Comments on: Mad March Days http://www.twiku.com/mad-march-days/ A personal view from a Mediterranean village in France Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:49:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Karen http://www.twiku.com/mad-march-days/comment-page-1/#comment-5160 Karen Wed, 18 May 2011 02:44:27 +0000 http://www.twiku.com/?p=668#comment-5160 I lived in Conas as a young bride (my husband is French, I am American) in 1983. Did the vendanges with a village family who had vineyards (have retired and sold their land I believe), it was such a memorable experience and they were so welcoming. I recall singing and amassing escargots in the vineyards as well as being totally worn out at the end of each day. We had a choice of being paid in wine or francs and wine! Returned a few years ago while we were living in Madrid. It is as lovely as ever and Pezenas is fantastic. I wish you well in my hamlet. I lived in Conas as a young bride (my husband is French, I am American) in 1983. Did the vendanges with a village family who had vineyards (have retired and sold their land I believe), it was such a memorable experience and they were so welcoming. I recall singing and amassing escargots in the vineyards as well as being totally worn out at the end of each day. We had a choice of being paid in wine or francs and wine! Returned a few years ago while we were living in Madrid. It is as lovely as ever and Pezenas is fantastic. I wish you well in my hamlet.

]]> By: Gary and Bonnie http://www.twiku.com/mad-march-days/comment-page-1/#comment-4319 Gary and Bonnie Wed, 10 Feb 2010 07:25:43 +0000 http://www.twiku.com/?p=668#comment-4319 Gary and Bonnie Hookom to me show details 5:47 AM (2 hours ago) Tony, thank you so much for the advise and information. You B&B will be easy to find being so close to our Notaire. If all goes well we hope to be in Montblanc on the 26th of February. We will be sure to take your phone and look you up, maybe to stay for a night, or maybe just to say hello and meet you in person. Your blogs, informational e-mails and your links have been a great insight for us since we discovered them Gary & Bonnie Gary and Bonnie Hookom
to me

show details 5:47 AM (2 hours ago)

Tony,
thank you so much for the advise and information. You B&B will be easy to find being so close to our Notaire. If all goes well we hope to be in Montblanc on the 26th of February. We will be sure to take your phone and look you up, maybe to stay for a night, or maybe just to say hello and meet you in person. Your blogs, informational e-mails and your links have been a great insight for us since we discovered them

Gary & Bonnie

]]> By: tony http://www.twiku.com/mad-march-days/comment-page-1/#comment-4315 tony Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:19:36 +0000 http://www.twiku.com/?p=668#comment-4315 Hello Gary and Bonnie Arrange you car rental and pay before you leave, you will get a better deal from Avis or Hertz etc - driving from Spain to France is no problem at all - there is one main Autoroute straight through, fast and safe, about 3 1/2 hours drive to Conas from Barcelona. The border is "open" and rarely will anyone be stopped either at the Spanish or French control - just slow down, if you are stopped it is usually just a quick look at your passport, but in many tripsI have made in French and British cars I have only been stopped once for a few seconds. The border is just under an hour from us. We should have accommodation at the last minute should you wish - do phone first if you can - home number is 04 67 11 28 65 We are in the same road as the Notaire, they are only about 50 yards from our home so do call in anyway. Look forward to seeing you Best wishes Tony Hello Gary and Bonnie

Arrange you car rental and pay before you leave, you will get a better deal from Avis or Hertz etc – driving from Spain to France is no problem at all – there is one main Autoroute straight through, fast and safe, about 3 1/2 hours drive to Conas from Barcelona.

The border is “open” and rarely will anyone be stopped either at the Spanish or French control – just slow down, if you are stopped it is usually just a quick look at your passport, but in many tripsI have made in French and British cars I have only been stopped once for a few seconds. The border is just under an hour from us.

We should have accommodation at the last minute should you wish – do phone first if you can – home number is 04 67 11 28 65

We are in the same road as the Notaire, they are only about 50 yards from our home so do call in anyway.

Look forward to seeing you

Best wishes

Tony

]]> By: Gary Hookom http://www.twiku.com/mad-march-days/comment-page-1/#comment-4313 Gary Hookom Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:47:45 +0000 http://www.twiku.com/?p=668#comment-4313 Tony, We have communicated before, in late October 2009 when we were planning our trip to your area of France to purchase our own pied a terre. During our search we were staying at a rental in Pezenas. We had a great home base, but unfortunatley did not stay at your B&B to get access to your wealth of knowledge. However, I have enjoyed your web site and e-mails. We did purchase a small home in October and it is finally just about to close. Now our plan is to come back, hopefully the end of February. Interersting, our Notaire is in your home town of Montblanc, M. Farges. Our goal will be to furnish our home on this trip, but it will be a short stay this time for only about a week. We are planning our schedule and one that we have chosen is to fly into Barcelona as the air fare is much less then flying into France. We will rent a car in Barcelona and drive to Pezenas. Here is my question for you as I have not been able to find the answer anywhere on the web. We have rented cars in France and stayed in France many times over the past years, but never have we rented in Spain and driven into France. Do you seen any issues that may come up by crossing the border and also, I am somewhat concerned about driving the Pyrennes, taking the shortest route. Do you have any knowledge on crossing the border in a rental vehicle, and what I might encounter on the direct drive to Pezenas. By the way, our home is in Conas and we are so anxious to begin enjoying it. Depending on our arrival time, and making the final arrangements with our Notaire, we may be seeing if you have any last minute openings for our first night stay, until we can at least arrange for a bed. Thanks for any advice you might have for me and my wife. Gary and Bonnie Hookom Tony,
We have communicated before, in late October 2009 when we were planning our trip to your area of France to purchase our own pied a terre. During our search we were staying at a rental in Pezenas. We had a great home base, but unfortunatley did not stay at your B&B to get access to your wealth of knowledge. However, I have enjoyed your web site and e-mails.
We did purchase a small home in October and it is finally just about to close. Now our plan is to come back, hopefully the end of February. Interersting, our Notaire is in your home town of Montblanc, M. Farges. Our goal will be to furnish our home on this trip, but it will be a short stay this time for only about a week.
We are planning our schedule and one that we have chosen is to fly into Barcelona as the air fare is much less then flying into France. We will rent a car in Barcelona and drive to Pezenas. Here is my question for you as I have not been able to find the answer anywhere on the web. We have rented cars in France and stayed in France many times over the past years, but never have we rented in Spain and driven into France. Do you seen any issues that may come up by crossing the border and also, I am somewhat concerned about driving the Pyrennes, taking the shortest route. Do you have any knowledge on crossing the border in a rental vehicle, and what I might encounter on the direct drive to Pezenas. By the way, our home is in Conas and we are so anxious to begin enjoying it. Depending on our arrival time, and making the final arrangements with our Notaire, we may be seeing if you have any last minute openings for our first night stay, until we can at least arrange for a bed.
Thanks for any advice you might have for me and my wife.
Gary and Bonnie Hookom

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