lunch and a swim in the pool (I am writing this from the Kindle on the sunbed) having been forced to listen to the best that 50's and 60's music had to offer.
Still at 27 degrees it beats working 12 hours in a fridge called my office.
Think it's a trip to Larnica tomorrow oh and the entertainment tonight hmmn?

a bientot

Clovelly, Devon - England

Clovelly, North Devon - England

A unique cobble stone village with no cars and the houses are owned by one family. One of only 3 since Norman times. Much of the design being inspired one Christine Hamilton. Make sure you go to the visitor center before you make your way down and watch the short film.
The streets being made from the cobbles of the beach and the bricks made from the kiln at the quayside. The street is too steep for motor vehicles,once donkeys were used to haul items up and down which are now done by sledge. The donkeys are now retired and come out to visit the public every now and then partway down the street near the Queen Victoria fountain.

As you head down the main you pass the New Inn, (good food and a garden at the rear) many gift shops. The museum with inspirations from Charles Kingsley who lived in the village as a child and went on to write books like Westward Ho and The Water Babies. There are also coffee shops and galleries a tiny Chapel and a fisherman's cottage.
There is a seated viewpoint to the right as you pass through the Temple Bar cottage. This is the building where the street goes underneath the kitchen of the premises. There is a spiral staircase to the left just as you walk through.

When you get to the bottom theres the Red Lion hotel just before you reach the Quay built in the 14th Century. It's worth a walk around the wall and then take a look towards the village up the hill and the lifeboat station.

Windsor Castle - England

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Windsor is one of the official residences of Her Majesty The Queen whose personal Royal Standard flies from the Round Tower when she is in residence. It is not unusual to see members of the Royal family visiting the castle
Before you arrive,make sure you do not take anything such as pen knives or items that would fail a security check-in.
There is limited number of seating areas around the castle grounds and seats are available on request while inside the state rooms.
Audio tours
There are free portable audio tours available on leaving the Admission Centre at the start of your visit. Just press the number when you arrive at the info point.
State room fireIn 1992 fire destroyed or damaged more than 100 rooms at the Castle. By good fortune the rooms worst affected were empty at the time, and as a result, few of the Castle's artistic treasures were destroyed. The highly acclaimed restoration work, completed in 1997, is a testament to the extraordinary skills of some of the finest craftsmen in Europe.

St George's Chapel is one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England. It is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter, the senior order of British Chivalry established in 1348 by Edward III. Within the chapel are the tombs of ten sovereigns, including Henry VIII and his third wife Jane Seymour, and Charles I.

Changing of the guard
Changing the Guard takes place at 11:00 daily from April until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting
See website for details.
www.royalcollection.org.uk
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Lille - France

Lille - France

Lille was born out of the water of the Deûle river, a slow-flowing tributary situated on a major route between the great Flemish towns and the Champagne fairs.

The town initially developed at a transhipment point on the Deûle, which required boats to be unloaded until they reached a more navigable section of the river. The town’s origins were therefore as a port, which preceded its role as a merchant town.

Most of the main historical features of the city are based around the square. See the Lille Tourist Information Office.

If you are planning a visit and driving then it pays to park just on the outskirts and get the Lille Metro  - Transpole
They offer free parking 24/7 and security surveillance Monday - Saturday: 6 am - midnight. They are located in Lille (metro stops Porte d'Arras, Porte des Postes and CHR B Calmette), in Lomme (metro stop Saint-Philibert) and in Villeneuve d'Ascq (metro stops Les Prés and 4 Cantons).

A one way ticket from CHR B Calmette to Rihour 1.40 Euro, buying your ticket from a machine. You can use a credit card or coins but there are no options to use notes.
After collecting your ticket you will need to get it punched for verification at the points just before the platform.

One point to note, is that this an automated underground train. It has no driver and is all computer controlled, trains running running every 2 - 3 minutes.
Taking 22 minutes to get from one end of the line to the other.

Check car park location
vincipark.com

Sample ticket, after being validated

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France - Holiday letting & rental

Looking at Holiday Villas and Apartments for Rental in France recently.
Here are some good web sites, covering all locations, not just France.

      http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/

http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/

https://www.novasol.com/












http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/