Travelog for: Blue Rat

I was whisked away for a surprise birthday treat for Helly.

First stop was St. Mellion Golf and Country Club, in Cornwall, a real 'Late Rooms' bargain!

There was a nice view out of the window in both directions, although it rained lots that evening. Pierre Bear & I sat in the window and watched the rain.

Happy Birthday Helly!

We went to Rick Stein's Bistro for lunch (£15.99 for three courses!!). It's in Padstow and the harbour was beautiful, although it was very wet in the rain.

Pierre Bear & I sat on the most enormous settee in the lounge! We almost got lost on it, it was so big.

My new friend Frankenstein - he's not as scary as he looks - and I wished the next lot of toyvoyagers to be released 'Bon Voyage'.

They accompanied me on my tour of Calne and I helped to release them. So now I've met lots of Toy Voyagers and have completed a mission!

It's my last day in England today so I decided to make the most of the sunshine and complete my tour of Calne.

My first stop was by the old wharf, where boats used to moor up. I also saw an old pump which was used to damp down the road dust on the London to Bath road.

I then walked further along the Wharf to Marden House.

Marden House was once the home of the Wharfinger - what a funny name! - who used to be the officer in charge of the Wharf.

Next stop, the Wilts & Berks Canal, or rather, what remains of it!

It was built between 1795 and 1810, joining the Kennet and Avon Canal and The Thames at Abingdon. It is now famous for being the longest derelict canal in the country.

What a claim to fame!

It is hoped to restore it, much as has been done to the Kennet & Avon Canal. It will need to be re-routed through Swindon though as much of it has been built on.

Next stop was Market Hill with some of the oldest buildings in town. The buildings here are really pretty and over 300 years old. Again, they have been refaced many times.

Well, my final stop was the site of an ancient castle..

Castle House probably dates from the 16th & 17th centuries. All that remains of the original building is this side of it. The back is a modern extension. It is now an old people's home. Steve & Helly had never seen it from this side before so this was new to them too. I was so proud that on my last day in England I saw something Steve & Helly also hadn't seen.

It is thought that Castle House was built on the site of a castle, partly because of it's name and the name of the surrounding streets - Castle Street and Castlefields but also because it's built on a steep hill.  I love old castles and imagining what they must have been like when they were first built.

Anyway, my last night in England, tomorrow I'm on my way again, off to France.  Helly & Steve want to go with me but they won't fit in my box.

I've had a lovely time here in England and hope to return in the future.

Youhhouuuu ??? Is there anyone ???


I'm supposed to be in France, but I don't see anyone?


Oupssssssss ???? I'm not alone...Look what I first met!


Oooh, my god ??? What to do???
Just stay quiet ... Do not move, do not even breathe!


I'm not here ... and this is just a nightmare

Helly? Steve??? Where did you send me???

I'm still alive ! I brought the monster down !!
And look at me now, I'm in the Pyrénées!!

Well, as you can see behind me, there isn't much snow because of the spring-like temperatures.


Mood wanted to bring me to the famous Pic du Midi, but it was too late anf fog was coming down ...

I was quite disappointed because Pic du Midi seems to be very great. Mood told me it was famous for its astronomical observatory (highest in Europe : 2877m) and there is a superb panorama on the whole chains of the Pyrenees.

Here are some pictures :

Anyway ... Here is a view of the chain of the Pyrenees from the road, on the left is the Pic du Midi and on the right the Montaigu (another wellknown peak at 2339 m)


Anyway ... we just ski some times (I was in Mood's pocket, it was fantastic!!)

Hey, have you seen these strange ants below?

You remember when I told you about spring like temperatures ? Well here are some other proofs :



After our short mountain trip, we went back to Mood's parents house, and I escaped some times to explore the garden ... (looking for some little mice...) Haven't found any, but I got drunked with this beautiful crocus perfume


Then I rested on these pansy

Wich colours size me the best ? Blue pansy or these yellow daffodils?

And look at these primroses


Mood told me she may have a surprise for me ... hmmm ?? I'm wondering what kind of surprise it is? I'll tell you as soon as I know !

Meanwhile, I'm just having a bath of violets

Youhouuuuu !! Here I am back !!!!

Mood told me about a surprise ... and what a surprise -> I went to Guadeloupe for a week !!!!!!
Look, it's just here, it looks like a butterfly :


In the Carribean Sea !!!


Look at the colour of the sea !! (I even saw small sharks and skates !!)


Of course, as it's summer in this part of the world, and the sun is very shiny here, you have to be well equiped... I was !!!

