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# vagabondpat.life

fearlessly solo

## Sitemaps

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## Posts

- [Blog](https://vagabondpat.life/blog/)
- [London Culture Vulture](https://vagabondpat.life/london-culture-vulture/) - Three days, two plays, one concert, several cask ales, meeting up with friends and doing lots of walking added up to a satisfying stay in the heart of London.
- [Getting town to town in Burgundy by train and bus](https://vagabondpat.life/getting-town-to-town-in-burgundy/) - How to use the SNCF Carte Avantage Senior and the SNCF Connect app I left Auxerre, capital of the Yonne, for Nevers, capital of the Nièvre, the two departments of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté that I'm looking at this trip. Traveling by train and bus just within France, I'm using SNCF directly, not Trainline or Omio. If over
- [Les Halles de Nîmes](https://vagabondpat.life/les-halles-de-nimes/) - The indoor food market in Nîmes - Les Halles - is outstanding! This photo gallery shows you the range of products you'll find, and how clean and attractive the stalls are.
- [Planning 2026](https://vagabondpat.life/planning-2026/) - I've yet to find a house to settle into, but I suppose there is some chance for May to be taken up with moving. Dental treatments in Stockholm take me north in January and I will stay in northern Europe through March, to complete them. I'll head south to Copenhagen to enjoy some shows, move
- [Nearly Narbonne?](https://vagabondpat.life/nearly-narbonne/) - Narbonne, where a single local bus fare and 20 minutes will see you at a beautiful, seemingly endless expanse of sandy beach on the Mediterranean, has a lot of appeal. Its covered market won the "best market in France" award just a few years back. It's a very appealing market ("Halles") not only for the
- [Planning my cultural calendar for 2025](https://vagabondpat.life/planning-my-cultural-calendar-for-2025/) - I'm settled in Saumur from January-on for some months, hoping to find and close on a house. But I can't just sit in one place! I've been busy putting things on my calendar and find a lot to look forward to. When I started my vagabond ("happily homeless") interval in early 2022, my first stop
- [First Road Trip](https://vagabondpat.life/first-road-trip/) - Leaving Virginia! My home since January 2003, but now I am happily homeless: pro tempore, and choice, not hardship. My first destination is my brother's, in the St. Louis metro area, actually St. Charles county. Of course, getting from the East Coast to the Midwest means crossing the mountains, and the direct route is I-64.
- [France: Summing up, 2022](https://vagabondpat.life/france-summing-up/) - I've spent seven weeks of this period abroad exploring SW France, and in September will go back for another two. Now spending a two-month interval in Denmark, Türkiye and England, I can step back and reflect on the places I began checking out. I've ordered them here from likeliest to least likely, although my ranking
- [A map overview of 2022](https://vagabondpat.life/a-map-overview-of-2022/) - If you're not quite sure of the locations of the places I've written about, here's a map overview of my first year 'footloose and fancy free.'
- [Mapping 2023](https://vagabondpat.life/mapping-2023/) - This will certainly be added to, but it's a start. Just as on the 2022 map, I've used the standard red marker for places I've stayed, a gray woman marker for day trips, and comedy masks for performances. This 2023 map has its list below running from January to December.
- [My cultural calendar in 2022](https://vagabondpat.life/performances-attended-2022/) - As I wrote when I started this blog, after my years in the countryside of Virginia and after the first year-plus of Covid isolation and limitations, I'm focused on spending my time with good friends and on cultural events and experiences. To my friends in NYC, this list may be a yawn - more like
- [My cultural calendar in 2023](https://vagabondpat.life/performances-booked-in-2023/) - My 2023 cultural events calendar, from Amsterdam to Toulouse. Do our tastes coincide?
- [My cultural calendar in 2024](https://vagabondpat.life/my-cultural-calendar-in-2024/) - Another year with some very memorable events. I traveled to Colmar just to hear Franco Fagioli in Polifemo yet again, as last year in Amsterdam was a concert version, and this was staged. Loved it! Hearing Julia Lezhneva with Ton Koopman, on his 80th birthday in Brussels, was a treat. Koopman, Lezhneva, Handel, bliss. And
- [Give a girl a break](https://vagabondpat.life/give-a-girl-a-break/) - Where I'm at House-hunting by car with Kristian (January 29-February 7) gave us an almost overwhelming amount of impressions and information to reflect upon and evaluate, after 1600 km on the road and numerous house viewings. I'm a bit shaken up by my re-evaluation, which I cover in another post, and have stepped back for
- [What I've seen of France](https://vagabondpat.life/towns-visited-in-france/) - For friends who are wondering where I'm looking and where I'm going to settle, I want to provide an overview. You'll see how wide-ranging these explorations have been, both on my own and twice with Kristian who rented a car for us to be able to see more and move around more easily. I've put
- [Found the property of my dreams!](https://vagabondpat.life/found-the-property-of-my-dreams/) - Beyond my fantasies, in fact It happened: while traveling with Kristian, we went to a house that had enticed me online, and for once the house was better than advertised. We both love it. It's affordable and in good shape, needing only cosmetic work. I'd/we'd be a year shaping it up, but easy to visualize
- [House-hunting gets real](https://vagabondpat.life/house-hunting-gets-real/) - Got my visa! With a VLS-TS in my passport, it's time to find and buy my next home. For the last two years, I've been roaming and thinking about what matters most to me when I have to make trade-offs, what area might suit me best, what kind of property I want. Now that I
- [Exploring the Sarthe with Le Mans as my base](https://vagabondpat.life/exploring-the-sarthe-with-le-mans-as-my-base/) - I traveled straight on to Le Mans after arriving at CDG airport, Paris. It's easy to get to, just an hour forty minutes by train from the airport station, with no changes, a nice, direct trip. Keeping things easy, I booked into Appart'Hotel next to the station. This is my base for exploring for one
- [Exploring the Sarthe: Saint-Calais](https://vagabondpat.life/exploring-the-sarthe-saint-calais/) - A day trip on market day Saint-Calais is one of France's two-hundred-some Petites Cités de Caractère. These days it has about 3,000 inhabitants, and as I looked online at properties in the Sarthe and at pictures of the various towns with modestly-priced houses for sale, I thought Saint-Calais seemed the most promising. I came to
- [Holidays 2023, End of year plan](https://vagabondpat.life/holidays-2023-end-of-year-plan/) - As far as I'd planned before arriving in France I'm in Paris for 5 nights, 3 concerts, a big and thrilling indulgence. All the concerts are at the Philharmonie de Paris, in its Grande Salle Pierre Boulez. I'd never been. It's up in the 19th, La Villette, so I booked at St. Christopher's Inn on
- [Laptop stolen at CDG!](https://vagabondpat.life/laptop-stolen-at-cdg/) - While I was waiting for a train at the airport station, a quick thief snatched my laptop from its tote right beside/behind me. Huge loss and will affect updates here as well as much else in daily life. This is going to be difficult to replace as it was a model I customized carefully. HP
- [Sillé-le-Guillaume](https://vagabondpat.life/sille-le-guillaume/) - The medieval town Guillaume de Sillé, a vassal of the Count of Maine, built a fortress here on the fringes of Maine, and assisted in defending the territory against the Bretons and Normans. The château of Sillé-le-Guillaume is mentioned as early as 1040. This de Sillé barony was powerful right up to the Revolution. Next to
- [Fresnay-sur-Sarthe](https://vagabondpat.life/fresnay-sur-sarthe/) - Wednesday after arrival, I made my first day trip in the Sarthe. I was out uncharacteristically early, catching a 7:35 am bus, because I wanted to see the weekly market, which has typical hours of 8 am to 1 pm, and buses don't run more than a few times a day. The bus stop in
- [France it is](https://vagabondpat.life/france-it-is/) - An update on my househunting in France, with somewhat narrowed search zones.
