Travel with Nanook - Norway to South of France
The best travel partner has four legs and a fluffy butt :)
After a good nap; the journey from Norway to Greece started on quite a chilly day, early June 2022. We left Kristiansand harbour with MS Romantika. This way we saved the many hours driving through Denmark and parts of northern Germany.
Waiting for the cruise ship in front of “SS Sørlandet”, built in 1927, a Norwegian heritage tall ship, one of very few full-rigged ships in the world.
18 hrs trip over the North Sea; leaving Kristiansand in the afternoon and arrives Eemshaven, the Netherlands, early in the morning.
Taking a stroll on the Pet deck …
Expensive, but healthy vegetarian roll, for me and liver pate for my best friend :)
Are we really on a boat? WOFF!?
“Leverpostei”, paté of liver…the favourite snack for Nanook.
But MS Romantika has a fantastic crew!
One beer for new, great friends, - all of us driving to south of Europe.
The land of the windmills; the Netherlands.
Well, Woffff! - this must be my store… ?
Pit stop at one of the many hip cafees
River of Groeningen
Where’s the people?
Bye, bye to a beautiful town and off to….
Valkenburg
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Valkenburg 〰️
LOVELY breakfast! Eggs, kiwi and bread for me - Meat, eggs and strawberries for Nanook :)
Amazing lakes, with frogs! :)
…a short stop to see some castles in the very south of the Netherlands and then continue driving through Belgium, and into Luxembourg, to fill up the tank with cheaper fuel. The road continues to….France!
All through Europe we simply looked for a place to stay at Hotels.com or Bookings.com, with only one filter; “Cheapest place to stay with best recommendations”, oh, and "pets allowed” :)
Chateau Saulon La Chapelle. Amazing place and close to the Must See and Experience; the Bourgogne wine district.
Since we arrived after the kitchen was closed, and after a LONG day, the hotel/castle offered us “charcuterie”, with a glass of red wine, and a big bowl of water for Nanook.
Beautiful room, Nanook inspecting …
Chilling in the bathroom with nice and cool temperature
Spinning around on the property
Another very nice breakfast
The town of Mustard. Another Must See.
Free tastings … Never seen before :)
Beautiful buildings
Followed the signs on the ground and finally found the Lucky Bird.
…and one is supposed to touch it for Good Luck :)
Cozy and hidden restaurant
Wanted to ask for access to the Romanee Conti wine yard in Bourgogne, producing one of the best and most expensive red wines in the world, but rarely anyone gets in that gate, including me and Nanook…well, well, so much more to explore…
Pit stop after a long day of walking
Very good and affordable red wines made with Pinot Noir.
One of the many castles… It is known that the catholic monks established the wineyards in Bourgogne. they grew the grapes for the church and the aristocratic dukes in the area. The French revolution returned the wineyards to the people. And their personal relationship to the land, has inspired growth in organic and biodynamic viticulture and winemaking.
Moillard Grivot, Burgougne. Wine tasting of great white wines.
FANTASTIC! Pouilly-Fuisse, Chassagne- Montratchet, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and so on. Ohh Laaa LAaaaa!
The typical notes of white wine from Bourgogne, made of Chardonnay but also Aligote; - Apple, Lemon, Peach, Fresh herbs, Dried fruits, Spices (canelle, vanilla, anis, pepper), Honey, Caramelle, Minerals, Butter …)
Beaune, the tiny “walled island”, located between Lyon and Dijon, the wine capital of Burgundy in the Cotes d`Or department of the Eastern France, is placed on the Bouzaise river. This is a such a gem worth visiting for 2 days, to stay one night, - Try one of the many cute restaurants and bars, have a look inside some of the small shops scattered around, …simply relax…
Finally one room available, just outside the walls of Beaune.
No menue, they make whatever you desire :) and cook the eggs exactly like you want them. I couldn`t ask for more!
Nanook shortly became the Star of the small hotel, so, as the charmer he is; we got the penthouse for half price!
La Villa Fleurie.
Intimate, atmospheric, relaxing …
One of the many new friends…
…and then we set the course for…LYON!
Voila! Lyon, where the rivers Rhone and Saone meets, was historically known for the production and the weaving of silk. In modern times it has developed a reputation as the capital of gastronomy in France . I decided to make a stop in Vieux Lyon, the old part of the city. Unfortunately I didn`t try one of the many Michelin restaurants, but …
…having a simple and affordable pizza, in the old town, in a piazza close to Temple du Change, was exactly what we needed after many hours driving. Lots of new impressions for my doggie, quite exhausted :)
Streching our legs…
A new shy friend …
Was Banksy here? …
Driving to….? Well, as the darkness started creeping in on us, and finding the way out of the labyrinth of roads started to become more and more challenging; and being quite a spontaneous person, I simply decided to jump on to any road leading south. We ended up on A7 which guided us through Valence, Avignon, Marseille and Toulon…with a few hours stop in; Saint Tropez, a Mediterranean town known for its gorgeous sandy beaches and cool, relaxed French way of life. Visitors stroll along the promenade at Saint-Tropez`s port, where sailboats share space with luxury yachts.
… having a pit stop in one of the many Autogrill stops next to A7.
Saint Tropez. Walking the docks and doing some window shopping.
Linda, let`s have a ride with this Red Beauty! WOFF!
Eating a lovely “Burrata”, on the table…
…. eating chopped beef, on the ground … Woff!
Then heading from Saint-Tropez to Sainte-Maxime, - a village full of cosy cafeés, cute small streets, beautiful and creative shops with much more value compared to all that which is overpriced in Saint-Tropez.
Mmmm…a bungalow ….
With a swimming pool and …
our own sauna and bubble bath (?!), just next to the bed. Did not expect that!
Sea breeze …
A lovely meeting with “ The Chihuahua mothers from London” :)
One of Sainte-Maxime’s colourful art shops
One for me and one for me - WOFF!