A MESSAGE FROM GREECE

WE ARE STILL ALIVE.   The internet service on the ship is slower than dial-up and costs 75 cents per minute so a normal blog with picture uploads would cost more than our vacation.   I am in a restaurant in Katalono Greece that has wifi.  The price for the wifi is a Mythos beer.  

BICYCLING ON THE CANAL DU MIDI

Today was our, bicycle on the Canal Du Midi day.  The Canal Du Midi is a 150 mile long canal through southern France.  It goes from the Mediterranean 150 miles inland.  The canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Sight.  It was built starting in 1666.  It's construction is considered one of the greatest construction works of the 17th century.  Originally it was used for shipping trade goods along it's length, but now it is used for pleasure boating.  The path we rode our bicycles on was originally the path used by the animals that pulled the barges up and down the river.  There are lots of Locks on the river that allow the boats to move from or to higher and lower elevations. You can even rent a boat and go on vacation traveling up and down the Canal.  Enjoy the pictures and videos of our day on the canal.

Nonnie riding on the canal

                              

Jerry riding on the canal

                              

Three boats inter a step down lock

They let the water out and they are lowered about 8 feet

Then they move out of the lock

French government bicycle structural integrity tester

This is close as I ever got to Nonnie.  At the end of our ride she was 100 yards ahead of me and could not catch up.

Prettiest girl on the canal

In this direction  I was testing the rut resistance of the path.

Taking a break

Two boats enter the same lock; one going up a step the other going down

It's a tight fit

Just enough room

The other boat leaves the step down lock moving into the step up lock

They will fill this lock and he will move a step up.

Le Cite Carcassonne, France

Le Cite Carcassonne is a fortified city in southern France, the building of which was started in the 1200's.  Inside the fortifications is a Castle that housed some important guy.  There had been Roman fortifications here earlier, that had been torn down.  Today it is Six Flags and a shopping center rolled into one.  The ancient buildings inside the walls now are home to all manner of shops and restaurants.  There are several 4 star hotels and Michelin Rated restaurants.  Jewelry stores, clothes stores,  souvenir stores in all these really old buildings.  We had breakfast and lunch within the walls.

Not my picture but it shows how huge the place is

These gals had really pretty hats.

How would like to climb the wall with guys shooting arrows at you from those arrow loops.

The pulpit inside the Cathedral

This is the Castle inside the walls 

Our desserts at lunch and I finally got my Creme  Brulee

The Saturday street market in Albi

THE BACK STREETS OF ALBI

Today, like in Sarlat, we walked the back streets of Albi, at our leisure.  First we went to a little fashion museum and checked out the old fashions which was much more interesting than we had thought. We took 3 walking tours of the back streets that covered over 6 miles all 6 of which were up hill.  We went to the park and watched the guys play Boule for around 2 and a half hours.  I loved it.  It was another great day in someone else's neighborhood.

1927

1895 1947 1967   WHICH IS WHICH?

1939 OR 1950 WHICH ONE?

1905

BEST LOOKING 92 YEAR OLD SHOES I'VE EVER SEEN

LOOK AT ALL THE MINUTE INDIVIDUAL STITCHES IN THIS FAN

MUSEUM IS IN AN OLD CONVENT.  BEAUTIFUL VAULTED CEILING

1945 1957 1967 WHICH IS WHICH?

 BACK STREET PHOTOS

I WATCHED THESE GUYS PLAY BOULE A COUPLE OF HOURS TODAY.  THERE'S LOTS OF STRATEGY, DEFENSE, OFFENSE, POSITION PLAYERS AND ARGUING. IT WAS A GREAT AFTERNOON.  ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VE DONE HERE.

THIS GUY WAS OVER 80 AND HELPED HIS TEAM WIN MANY GAMES.  HE HAD THE TOUCH