- [Travel Essentials](https://vagabondpat.life/my-favorite-things/) - After months of constant travel, I can recommend the things I think are truly worth traveling with.
- [For healthier aging](https://vagabondpat.life/for-healthier-aging/) - A good diet and exercise are a big part of aging well, but medical research shows there are supplements that greatly help us older folks. Here's what I'm starting.
- [Getting around Istanbul](https://vagabondpat.life/getting-around-istanbul/) - 2023 current information on public transportation in Istanbul, how to get and use Istanbulkart, ferries and trains.
- [A 10-Day Self-Drive Itinerary for Iceland](https://vagabondpat.life/iceland-road-trip/) - Here's how a trio enjoyed a self-driving tour of Iceland from Reykjavik to Akureyri, with horseback rides, museum visits and outstanding landscapes, all in beautiful summer weather.
- [Photo gallery: the Climatron](https://vagabondpat.life/photo-gallery-st-louis-climatron/) - Enjoy photos of the tropical wonderland of St. Louis's geodesic-dome Climatron, with Chihuly glass sculptures.
- [Chihuly in the Garden](https://vagabondpat.life/chihuly-in-the-garden/) - A photo gallery from an early October visit to Chihuly in the Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis.
- [Exploring Handel's music in concert](https://vagabondpat.life/exploring-handels-music-in-concert/) - I hope that offering excerpts of various works will tempt you into a concert hall for some of the most beautiful music ever written, if you weren't already marking your calendar! I'm starting a bit late in the season, October 2023. There is Handel to be heard at Bayreuth in September .... This post will
- [Planning the 2023-2024 concert season](https://vagabondpat.life/planning-the-2023-2024-concert-season/) - I have some idea of where I want to be over the next eleven months, though I don't know how my French visa application will go. Quite anxious about it, actually. But I am pushing any concern to the back of my mind and already choosing events to look forward to. Most anticipated event this
- [Berlin Philharmonic! An opera detour](https://vagabondpat.life/berlin-philharmonic-an-opera-detour/) - I couldn't resist booking a ticket for Handel's Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno when I saw it scheduled by the Berlin Philharmonic. Handel's very first oratorio, written when he was 22; of course, reworked sometimes, but this performance was to be the original version. Lovely. And I'd never been to the Berlin Philharmonic.
- [Vienna, April 11-14, 2022](https://vagabondpat.life/vienna-april-11-14-2022/) - A month ago, I wasn't even thinking of Vienna this trip, but when I was checking websites that list classical music events around Europe, I found that Vittorio Grigolo would be in Carmen in Vienna, and I started looking into making that concert work out. I had booked a flight to Milan, and was thinking
- [Budapest, April 14-18](https://vagabondpat.life/budapest-april-14-18/) - What a treat this will be - a city I've never been to, long on my list. I'll stay riverside with a view of the Danube! Banal sort of business hotel, but it was tough to book Easter. And I've booked 3 concerts for my 4 nights there. Going to be absolutely fabulous.
- [Working on a quick trip to Italy](https://vagabondpat.life/working-on-a-quick-trip-to-italy/) - Since Jan 2020, I'd been planning to return to Milan asap for an extended stay (month at least) with friends who'd wanted me to stay on back then, share their place and teach them English. A family I love, so I was very much looking forward to it, but - things change. Health issues cropped
- [Planning my Budapest days and eves](https://vagabondpat.life/planning-my-budapest-days-and-eves/) - I know absolutely nothing about the Hungarian language, and I'm too interested in getting by in Vienna and then getting oriented in Turkiye to spend much time on it. Still, I am a foodie, and an oenophile, so I do want to get menu-oriented at least, so that I'll recognize favorite foods and avoid things
- [Vienna plans - nearly there!](https://vagabondpat.life/vienna-plans-nearly-there/) - I've been looking at restaurants in my hotel/opera district in Vienna, and am finding some interesting options. One, a Chinese restaurant called Hao Noodle and Tea, is right at Opernring 19. It has one of the appetizers I've so missed since leaving Manhattan: wonton in spicy Szechuan sauce. They also offer Peking duck wraps as
- [NY, NY](https://vagabondpat.life/ny-ny/) - I flew back to the US on September 21, and of course, by preference, to NYC so I could visit friends and enjoy the city a bit before returning to St. Louis on the 28th. Now I have to figure out when in December, and for how long, I can be there again. I've loved
- [A Weekend in Brussels for Opera](https://vagabondpat.life/a-weekend-in-brussels-for-opera/) - The unforgettable Grand Place of Brussels I first saw Brussels with its astounding Grand Place when I was ten years old. And I never forgot it. I didn't go back until December 2019, and I must say I was just as thrilled as when a child. I couldn't find postcards of Brussels that do it
- [Opera and Orchestras in France](https://vagabondpat.life/opera-and-orchestras-in-france/) - One of my strongest wishes is to live where there is a cultural season that will make me happy. May be beyond my means, but I can at least try to be within reach of a good concert season. Have been researching and share my findings here. I've put together the list of links to
- [Struck out in Cambridge](https://vagabondpat.life/cambridge-strikeout/) - I was very pleased with my rather last-minute plan to stop over in England between leaving Berlin and meeting up with Kristian in Paris. I'd be traveling on Saturday, and there was a Casals celebration that evening, just a one-hour concert but featuring twelve cellos! I love the cello voice. What a treat that would
- [Finding and Booking Concerts](https://vagabondpat.life/finding-and-booking-concerts/) - As I'm often mentioning operas and concerts I'm attending, and you can see them in my reports on performances attended in 2022 and performances booked in 2023, I thought it could be helpful to share how I find these events. I did quite extensive searching before each of my longer stays in Europe, made wish
- [Opera in Limoges: Gounod's "Faust"](https://vagabondpat.life/opera-in-limoges/) - A chance to see an opera while seeing Limoges for the first time I had hoped we'd get to Limoges, which we'd never been to, and see what the surrounding region was like as well. It was just a last-minute bonus to find that we could make our dates coincide with a matinee performance at
- [A happy return to Montpellier's Opéra-Comédie](https://vagabondpat.life/gluck-at-montpellier-opera-comedie-may-2023/) - The beautiful Opéra-Comédie of Montpellier, with some outstanding conductors and excellent performers and productions, has quickly become a favorite destination of mine.
- [Loving Opera at Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse](https://vagabondpat.life/loving-opera-at-theatre-du-capitole-de-toulouse/) - I came to see Toulouse, the Pink City, when I could catch a production of La Traviata. This is my story of a screw-up that turned out fine; and I share great aria links.
