Due south

Well well well...we meet again!

In this edition of Josh and Meg go global we have included some pics of our trip to Bayeux in Normandy and around some of the Dday sights. We thoroughly enjoyed this little jewel with it's cobble stoned streets and period buildings, wandering aimlessly to find hot food and things to see. Our first Eurail experience was a delight as the efficiency of Europes train networks continues to amaze us. As we settled into our carrige a respectable looking French gentleman gaves us a sideways glance, and then disappeared completely when he heard the voice of some compatriots identifying the same carrige as theirs...enter Geoff and Elliot...a father son combo from good ol Picton in NSW! How happy we were to hear the distinctive nuances from a very Australian voice (Thanks Geoff)! The trip flew as fast as the conversation and laughs (its funny how much you miss the Aussie sense of humour) and we arrived in Bayeux for the same purpose. Meg and I had the fortune of dining with the boys before we parted company. Thanks for the laughs guys and I hope you make it back safe and sound to the ladies.

The Dday tour was fantastic. We had a very funny and informative guide who fielded all sorts of questions and catered well to our almost exclusive group of 3. Words simply fall short to describe the horror, bravado, commoradory and spirit of this sacred place. Even Meg managed to enjoy herself. We managed to keep the culture vulture theme going by visiting the famed Bayeux tapestry (a thousand year old, 70 meter long embroided comic strip depicting William the Bastard conquouring the English)...or as our Normandy guide says, the ROAST BEEF! HA HA HA! And we also had a quick sticky at the Cathedral in Bayeux (Pictured).

Next stop Pontorson. After receiving a hot tip that Mt Saint Michel was a good spot to visit on the way we decided to follow the lead and check it out. Not to be disappointed either as the medieval abby looms high on a rocky outcrop, girt by the Atlantic and a veritible masterpiece of architecture and scope. It was on this particular tour that we were befriended by more lovely country men, or women as it were. Big thanks go out to Tammy, Karen and Michelle for accompanying us on the tour and braving the rainy, icy conditions. We had a blast with you guys and hope your journeys are safe and guide you back to your respective broods peacefully.

Today 28/4/09: Meg and I used our now sharpened railwork nouce to make our way to La Rochelle, a gorgeous port town with a huge marina, good restaurants, snappy net and happening streets. We sign off ready to check in and get some yummy asian food to warm our cockles! Missing and Loving every one of you guys! xoxoxoxo

Goat track

Bonjour...ca va Madams/Missuers,

Sorry we have been off the radar, however the further south we go, the less English is spoken and we have found it difficult to find a decent enough connection to warrent updates/uploads etc...Bayeux was fantastic and we spent an Anzac day missing 2 up and Lager :(

So we are making a run for La Rochelle and hope to spend 2 nights, giving us enough time and cheap connection fee (currently paying 9 Aussie for 30 mins!!) to say a proper hello! Off to Mt St Michel, a famous land sight near Pontorson where we are staying...

All our love Meg and Josh! xoxoxo

Foot massage please

Bonjour once more,

So Meg and I are officially in love with Paris...but is it that hard to imagine?? The last three days have been an absolute whirlwind... Meg and I bought to fruition the desire to have champagne, cheese and baguette underneath the Eiffel tower (which is surrounded by beautiful parks) and then dozed in eachothers arms as the sky had offered to us some amazing spring weather! We woke 30 minutes later to indulge in our first actual paid activity and climbed the stairs to the 2nd level of the Eiffel to immerse in the afternoon sun whilst gazing upon Paris from the most advantages point. We then lazily returned to our hotel via the Metro (most efficient public transport ever) and ventured across the street to indulge in some yummy pizza and Red plonk.

The next day quickened the pace as we visited Notre Dame (Words can't describe) and then on to the Bastille (Formally fortified royal building come stockade) before wandering around the deilightfully manacured Cemetiere Pere Lachaise where Chopin, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrsion have been laid to rest. After a blundered attempt to visit the Catacombes (thanks LP) Meg and I got spruced up and ventured to the Champse Elysse for a romantic Parisian dinner. And we were far from disappointed. Was it you Leash that told us about the Onion soup? Regardless...OMFG! Most amazing soup ever!! We also had incredible mains and were left wanting more and more. Despite the freezing gusts blowing up the Elysse, Meg and I pressed on to see the Eiffel by night and stood under the incandescent glow for 30 mins until the cold got the better and we retreated to base camp!

Today I woke with my first ailment of the trip. An incredibly strained ligament from ball of foot to big toe! Not to let it get the better I made like hop along cassidy and we set out for another huge day of sight seeing! The Musee De Louvre is astonishingly huge...no way you could see everything in less than 3 days! Then we descended into the bowels of Paris for a disturbingly macarbe tour of the Catacombes. A 1.6 Km walk through the old quarry (contstructed in the 18th century) that became a mass grave after the remains of some 3 thousand Parisians were relocated here due to an outbreak of disease from an overcrowded cemetary!

The last spot on the trip was Pont Neuf, The Conciergerie, Saint Chapel and the original settlement of Paris (all in a small adjacent area). Needless to say my feet are effed!

Among all of these wonderous sights, I must confess that the food is the winner here. Savoury crepes, sweet eclairs (your right Leash, never again in Australia), onion soup, croissants and cakes I could not have even dreamed up are now a part of us forever!! I'm such an easily pleased pig for life!

So I sign off now to go and pack for our next adventure, despite all the gravity of Paris on me. I love each and every one of you back home...we think of you often: xoxoxoxox