As promised, a diary entry below. We returned from Paris and Spain last night and I am very rushed but wanted to fulfil my promise to send an e mail when we got home. Not the best holiday we have had......but it makes us so very happy that we have had numerous holidays in the 27 years we have been married and this was the first one which was disappointing. So we cannot grumble (even if the report gives that impression).

Does anyone know where the joie went from the joie de vivre in Paris? Certainly we could not find it when we flew there on the 12th September. We visited first 25 years ago and it was so clean that it put London to shame. There was a light, happy feeling in the streets and plenty of atmosphere. It had certainly deteriorated when we visited again about 7 years ago, mainly due to the previously pristine buildings looking rather jaded. Sadly it is now a city I hardly recognise. The streets are very littered and dirty, some even smelly and the happy atmosphere was not evident during our weeks stay.

Our accommodation was excellent. However, it was an apartment and we had no intention of cooking. So we ventured to our favourite restaurants. One is now a very run down cafe and the other was so expensive that we dare not go into the establishment. Although we tried to find a good quality but reasonably priced restaurant we found that two courses and the very cheapest bottle of wine averaged out at 70 Euros. As our pound was only worth 1.15 Euros when we bought them, it was expensive for the quality of food. For six nights we were offered only meat and chips with the 'vegetable' being one lettuce leaf and half a tomato. One evening we bought a lovely Indonesian meal and found to our horror that the cheapest wine in the restaurant was 45 Euros per bottle. Finally on the last night we did have an excellent meal of lamb shank and vegetables - the only really good meal we had. Sadly they did not offer potatoes or rice and so it was not really very filling. So visitors beware!!

The really funny thing is that the French claim to be the best cooks in the world and shudder at the English diet of 'meat and two veg!!' Well, I have news from them about quality and value for money. Certainly we never eat the two veg that they mention but usually have at least three, not including the home made soups etc. However it has to be admitted that London is just as dirty and overpriced as Paris. The last time we visited we led a 'walk out' with American tourists following us when they asked for £3. 50pence for half a pint of beer. Tony explained that he paid £2 per pint in the North of England for a very good real ale. (Sadly the price has now risen but is still a fraction of the cost in the South of England). A strong message here - do visit the North of England and eat in the friendly pub bars! York is a city not to be missed and Durham Cathedral is second to none. Our Roman remains at Hadrian's Wall have to be seen and then up to Scotland for some of the best scenery you could hope for.

However we really enjoyed the museums in Paris as always and this time we actually took a high speed train (one hour) from Paris to Giverny, Monet's house and garden. I am a very keen gardener and in my opinion, it is the best garden I have ever seen. Everything is colour co-ordinated and you can see from the planting that there will be a wonderful combination of colours at each season. Pinks underplanted with white and silver. Autumn crocus in the green lawns with a backcloth of mauve and deep purple herbaceous plantings. Glorious and well worth a flight to France for that days outing alone.

From Paris we flew to Barcelona and drove the 70 miles to our accommodation up in the mountains overlooking Patja d'Aro. Absolutely lovely. The accommodation is in the middle of a golf course on the top of a mountain and the views are spectacular. Two things spoiled the week. We got the only poor weather this summer and we were both poorly with exceptionally heavy colds. Luckily Tony managed to play golf three days and was delighted with his score. We did manage one outing on the last day, driving along a lovely mountainous coast road to Tossa. We certainly love Costa Brava better than any other part of Spain. Sadly, my swim suit remained in the suitcase due to the cold conditions. In fact I am amazed to relate that it is warmer here at 17o than it was in Spain on five of the days we were there.

The good news is that the place was spotless. The food was superb and worth every penny they charged. The people were warm, friendly and helpful. Altogether a lovely place to visit. The crowning glory for us was the cost in comparison to Paris. Wine in the supermarket at about 2 Euros upwards and even wine at 3.50 Euros was very enjoyable. The restaurants naturally charged more but the good quality house wine was still only 13 Euros for a bottle.

Our next holiday is in your lovely country and we cannot wait. We are still desperate to have some sun.........................

Regards to all your readers,

-- Lyn

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