- [Amazon: European selections](https://vagabondpat.life/amazon-european-selections/) - After sharing my post of Travel Essentials - a few of my favorite things - I've decided to add some of the purchases and replacements I've made along the way, from Amazon sites in Europe, along with a few things recommended by friends and fellow travelers. I welcome your suggestions of additions! Leave a comment
- [Eldhestar and Fálki!](https://vagabondpat.life/eldhestar-and-falki/) - Icelandic horses are a very special breed and a delight to ride. I recommend experiencing a tour - or several! - at Eldhestar in southern Iceland, 40 minutes from Reykjavik.
- [A return to sunny Nîmes in the Gard](https://vagabondpat.life/a-return-to-nimes-in-the-gard/) - I had an opera ticket for Montpellier, but chose to stay in Nimes because it's so easy to get to, pleasant to stay in, and has decent accommodations right by the train/bus station.
- [Fasting, swimming, sunning](https://vagabondpat.life/fasting-swimming-sunning/) - I've abandoned OMAD for now because I've found that fasting, sunning and swimming do not mix in a hot environment that poses heat stroke risk!
- [The best airport connections in Occitanie, France](https://vagabondpat.life/the-best-airport-connections-in-occitanie-france/) - Trying to decide your travel routes in SW France? I'll tell you how to have the easiest transfers in Occitanie and which airports are best to use.
- [Mapping my Istanbul Experiences](https://vagabondpat.life/mapping-my-istanbul-experiences/) - I'm providing some maps to accompny my suggested Istanbul itinerary as well as other posts about the city.
- [Thrills at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw](https://vagabondpat.life/thrills-at-amsterdams-concertgebouw/) - Back-to-back stellar performances at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw were high points of my long stretch of travel this year. I even got to speak to the principal artists after the events!
- [Rethinking (2023)](https://vagabondpat.life/rethinking-2023/) - Could living in France be a real possibility? When I first realized it might be possible for me to live in France, it was because of pandemic-era articles online saying that real estate in France's southwest was then a bargain. Montpellier and Toulouse were mentioned as good places to live that were not too expensive.
- [A stroll in Fontenay-le-Comte, Vendée](https://vagabondpat.life/fontenay-le-comte/) - We were beginning our explorations of Deux-Sèvres, but as usual I had some detours in mind. We left Niort and rather than heading directly northeast to Parthenay, drove northwest on departmental roads 648 and 148 to Fontenay-le-Comte in the Vendée department and on the Vendée River. After that, we meandered north through La Châtaigneraie and
- [Seeing friends in the seaside resort of Deal, Kent](https://vagabondpat.life/the-seaside-resort-of-deal-kent/) - Deal, on the east coast of Kent where the North Sea and English Channel meet, is a very attractive, quiet seaside town, perfect for walks along the coast or strolls through the town. It predates the Doomsday survey, of course ... It is said to have been the busiest port of England at one time.
- [Turkish Hammams](https://vagabondpat.life/turkish-hammams/) - First hamami experience, with a Turkish friend I had skipped the public baths in Budapest because the weather was uninspiring and I was busy enough just exploring neighborhoods and getting to my concerts. I did not want to miss a hammam experience in Istanbul, but I felt very unsure of what to expect, where and
- [Sign Language](https://vagabondpat.life/sign-language/) - I mentioned in an earlier post that this trip is a new experience for me, that of traveling where I don't speak the language. I feel so American. LOL. It hasn't been much of a problem. Not because I found lots of English speakers - perhaps one in three encounters were successful in English -
- [Parlez-vous - ?](https://vagabondpat.life/parlez-vous/) - For the first time since the summer of my eleventh birthday, I'm going to have what I think of as a typical American-abroad experience: I'm going to be in cities where I don't speak the language. I won't know what advertisements and shop window signs say, won't understand the conversations around me, won't be able
- [Evaluating French towns: transportation and surveys](https://vagabondpat.life/evaluating-french-towns-transportation-and-surveys/) - Public transportation in Europe is usually impressive, and in France is generally quite good. Of course, Paris and all the Ile de France is covered extensively - although changing between train stations in Paris can be a challenge. Be sure to check online in advance for details on a transfer you need to make and
- [A Five-Day Itinerary for Istanbul](https://vagabondpat.life/five-day-itinerary-for-istanbul/) - Seeing Istanbul for the first time? Use my itinerary for an introduction to this exciting city.
- [Online House-hunting in France](https://vagabondpat.life/online-house-hunting-in-france/) - House-hunting online is a great challenge if you don't have reason to be in a specific location. This is where I'm looking in France, and where things stand with me.
- [A Ten-Day Itinerary in Andalusia](https://vagabondpat.life/a-ten-day-itinerary-in-andalusia/) - An independent itinerary in Andalusia, recounted with expenses and other details that others can base their own plan upon.
- [Rough arrival in Marrakech](https://vagabondpat.life/rough-arrival-in-marrakech/) - I've addressed my date screw-up regarding Morocco in my post about my shock at Charleroi. I did erroneously make a reservation for the week of March 6-13, but I caught that mistake when the confirmation came back, and immediately modified my online booking and wrote the property (Amour d'Auberge, a hostel in the Medina section
- [Charleroi shock - and all my fault](https://vagabondpat.life/charleroi-blunder/) - A story that's short but not sweet. After a very happy, though brief, stay in Brussels, I headed back to Charleroi on Sunday for my flight to Marrakech. I'd been getting email reminders to check in, but when I tried, I'd get a message that I couldn't complete check in online. Off I went with
- [Barham, Canterbury, Kent: an historic and picture-perfect English village](https://vagabondpat.life/barham-canterbury-kent-an-historic-english-village/) - See a traditional and beautifully maintained English village with a detour to Barham in the Canterbury district of Kent. Walking paths on the Barham Downs are a bonus.
- [2023: On my way!](https://vagabondpat.life/2023-on-my-way/) - I'm aboard American Airlines from Philly to CDG, Paris. On-time boarding, late departure, possible on-time arrival nonetheless as tailwinds of something like 180 mph are sending us to Paris at over 700 mph! Amazing. And smooth. I've booked three nights - only - in Paris, and then nothing set till the end of the month.