I've bought this sunglasses before leaving...

Well, let's carry on... Here is the island of La Desirade

with its strange trees, and flora



This is a coconut palm. I tried to climb to catch a coconut, but too hard for me!!

anyway,  the coconuts weren't ripe...

This flower is called "Oiseau de Paradis" 'Bird of Paradise"

Indeed, we have visited a magnificent garden :

with beautiful flowers (look at these Hibiscus)


We also tasted the famous "Ti'Punch" which is a rum-based mixed drink !!hips!


It's made with sugar cane (this is where they grind it)

and it's very tasty !! I have noted down the receipt, here it is, if youy want to try it:

Press a half thick green lemon section and to leave it in glass. Put 1 measurement of sugar cane sugar for 4 measurements of rum. Serve with a small spoon to stir.

You can replace the sugar cane syrup by brown sugar or honey from Marie-Galante. Rum must be at ambient temperature, in particular it should not be too fresh.

Then I met flamingos, with knees inside out

and look at this colourful parrot:


I haven't met any kangaroos or koalas, but look at this very strange animal, crawling on his branch:

Can you see it ?

It's an iguana !!!

But now, I'm back in France, and the weather is soooo cold !!!!!
I show my pictures to Mood (who stayed here while I was doing carribean sunbathing)


As I knew Mood would be sad, I brought her back this "Oiseau de Paradis" as a souvenir ...

Suits me weel don't you agree?

Then I met Stripey (Mood's TV) ... who is quite a well-mannered cat

He i also an artist as you can see just behind him ... His model was Romeo, (the one who frightened met when I arrived)
In fact he's quite nice, and was very curious about my carribean trip


He asked to show him where Guadeloupe was located on the map

It's just at the end of my noise

As the weather was cold and grey, Stripey organised a painting work-group !


look, I've made footpaint!!


I'm an artist !!

Today I went for a walk in Toulouse (the capital of the Midi-Pyrénées région). Here is the Capitole (it's the seat of the municipal administration of thetown):

(As you can see, the weather is really bad!!!)
[img][/img]
The Capitouls (governing magistrates) of Toulouse embarked on the construction of the original building in 1190, to provide a seat for the government of a province growing in wealth and influence, but the current façade, 135 metres long and built of the characteristic pink brick in Neoclassical style, dates from 1750.
The eight columns represent the original eight capitouls.



In 1873, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc built a bell tower typical of the style of northern France on top of the donjon of the building. It was in this donjon that Jean Calas, a Protestant victim of a religiously biased trial, was interrogated. Brrrr

Here is the Musées des Augustins :



It's sited in a gothc convent




Then I visited some old mansions such as The Hotel d'Assezat :

and here is the main courtyard


It was built in the second half of the XVIth century for Pierre Assézat, a prosperous merchant in the pastel trade that flourished at the time.

Then I went to the Pont Neuf (New bridge)(which in fact is the oldest bridge of the town)

In the back you can see the "Chateau d'eau" (water tower)

The visit goes on, and here is the church of the Dalbade (XV century)

quite austere don't you think ???

Looks like a medieval fortress
Have you seen this half-timbered house ?


By the way, I think I forgot to tell that Toulouse is known as the Pink town because of its distinctive brick architecture, and indeed here is one the streets (rue des Paradoux):


Then here I am in front of the Jardin des Plantes entrance :


It's a botanical garden who was first created in 1730 by the Society of Sciences of Toulouse.
The Garden has several old buildings or vestiges.

The entrance door is a reconstitution of one of the doors of old Capitole, and dates back to 1886.

There I saw strange winged creatures



This one is the most pretentious peacok I ever met


He was everywhere I was taking pictures

I wanted to take a picture of this scupture, and the peacok came !!!


Then we came back home ... and this time I met two other guys, Caramel (on the left) and Nounours Bleu Marine (right) ... doing their homeworks... So I asked them if I could help them, and here we are like pupils at school

(Caramel was doing geometry,Nounours Bleu Marine drawing, and I was doing French grammer!!!)

Indeed, I've learnt to write my name in french! I was very proud!

But I also wanted to see how a real french school looked like, and asked Mood to take me to school ...
The day after, we went to the Ecole Jules Julien

Here are the two entrances : one for the girls

and the other one for the boys

But Mood explained me it was the old entrances, and now schools are mixed !
Unfortunately, we couldn't go inside, but I could see the playground


When we came back home, a parcel was waiting for us ...
I had a quick glance at it

and surprise, a funny little Martian came out of it


His name is Auggie