Blois and environs

Don't let the pictures fool you - while I am showing a rural background and a castle the town is actually quite modern and has some really great shopping.

Dominating the Loire River, the royal castle of Blois is not only one of the most prestigious Renaissance monuments in France but also a brilliant illustration of the evolution of the French architecture from the Middle ages to the 17th century.

There are three areas to go for food, depending on what you want to eat. The end of rue Vauvert on the east side of town has several crêperies and pizzerias, or the rue de la Foulérie is good for bars and ethnic eateries. For traditional French cuisine try the rue Saint Lubin and area between the château and the river.

Sur le Pont d'Avignon - well nearby anyway

Shopping at the Avignon Brocante Market is an experience. Here you are in the city of the Popes when they ruled the Catholic world from inside France and apart from a number of the people who live there and some of the artefacts this is a rich collection of brick a brack. Set along the banks of the river that passes just outside the walls of the city this Brocante market has something for everyone and is just one of the many such markets that are set up all over France.

The wise tourist will of course venture to the tourist office in any of the main towns and ask whether they have schedule of the Markets that are run at least in their city or the province or even throughout France.

If you have lived in Canberra all your life and never had the opportunity to travel do not make the mistake of avoiding French markets based on your experience in Australia. French markets are places where you can find little treasures, big treasures and so many things you never thought you would see that it is a great pleasure to wander through them.

Generally I am not a market aficionado but my partner has started to convert me into one.

There is of course one teensy weensy problem - how are you going to get all those goodies home?

Athens

I was asked the other day what there was to do in Athens for two days. Well how do you respond to a question like that?

It is blatantly obvious that there are the two main hills in Athens each of which you can climb to see the sights below laid out in front of you. One of them at least contains many historical artifacts and of course surrounding them is both the ancient and the modern metropolis. One can of course also play the tourist and eat and shop in the Plaka, watch the changing of the guard in front of the palace at Syntagma Square, wander the broad boulevardes and enjoy the atmosphere and of course there is always a trip to Cape Sunion to see the temple at sunset.

What I enjoy about Athens is sitting in a café and watching the world go by, but of course I don't have to go to Athens to enjoy this - it can be enjoyed anywhere you are. There are museums to visit and archaeological sites to view. However if you want my advice eat drink and be merry - this is Greece!