- [2023: Back in France!](https://vagabondpat.life/2023-back-in-france/) - Here I am: first stop, Paris. Total indulgence as it hardly relates to finding where to live. On the other hand, the three days will let me muse over whether I'd prefer a location within easy reach of Paris to a location close to the Mediterranean. Tough question. There's no denying that being in Paris
- [Keeping it cheap in Guéliz, Marrakech](https://vagabondpat.life/keeping-it-cheap-in-gueliz-marrakech/) - The Medina and the Kasbah are fascinating areas and one can hardly visit Marrakech without exploring them. But they're not where I recommend staying. The importuning left and right, and the very dirty streets, are not only tiresome, but they contribute to a less positive attitude towards the town than it deserves, I think. When
- [Marrakech: a week in the Kasbah](https://vagabondpat.life/marrakech-a-week-in-the-kasbah/) - Monday of my second week, I changed hostels, with a fellow traveler's help getting my luggage to the square for a taxi. When I had come to check this hostel out, I had met tourists who'd parked their car right outside, so I knew that cars can get to that address. But the taxi driver
- [Two weeks in France with Kristian](https://vagabondpat.life/two-weeks-in-france-with-kristian/) - Last year as well as this January, I kept to trains and buses to explore France. It's so convenient because you're going from the center of one town to another, generally. Sometimes the train station is a bit away from the center, across a river or just a bit on the periphery, but all stations
- [Touring Charente-Maritime - 3: Saint-Jean-d'Angély](https://vagabondpat.life/saint-jean-dangely/) - Charente-Maritime has interested me since I read that it enjoys a micro-climate that is much milder than would be expected in this zone. As I've started looking northwards rather than just on the southern coast, this area was top of my list for exploration. It was new to Kristian, too, so on our road trip
- [Touring Charente-Maritime - 1: Jonzac and Pons](https://vagabondpat.life/jonzac-and-pons/) - It's possible to drive from Cognac to Saintes in half an hour, but I had more touring in mind, wanting to see these two towns, each with a population of some 4,000, as compared to Saintes with 25-30,000 and Cognac with about 18,000. I like cities, but smaller towns have more affordable properties, so seeing
- [Touring Charente-Maritime - 2: Saintes](https://vagabondpat.life/saintes/) - We were quite delighted with Charente-Maritime by the time we got to Saintes in the evening, having explored Jonzac and Pons after our leisurely morning in Cognac. Not planning to cook that evening, we chose a very cheap hotel near the train station, where parking was easy right on the street, and downtown was walking
- [Cognac in Charente](https://vagabondpat.life/cognac-in-charente/) - My only thought in heading to Cognac was that, since Kristian and I have to keep postponing an exploration of Bordeaux and its wine towns, Cognac could be a fun visit together, with perhaps a chance for tastings as we enjoyed in Calvados in 2014. Neither of us had an idea of what an attractive
- [Lunch in Sancerre](https://vagabondpat.life/lunch-in-sancerre/) - "Favorite village of the French" declares the banner on this tower in Sancerre. We had decided to see this hub of the local wine industry, perched high above the Loire, and so drove in for lunch after a quick, and disappointing, foot tour of Pouilly-sur-Loire. You can see far and wide from the roads into
- [A quick stop in historic Angoulême](https://vagabondpat.life/a-quick-stop-in-historic-angouleme/) - I wanted to see Angoulême just for historical interest, from the importance of the counts of Angoulême and especially because of Isabelle d'Angoulême, wife of King John of England, and Marguerite d'Angoulême, so famous in the Renaissance. A little summary of my reasons for interest: Taken from the Visigoths by Clovis in 507, it was the seat
- [Brief visit to Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert](https://vagabondpat.life/brief-visit-to-saint-guilhem-le-desert/)
- [Sleepy Bédarieux](https://vagabondpat.life/sleepy-bedarieux/) - I went to Bédarieux one afternoon (June 21) to see what the town was like. Hardly a sign of life. Posting photos for anyone curious.
- [Delightful Ely](https://vagabondpat.life/delightful-ely/) - One of my aims in staying in Cambridge a few nights was to get up to see Ely and its cathedral. It's such an easy day trip by train, taking only about 15 minutes each way. The town is very walkable - it's the second smallest city in England - and charming. The Cathedral page
- [Photo Gallery: La Rochefoucauld-en-Angoumois](https://vagabondpat.life/photo-gallery-la-rochefoucauld-en-angoumois/) - La Rochefoucauld in the Charente department was on our route from Limoges to Cognac as we followed D10 and D13, and we stopped just because the well-known chateau is so striking and the setting on the Tardoire river is so peaceful and attractive. The chateau dates from the 11th century, and the donjon is the
- [A quick look at Bourges](https://vagabondpat.life/bourges/) - Bourges was my first day trip out of Vierzon, as I expected it to be the most interesting, and it was. It's a good-sized city and seems to have many thriving businesses. I liked it well enough to keep it in my list of areas for home searching. Just to put this region in your
- [True Confessions: I do screw up](https://vagabondpat.life/true-confessions-i-do-screw-up/) - I wouldn't care to make featured posts of all the times things have gone wrong - even though those times are few enough in number. Completely or partly my fault, these contretemps are part of being on the move for such an extended time. My travel planning is quite complicated. For one thing, once I
- [Cold in Marrakech: first week](https://vagabondpat.life/cold-in-marrakech-first-week/) - Monday, first day: Zip! After my rough arrival night, out in the cold, I was freezing and miserable, with a very sore throat, stuffy head, and just shivering. When I was given access to a room and bunk that afternoon, I settled in under the covers and wrote off the day. It wasn't possible to
- [Missed flight, June 2022](https://vagabondpat.life/missed-flight-june-2022/) - I can't explain what happened to me in this case. I'd told a new French friend what my schedule was, and in conversations close to my departure, he kept referring to my leaving Monday ... and I would repeat, impatiently, "Mardi! Je pars mardi!," sure that Tuesday was my day to leave ... why, how,
- [Vignettes of my time in Türkiye, 2022](https://vagabondpat.life/turkish-vignettes/) - In my post "Sign Language," I wrote of a very friendly hotel cleaner. That was just one of many friendly encounters in Türkiye. The most outstanding thing upon my arrival in Türkiye was the overwhelming warmth of the welcome my former students extended to me. I expected a bit of somewhat obligatory courtesy and then
- [Quick look at Joigny in the Yonne](https://vagabondpat.life/quick-look-at-joigny-in-the-yonne/) - I'd been curious about Joigny, having noticed some interesting house ads. I'd driven by the town some 25 years ago, when it was already famous for the Michelin-starred restaurant La Côte Saint Jacques. My seat-mate on the train from Paris to Auxerre told me he and his family had moved to Joigny from Paris about
- [Aah ... ugh ... Agde](https://vagabondpat.life/agde/) - Agde was on my original list of southwestern French towns to see as I started considering where to live. It's not that I'd heard much about it, or that it was recommended. It's just one of the towns near the sea that, for location at least, seemed worth a look. It's on the train line
- [Reading the signs](https://vagabondpat.life/reading-the-signs/) - When I run into someone who's attentive to astrology, I have fun identifying myself as a Leo many times over, but with Venus in Gemini. I like to blame my commitment issues - "never can choose just one" - on that Gemini aspect of my affections. And so now, as I travel to explore where
- [Staying in Hostels](https://vagabondpat.life/staying-in-hostels/) - I didn't stay in hostels when I traveled in my student years, except for one night in Cap d'Ail where I didn't find other options. That was a one-off that I gave no further thought to. But now, trying to learn how to live on my little Social Security, I'm making new choices. I long
