Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - Or How to Get From Here to There

     There are some definite advantages to living in a rural area of France.  It's quiet - no motor sounds except the neighbor's tractor or Giuseppe's lawn mower.  You can see the stars at night, unless it's overcast which it has been a lot the past month.  You're surrounded by nature - the rolling hills and wooded areas, the calm beauty of vineyards and farmland.  It's really quite peaceful.  And I'm enjoying it.
     However, I am realizing a definite drawback.  There is no train station or airport for many miles and to get to one of those I must drive and leave my car or rely on the kindness of neighbors to give me a ride.  So I haven't done much traveling other than in my car to visit nearby sights.
     I have used all three transports (in my title) in the past few months.  Of course you all know about my multiple flights getting here.  I told you about the train trip in Frankfort which was stressful, but turned out ok.  And I do enjoy train travel.  The day I picked up my car I took the TGV - Train de Grand Vitesse (the really fast train!) - from downtown Toulouse to the nearby town of Montauban.  The TGVs are amazing and get you where you want to go very quickly, much quicker than driving as they can reach speeds of well over 150 mph.
     So, lately I have been trying to decide what is the best way to get to Paris.  I'd like to do a trial run before Beth gets here in February.  After looking at many options I think I will drive to Bordeaux and leave my car in the secured parking area at the train station.  It's about a 21/2  hour drive from me to get to the train station in the downtown area of the city.  (I know that because google tells me!)

Ahhh,  Paris!

     Then I can take the TGV from Bordeaux to Paris with no stops in between and get there in a little over 3 hours!  It would take about 10 hours to drive it!  And the cost of the ticket is much cheaper than gas would be if I were to drive it.  So taking the train to Paris is a no-brainer, in my opinion.
     Now, I could drive to Toulouse and get a direct flight into Paris, which would get me there in half the time of the train, but it would cost more and it would not put me in the center of the city like the train does.  So I would still be out money and time to get from the airport (about 40 minutes outside of Paris) into the city center.   So, the train it is!  I'll get tickets as soon as I get my new US debit card in the mail.  (That's another story, folks.  Just like to say "thanks" to the fraud dept at ENT Credit Union for finding the .39 charge so quickly.  But now I'm without a debit card until the new one arrives, hopefully by the end of the week.)
     The other places I want to visit I will drive to.  First is the seaside city of Biarritz.  Oh, how I love Biarritz! (About a 2 hour drive from here.)  I've only been there during the summer when it was most wonderful to hang  out on the lovely sand beach.  The first time I was there, many years ago, I was impressed with the beauty of the town.  It has elegance  - and yet it's casual.  People were going everywhere with their beach attire.  I look forward to seeing it during a different season.  I think Andy and I will make a day trip there when he comes in January.

Biarritz is the surfing capital of Europe

     I also want to visit the Zoo de Beauval.  My dearest friend, Nora, recommended it as she knows how much I am missing my zoo friends.  It is considered to be one of the best zoos in all of Europe and is the most visited zoo in France.  This will have to be an overnighter as the zoo is about a 5 hour drive from me (and no easy way to get there on a train).   https://www.zoobeauval.com

     At some point I want to get to Nice, which is clear across the country from me, unfortunately.  I have always loved that city and have been there many times.  I could take a train - it would be about 10 hours due to the many stops.  I could fly - it would cost quite a bit and there would be a layover somewhere as it seems there are no direct flights from Toulouse into Nice.  (There's also the issue of leaving my car parked at either the train station or the airport).

     I think I'd like to drive it. It's about a 7 hour drive along the major toll road in the south of France. But I would take longer as there are so many wonderful sights all along the southern coast of France that I would enjoy seeing again - Carcassonne, Nimes, the Pont du Gard, Marseille, Cannes, St Tropez.  The town of Montpellier is about halfway between and I could spend the night there so I don't have to feel rushed.

Carcassonne

The Roman Pont du Gard

     There's so much to do in Nice - I wrote a guide book about it!  And it's been many years since I've been back.  I might save this trip for March when, hopefully, we'll have some sunny weather again.
I still enjoy driving all the little winding roads in my part of France.  But I need to start branching out further.  I want to do as much traveling as I can and see as much as I can.

My Book

     Thank you for joining me on my journey, whether it's by plane, train, or automobile!  Merci!