- [You can do it!](https://vagabondpat.life/you-can-do-it-2/) - I meet a lot of people who say they'd like to travel as I do, but think they couldn't manage it, couldn't plan it, couldn't do it alone or independently. But it's not so hard! Yes, travel takes a lot of planning, very time-consuming planning at that, but now that there's so much information online,
- [Issoudun](https://vagabondpat.life/issoudun/) - I'd seen some reasonable properties in Issoudun and wanted to take a look, so this was one of my targets for exploring from Vierzon. You can see it has a few lovely monuments and its iconic tower. I was here on a cold, gray, sometimes drizzling afternoon, so I didn't even hike all over town,
- [A new start](https://vagabondpat.life/pandemic-reflections-and-decisions/) - Didn't we all have a lot of time to think about our lives as the pandemic changed how we lived day-to-day? To think about what the pandemic made us miss, and what we didn't miss, and what we wished for when there's more or less an all-clear. I know I took stock. I'd been hoping
- [Where to find me: Updated 6 April](https://vagabondpat.life/where-to-find-me/) - March 24 update: I thought I had my plans settled, but - things change! Was planning largely around friends, so when their schedules changed, so did mine. Drastically. Here's what I just finished booking today/tonight! I've extended my stay in Puerto Morelos, for a start. I'll keep updating this page through the year. Apr 6:
- [Puerto Morelos: feels like coming home](https://vagabondpat.life/puerto-morelos-feels-like-coming-home/) - If you've had good experiences in Mexico, you understand why so many Americans and Canadians come time and again, and so many choose to retire here. From the moment I stepped outside the Cancun airport, I felt happy and like I'd come home. The gorgeous night weather. Friendly people. And then arriving in Puerto Morelos,
- [Things change - but the season has taken shape](https://vagabondpat.life/things-change-but-the-season-has-taken-shape/) - Much of my planning remains fluid, but I've now got a rough plan for my whole time abroad this spring-summer. I am in touch with two former students in Turkiye - both of whom I'd hoped would get to visit me in Virginia, but that never happened. Now I'll get to see them both! Any
- [Socks and Shoes](https://vagabondpat.life/socks-and-shoes/) - After checking into my Istanbul hotel, I was ready to post that I was on the Socks Tour. It was comical: at my second stop this trip, Budapest, I'd found dirty socks on my hotel room floor, between an armchair and the window. I called reception and they sent housekeeping to collect them along with
- [On my way to France](https://vagabondpat.life/on-my-way-to-france/) - I've just had a short(ened) stay in Milan, two nights at Francesco's, three nights downtown in an apartment at the corner of via Torino and via Lupetta, just a couple of blocks from the always-impressive Duomo and Galleria. Now I'm heading to Nîmes, on a series of three trains - the first and last, TVG,
- [Nîmes: Pedestrian zone](https://vagabondpat.life/nimes-pedestrian-zone/) - Friday morning, first day here, went in search of a bakery, the market, and just a look around the heart of town. Food shops are hardly the only shops, but you know they're what I pay attention to. The usual retail chains are here, like L'Occitane en Provence, Yves Rocher, etc, and a few salons,
- [Nîmes - Night walk on arrival](https://vagabondpat.life/nimes-night-walk-on-arrival/) - First stop in France this year! Arrived at my hotel a bit after 10 pm, having traveled on three trains to get here from Milano. Ready to stretch my legs and couldn't wait to get a glimpse of the town. I'm staying just opposite the train station (Centre) on its south side; and a couple
- [Moving along](https://vagabondpat.life/moving-along/) - Today I'm traveling from Istanbul to Milan, and in about a week will go on to France where I'll meet up with Kristian - where/when yet to be determined - and on the 27th, with Margaret as well. When Margaret heads back to the US on June 21, she'll be flying from Brussels, so we
- [Le Grau de Roi](https://vagabondpat.life/le-grau-de-roi/) - Kristian and I made a day trip to the coast May 22, to the closest beach we could reach by public transport. Using the ticket machines in Nîmes station, I paid over 30 euros for our two tickets, which should have been a euro each way - as we learned from the train personnel who
- [A day in Arles](https://vagabondpat.life/a-day-in-arles/) - Late post for lack of usable wifi, but sharing photos from May 25 when Kristian and I made a day trip from Nîmes to Arles. We were just walking and getting a look at the city, no museums this day. I'm returning tomorrow, June 8, with Margaret, on a day excursion from Avignon by boat
- [Auxerre: Photo gallery](https://vagabondpat.life/auxerre-photo-gallery/) - Supplementing my post on Auxerre, here are more pictures from my visit January 9-14, 2023. The town is a wonderful jumble of medieval, 1700-1800s and modern architecture. If you read French, there's a history of the city hall published (online) by the town archives.
- [Carcassonne day trip](https://vagabondpat.life/carcassonne/) - Carcassonne! I've wanted to see it for so long. Kristian suggested we make that our day trip out of Narbonne, rather than try to take in Toulouse in too few hours. Excellent decision. Very easy to get to - but we were surprised by the prices for such a short ride (about $27 RT). Far
- [First look at Béziers](https://vagabondpat.life/first-look-at-beziers/) - Béziers, in the Hérault, is well-located for day trips, and is a town I wanted to see in any case. I've booked six nights and the start has been a mix of good and bad. First shock, no elevators in the train station. I thought all major towns had been made accessible, but, no, not
- [Nevers in Photos](https://vagabondpat.life/nevers-in-photos/) - By now it should not be news that I like cities on the water. This month I'm exploring cities on the Yonne and the Loire. Nevers is on the Loire, where two smaller rivers - the Nièvre and L'Éperon - flow into it, and where there the Canal Nivernais now flows as well. Within a
- [First stop 2023: Auxerre](https://vagabondpat.life/first-stop-2023-auxerre/) - After just three nights in Paris, I caught a train to Auxerre, capital of the Yonne, a department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. I've roamed around Burgundy by car a few times, and been thoroughly charmed, but it had been years, and I wanted to see some parts of it again - as well as see how it
- [A lunchtime visit to La Charité-sur-Loire](https://vagabondpat.life/a-lunchtime-visit-to-la-charite-sur-loire/) - Seeing charming photos of Auberge de la Poule Noire near the Loire in Charité when I was studying a Google map pushed me to get on a train in time to explore the town and have lunch, within the restaurant's narrow window of noon to one. I had a couple of interesting chats here. First,
- [Châteauroux](https://vagabondpat.life/chateauroux/) - As with other towns in these pages, I was visiting here because online I saw some reasonable and interesting properties for sale in the area. When I mentioned the town to French acquaintances, I got different reactions: "I don't think you'll like it; it was an army base for years..." and "Oh yes, lots going
- [Narbonne: Jan 2023, 3rd visit](https://vagabondpat.life/narbonne-jan-2023-3rd-visit/) - I liked Narbonne on first sight last spring. The canal through the heart of town, the architectural mix, the ducal palace, and the acclaimed indoor food market all won me over. I've wondered if the town is too quiet; in any case, it's hardly devoted to my kind of culture: classical music, choral music, opera,
- [Seeing more of Carcassonne](https://vagabondpat.life/seeing-more-of-carcassonne/) - Last September, I visited Carcassonne for the first time, on just a day trip from Narbonne with Kristian. We headed to the upper fortified city like all good tourists. We ate lunch up there, walked around the ramparts, went into the church - in short, we toured the town. Fascinating but overwhelmingly touristy. We walked
- [Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire](https://vagabondpat.life/cosne-cours-sur-loire/) - What a long name! Cosne-sur-Loire was joined with Cours fifty years ago, but people may still just say "Cosne" when refering to the town. This was a short day trip for me from Nevers, about 40 minutes by train for about 5.50 euros ($6) each way. I was lucky that it was market day. It
- [Back to the USA](https://vagabondpat.life/back-to-the-usa/) - These are my last hours in France for this year. Kristian left late afternoon and will soon be home. I'm counting on a 3:30 a.m. taxi ride to the transport interchange known as Sabines. I am booked on FlixBus to get to Barcelona, and will then need a taxi to the airport for my 12:50
- [A rare visit to family](https://vagabondpat.life/a-rare-visit-to-family/) - My brother and I have had little time together as adults - or really, since he married while I was still in college. He's got family, and has stayed in the St. Louis area (St. Charles county), and I headed East. Ron never came to NYC in my 20+ years there, and in the 19
- [Journées Méditerranéennes des Saveurs](https://vagabondpat.life/journees-mediterraneennes-des-saveurs/) - What luck, to arrive in Nîmes just before the weekend of this fair, May 14-15. Here's a look around midday Saturday. Signs everywhere proclaim "Le Gard - Militant du Goût" (the department of the Gard - an activist/partisan/campaigner for taste). There's wine, beer, whiskey, vinegars, olives and olive oil, lavender, duck and pork rillettes, foie
- [Les Halles d'Avignon](https://vagabondpat.life/les-halles-davignon/) - I've been staying near Les Halles for about ten days, and thought I'd share a little photo catalog of the vendors here. I rather prefer the Halles at Nîmes, but we've had very good fish, excellent bread, olives, cheeses, milk and yogurt, and slightly pricey but very fresh fruit and veg, so Avignon has been
- [Narbonne's Halles and Restos](https://vagabondpat.life/narbonnes-halles-and-restos/) - It was one p.m. when I settled into my airbnb in Narbonne, but as I found the hours for Les Halles online as running till 2 pm, I headed there. Wrong. The stalls close up at 1. However, the little restaurant stands stay open and serve continuously. The butcher counter Bebelle grills meats, another stand
- [French wines bought: bargains!](https://vagabondpat.life/french-wines-bought-bargains/) - Whether I'm alone or with Kristian or Margaret, this is a period of living pretty simply - as always, enjoying good food and wine, but at modest cost (though groceries are most all organic, and food out is usually a restaurant or brasserie, so not rock bottom). I/We are having fun trying bargains in wine
- [Life goes on - or so they say](https://vagabondpat.life/life-goes-on-or-so-they-say/) - But right now? With what is happening to Ukraine, it feels very feeble to be writing about my comfy life and superficial things like travel and amusements. When I turned on the car radio yesterday and heard a sports broadcast, I was shocked to think that such events were going on, as if the world
- [Some glimpses of Turkish food](https://vagabondpat.life/turkish-food/) - The first homemade Turkish food I've had, here actually in Türkiye, was in Çanakkale at the home of some of my host Mustafa's friends. I would have already said I love Turkish food, but this was a revelation. For one thing, I've been saying I don't care for stuffed grape leaves. Whenever I'd tried them
- [End of year news](https://vagabondpat.life/end-of-year-news/) - Just posting a quick note to say I've gotten maps working, so please take a look at this new item in the site menu. To start off, I've made a map tracking all my movements in 2022! In a few days, I'm off to Paris and will be working my way south, and starting a
- [I Love Istanbul](https://vagabondpat.life/i-love-istanbul/) - Seriously. I did wonder ... after so many years living in the Virginia countryside, would I take to a city as huge as Istanbul? Would it be overwhelming? Unmanageable? Daunting? Nah. Not a chance. It's simply marvelous. Marvel-ful might be the word for it. The mix of ancient, merely old, and modern are combined in
- [Exploring from Vierzon](https://vagabondpat.life/exploring-from-vierzon/) - After seeing a bit of the western side of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté - the Yonne while based in Auxerre, the Nièvre while based in Nevers - I wanted to start looking at towns in the region Centre-Val-de-Loire, considered to be central-western France. This trip, I chose to start with the Cher and a bit of the Indre,
- [Exploring Fatih: Kadirga](https://vagabondpat.life/exploring-fatih-kadirga/) - Fatih is the district of Istanbul with the famous historic sites most tourists seek first: Aya Sophia, Topkapi, the Blue Mosque, the Cistern. It's the peninsula on the European side that was the Byzantine city of Constantinople. The Golden Horn is on its north side, the sea of Marmara on its south. In my first
- [Early June update](https://vagabondpat.life/early-june-update/) - Wifi has been horribly bad most everywhere I've booked, and the hotspot I bought has been useless, so I haven't managed to keep up my pages (or emails). At the moment I'm sitting on a low wall using citywide public wifi in Nîmes as Margaret explores the museum of "Romanité" that Kristian and I so
- [On the way to Burhaniye](https://vagabondpat.life/on-the-way-to-burhaniye/) - Photos to come soon! I left Istanbul this morning, Sunday 10 June, and have arrived in Bandirma by ferry. In a couple of hours I'll be on a bus to Burhaniye where I'll be staying with my friend BB and her family for the week.
- [Travel day](https://vagabondpat.life/travel-day/) - Just posting an update on where I am. Currently in Luton airport, north of London, having left Diana's in Deal, Kent, and waiting for Ryan Air to take me to Béziers airport. Kristian arrives from Stockholm a few hours after me. We'll spend the night in Agde and tomorrow move on to a town near
- [My last week in Türkiye for this year](https://vagabondpat.life/my-last-week-in-turkiye-for-this-year/) - Right now, Saturday August 13, I'm in Side, in the province of Antalya. I came here from Alanya yesterday, having spent 3 days there just enjoying swimming in the ocean and seeing the Cleopatra beach area. My only tourist venture was a visit to the local archeology museum; of course interesting, but nothing to compare
- [City of London: a few details](https://vagabondpat.life/city-of-london-a-few-details/)
- [Wish I'd known](https://vagabondpat.life/wish-id-known/) - I'll keep adding to these tidbits of travel info gleaned from experience. Feel free to ask questions in comments, if you are traveling somewhere I've been. Türkiye: Arriving at Istanbul Airport When I got to the luggage carousels, I found the huge hall had ATMs all the way around the room. And all were anonymous.
- [Denmark!](https://vagabondpat.life/denmark/) - I wasn't planning on getting to Denmark this year; in fact, had told a friend I wouldn't get to Copenhagen till next year. Nearly still true: I went straight from Copenhagen airport to Faxe Ladeplads, and straight back a week later. But when Arne told me that a visit would work well during their foster
- [Mid-July Update from Burhaniye](https://vagabondpat.life/mid-july-update-from-burhaniye/) - I'm writing from Burhaniye where I'm having a delightful visit with BB and family. I had no expectation beyond an interesting trip south - ferry and bus, with a change in Bandirma that gave me time for a meal and a beer - and a relaxed family visit in this beach town. But Mustafa has
- [Turkiye, April 18 till ?](https://vagabondpat.life/turkiye-april-18-till/) - Starting from Istanbul, and all the rest is yet to be decided. I'd like to spend time in Izmir and see some coastal towns south and on around to the Mediterranean side, maybe Antalya. Will be hugging the coast and staying in the western part of the country - though I will try to get
- [So, what about Mexico?](https://vagabondpat.life/so-what-about-mexico/) - I went to Cancun with Flori around New Year 2015 and stayed in the area till mid-April because I liked it so much. That first winter I decided Cancun should be my future home, and I spent all the next winters there, till this past when I was stuck in Virginia to get my house

## Pages

- [Home](https://vagabondpat.life/) - Alone but itching to travel? Take inspiration from Pat's solo adventures in retirement and get tips for France and more of Europe, Mexico, Turkey, Iceland.
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- [Where's Pat?](https://vagabondpat.life/wheres-pat/) - Current location: Saumur 2026 Calendar January 1 - 19: Saumur January 19: Paris. Philharmonie, Bach Cantatas, Ph Herreweghe January 20- February 1: Stockholm February 1-9: Copenhagen February 5: Operaen, Verdi, "Rigoletto" February 6: Det Kongelige Teater, Gamle Scene, "Indenfor murene" February 7: Skuespilhuset, "Endnu en dag i Guds skaberværk" - February 9-18: Amsterdam February 18-22: Brussels
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## Categories

- [Travel](https://vagabondpat.life/category/travel-outside-france/)
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- [Travel tips](https://vagabondpat.life/category/fyi/) - Sharing what I’ve learned through experience
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## Tags

- [France](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/france/)
- [Puerto Morelos](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/puerto-morelos/) - Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, Mexico
- [Cancun](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cancun/) - Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
- [Denmark](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/denmark/)
- [Türkiye](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/turkiye/)
- [St. Louis](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/st-louis-missouri-usa/)
- [St. Charles county MO](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/st-charles-county-missouri-usa/)
- [about Pat](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/about-pat/)
- [concerts](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/concerts/) - Classical music events
- [opera](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/opera/)
- [Vienna](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/vienna/)
- [hotels](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/hotels/)
- [Budapest](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/budapest/)
- [road trip](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/road-trip/)
- [Istanbul](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/istanbul/)
- [family](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/family/)
- [baking](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/baking/)
- [Mexico](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/mexico/)
- [restaurants](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/restaurants/)
- [train travel](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/train-travel/)
- [bus travel](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/bus-travel/)
- [air travel](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/air-travel/)
- [spas](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/spas/)
- [Brussels](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/brussels/)
- [genealogy](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/genealogy/)
- [Venice](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/venice/)
- [Milan](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/milan/)
- [Palazzo Barbarigo Minotto](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/palazzo-barbarigo-minotto/)
- [Quintana Roo](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/quintana-roo/)
- [wine](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/wine/)
- [Pest](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/pest/)
- [metro](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/metro/)
- [language](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/language/)
- [Kent](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/kent/)
- [Ankara](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/ankara/)
- [Ismir](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/ismir/)
- [gulet](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/gulet/)
- [petsitting](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/petsitting/)
- [Montpellier](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/montpellier/)
- [Avignon](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/avignon/)
- [Schengen](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/schengen/)
- [schedule](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/schedule/)
- [where's Pat?](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/wheres-pat/)
- [Nîmes](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/nimes/)
- [TGV](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/tgv/)
- [Milano](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/milano/)
- [hammam](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/hammam/)
- [hamami](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/hamami/)
- [Turkish bath](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/turkish-bath/)
- [markets](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/markets/)
- [Fatih](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/fatih/)
- [Kadirga](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/kadirga/)
- [food fair](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/food-fair/)
- [wine tasting](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/wine-tasting/)
- [craft beers](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/craft-beers/)
- [Arles](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/arles/)
- [Rhone](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/rhone/)
- [river excursions](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/river-excursions/)
- [promenade en bateau](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/promenade-en-bateau/)
- [Les Halles](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/les-halles/)
- [food shopping](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/food-shopping/)
- [day trips](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/day-trips/)
- [Nîmes](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/nimes/)
- [Côtes du Rhône](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cotes-du-rhone/)
- [Ventoux](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/ventoux/)
- [Pays Aigues](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/pays-aigues/)
- [Vaucluse](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/vaucluse/)
- [Côtes Vivarais](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cotes-vivarais/)
- [Côtes de Provence](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cotes-de-provence/)
- [Crémant de Limoux](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cremant-de-limoux/)
- [Bordeaux Supérieur](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/bordeaux-superieur/)
- [Prosecco](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/prosecco/)
- [Côtes de Bordeaux](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cotes-de-bordeaux/)
- [Béziers](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/beziers/)
- [Hérault](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/herault/)
- [train stations](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/train-stations/)
- [painted grass](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/painted-grass/)
- [flower markets](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/flower-markets/)
- [food markets](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/food-markets/)
- [abbeys](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/abbeys/)
- [cloisters](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cloisters/)
- [chemins de Saint-Jacques](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/chemins-de-saint-jacques/)
- [road to Compostela](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/road-to-compostela/)
- [Camino de Santiago](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/camino-de-santiago/)
- [les Plus Beaux Villages de France](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/les-plus-beaux-villages-de-france/)
- [Abbey of Gellone](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/abbey-of-gellone/)
- [UNESCO World Heritage site](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/unesco-world-heritage-site/)
- [Narbonne](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/narbonne/)
- [lunch menus](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/lunch-menus/)
- [travel tips](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/travel-tips/)
- [good to know](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/good-to-know/)
- [useful info](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/useful-info/)
- [live and learn](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/live-and-learn/)
- [visiting friends](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/visiting-friends/)
- [beach towns](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/beach-towns/)
- [marinas](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/marinas/)
- [seaside towns](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/seaside-towns/)
- [Gard](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/gard/)
- [up in the hills](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/up-in-the-hills/)
- [Çanakkale](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/canakkale/)
- [Gallipoli](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/gallipoli/)
- [birthday](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/birthday/)
- [Antalya](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/antalya/)
- [Side](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/side/)
- [Alanya](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/alanya/)
- [temperatures](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/temperatures/)
- [beaches](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/beaches/)
- [swimming in the sea](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/swimming-in-the-sea/)
- [London](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/london/)
- [SW France](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/sw-france/)
- [French train tickets](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/french-train-tickets/)
- [Istanbul ATMs](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/istanbul-atms/)
- [Turkish ATMs](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/turkish-atms/)
- [French ATMs](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/french-atms/)
- [Istanbul airport transportation](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/istanbul-airport-transportation/)
- [SIMs](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/sims/)
- [ferries](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/ferries/)
- [crafts](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/crafts/)
- [arts](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/arts/)
- [textiles](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/textiles/)
- [architecture](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/architecture/)
- [City of London](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/city-of-london/)
- [Luton Airport](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/luton-airport/)
- [Agde](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/agde/)
- [Barcelona](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/barcelona/)
- [NYC](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/nyc/)
- [New York](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/new-york/)
- [fall plans](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/fall-plans/)
- [Cap d'Agde](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cap-dagde/)
- [Ryanair](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/ryanair/)
- [Béziers airport](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/beziers-airport/)
- [Béziers Cap d'Agde airport](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/beziers-cap-dagde-airport/)
- [Hérault river](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/herault-river/)
- [coastal towns](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/coastal-towns/)
- [Aude](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/aude/)
- [ballet](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/ballet/)
- [theatre](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/theatre/)
- [theater](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/theater/)
- [Handel](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/handel/)
- [Stoppard](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/stoppard/)
- [Proms](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/proms/)
- [Carmen](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/carmen/)
- [Bach](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/bach/)
- [Mascagni](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/mascagni/)
- [Donizetti](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/donizetti/)
- [2022](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/2022/)
- [Paris](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/paris/)
- [Saint-Ephrem](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/saint-ephrem/)
- [MIJE](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/mije/)
- [hostels](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/hostels/)
- [Marais](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/marais/)
- [Billet Reduc](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/billet-reduc/)
- [Burgundy](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/burgundy/)
- [Auxerre](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/auxerre/)
- [Yonne](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/yonne/)
- [2023](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/2023/)
- [Joigny](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/joigny/)
- [food](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/food/)
- [Clamecy](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/clamecy/)
- [Nevers](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/nevers/)
- [Nièvre](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/nievre/)
- [Bourgogne-Franche-Comté](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/bourgogne-franche-comte/)
- [Loire](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/loire/)
- [Cosne](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cosne/)
- [Vierzon](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/vierzon/)
- [Châteauroux](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/chateauroux/)
- [central France](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/central-france/)
- [Centre-Val-de-Loire](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/centre-val-de-loire/)
- [Cher](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cher/)
- [Bourges](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/bourges/)
- [Indre](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/indre/)
- [Sologne](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/sologne/)
- [Berry](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/berry/)
- [province of Berry](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/province-of-berry/)
- [Issoudun](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/issoudun/)
- [fyi](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/fyi/)
- [airport transportation](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/airport-transportation/)
- [phone service](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/phone-service/)
- [mobile data](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/mobile-data/)
- [ATMs](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/atms/)
- [currency conversion](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/currency-conversion/)
- [money exchange](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/money-exchange/)
- [Morocco](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/morocco/)
- [Marrakech](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/marrakech/)
- [Kasbah](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/kasbah/)
- [Medina](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/medina/)
- [Jemaa el Fna](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/jemaa-el-fna/)
- [photo galleries](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/photo-galleries/)
- [festivals](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/festivals/)
- [events](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/events/)
- [plans](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/plans/)
- [maps](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/maps/)
- [hotel stays](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/hotel-stays/)
- [home search](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/home-search/)
- [Carcassonne](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/carcassonne/)
- [French towns](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/french-towns/)
- [house-hunting](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/househunting/)
- [Canal de la Robine.](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/canal-de-la-robine/)
- [Canal du Midi](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/canal-du-midi/)
- [music](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/music/)
- [opera houses](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/opera-houses/)
- [concert tickets](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/concert-tickets/)
- [travel planning](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/travel-planning/)
- [De Munt](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/de-munt/)
- [La Monnaie](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/la-monnaie/)
- [Grand Place](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/grand-place/)
- [waffles](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/waffles/)
- [Manhattan](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/manhattan/)
- [New York City](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/new-york-city/)
- [Voices of Ascension](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/voices-of-ascension/)
- [Le-Grau-de-Roi](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/le-grau-de-roi-2/)
- [new life](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/new-life/)
- [Ukraine](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/ukraine/)
- [budget travel](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/budget-travel/)
- [opera companies](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/opera-companies/)
- [historic theaters in France](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/historic-theaters-in-france/)
- [Kaleiçi](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/kaleici/)
- [Grand Bazaar](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/grand-bazaar/)
- [Bandirma](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/bandirma/)
- [chatting with strangers](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/chatting-with-strangers/)
- [helpful strangers](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/helpful-strangers/)
- [Toulouse](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/toulouse/)
- [Limoges](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/limoges/)
- [orchestras](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/orchestras/)
- [classical ensembles](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/classical-ensembles/)
- [choirs](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/choirs/)
- [public transportation](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/public-transportation/)
- [buses](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/buses/)
- [travel apps](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/travel-apps/)
- [gone awry](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/gone-awry/)
- [staying in hostels](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/staying-in-hostels/)
- [Charleroi](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/charleroi/)
- [Cambridge](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cambridge/)
- [Berlin](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/berlin/)
- [Berlin Philharmonic](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/berlin-philharmonic/)
- [oratorio](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/oratorio/)
- [Ely](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/ely/)
- [English cathedrals](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/english-cathedrals/)
- [car trips](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/car-trips/)
- [Melun](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/melun/)
- [Haute-Vienne](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/haute-vienne/)
- [Charente](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/charente/)
- [Centre](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/centre/)
- [Vienne](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/vienne/)
- [Deux-Sèvres](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/deux-sevres/)
- [Poitou-Charentes](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/poitou-charentes/)
- [Nouvelle-Aquitaine](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/nouvelle-aquitaine/)
- [Charente-Maritime](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/charente-maritime/)
- [Roman arch](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/roman-arch/)
- [videos](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/videos/)
- [Gueliz](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/gueliz/)
- [budget](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/budget/)
- [restaurants in Marrakech](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/restaurants-in-marrakech/)
- [English villages](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/english-villages/)
- [historic towns](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/historic-towns/)
- [book recommendations](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/book-recommendations/)
- [electronics](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/electronics/)
- [duffel bags](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/duffel-bags/)
- [symphonies](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/symphonies/)
- [airport shuttles](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/airport-shuttles/)
- [airport navettes](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/airport-navettes/)
- [airport transfers](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/airport-transfers/)
- [travel recommendations for France](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/travel-recommendations-for-france/)
- [Halles](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/halles/)
- [Deal](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/deal/)
- [English channel](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/english-channel/)
- [SNCF](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/sncf/)
- [traveling in France](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/traveling-in-france/)
- [Gardiner](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/gardiner/)
- [London transport](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/london-transport/)
- [cultural events](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/cultural-events/)
- [St-Martin-in-the-Fields](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/st-martin-in-the-fields/)
- [National Express](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/national-express/)
- [itineraries](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/itineraries/)
- [Andalucia](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/andalucia/)
- [Spain](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/spain/)
- [public transport](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/public-transport/)
- [personal](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/personal/)
- [swimming](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/swimming/)
- [riding](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/riding/)
- [Iceland](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/iceland/)
- [Eldhestar](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/eldhestar/)
- [Icelandic horses](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/icelandic-horses/)
- [past trips](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/past-trips/)
- [2024](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/2024/)
- [Lezhneva](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/lezhneva/)
- [Fagioli](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/fagioli/)
- [Amazon](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/amazon/)
- [essentials](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/essentials/)
- [anti-aging](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/anti-aging/)
- [online shopping](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/online-shopping/)
- [health](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/health/)
- [travel gear](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/travel-gear/)
- [Paris concerts](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/paris-concerts/)
- [London concerts](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/london-concerts/)
- [Saint Louis](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/saint-louis/)
- [gardens](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/gardens/)
- [Sarthe](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/sarthe/)
- [pet-sitting](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/pet-sitting/)
- [art exhibitions](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/art-exhibitions/)
- [dream property](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/dream-property/)
- [Haute-Marne](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/haute-marne/)
- [wine fairs](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/wine-fairs/)
- [2025](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/2025/)
- [wine festivals](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/wine-festivals/)
- [2026](https://vagabondpat.life/tag/2026/)