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House diaries
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A Working Holiday
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After their two week stay in September, Pearl, her mom and dad, aren't quite ready to go home to Toronto. | .. |
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We had a wonderful time, and enjoyed many of the day trips that you and Tom have compiled. Although a favorite was hard to pick, I think we all agreed that La Couvertoirade was a particularly special place. We will enjoy our memories and souvenirs for a long time to come! And by the end of our stay, we were all talking about coming back again...
Your house, too, was very special. For 5 adults and 3 children (plus a baby), we had ample space. It really allowed us to enjoy our time together, without feeling cramped. Valros is a beautiful village, and we all thought it a wonderful location. So many things to see and do within a 2 hour radius! We would easily be able to come back for another 2 weeks, and have an entirely different vacation.
Angela L. (UK), July 2009
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Hi Simone - We had SUCH an amazing trip! It truly was a trip of a lifetime. Your "day trip" suggetions were SO helpful. Every night we'd gather around the dining room table and plan what we were going to do the next day. Some of our favoriites were Millau, the Tarn gorges and the world's highest bridge, Roquefort, and Aigne. But Les Baux was spectacular! I think that made it to the top of everyone's list. And, of course, we loved Pezenas. We had SUCH fun there. One night we met up with a huge table of Brits at one of the cafes and everyone ended up singing and dancing till the wee hours. There was a small combo playing at the cafe that particular evening and my boyfriiend of four years, ended up sitting in with them and playing harmonica. And one of the Brits played drums and another one played the bongos. It was SO much fun! There were even people from the surrounding cafes coming out to join in, because it was obvious we were all having a great time.
Everyone, without exception, was so friendly and helpful. I truly don't understand the American rumor that all French people are rude. Our experience was TOTALLY the opposite. Even in Paris, people would stop to help us if we appeared to be needing directions. One lady rode on the bus all the way to the Louvre with us, talking non-stop and giving us travel tips. One of the gals who went with us has even been exchanging emails with two or three of the couples we met in our travels because we all enjoyed talking with them so much.
We all loved every minute of our trip. Your house was wonderful. My boyfriend and I were lucky to be granted the honor of sleeping in the third floor bedroom. Such a charming room! It was like our own private retreat and very special. Thank you for your help and for making such a trip possible. Finding out about your house was the catalyst for our entire vacation. I know we all hope to return and we would all love to stay in your house again. -- Susie, September 2008
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We've done research with the help of your excellent day trip guide. I've rented houses in Europe several times before, and your prep is absolutely the most superior I've ever encountered. I can't imagine that anyone else could match it. Thanks again. -- Barbara (US)
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"Thanks for your wonderful efforts to make your house in France a cozy & delightful vacation spot for others. Our 12-year-old daughter, who would enjoy remaining at home for all holidays, offered that if she was living in France she'd love to live there. We agree. Your day trips were fabulous as well! Thanks for the recommendations. Kindest regards," -- Debbie and Jerry H. (UK)
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"I just got back. Thank you so much for the opportunity. The house was great. I slept in the master suite upstairs which of course was hot due to the unseasonably steamy summer. So, I just slept on the terasse under the stars. The house was fabulously equipped. We all loved it. The washing machine danced as advertised and some of the light bulbs blew out on occasion. But the experience was very wonderful and I made good friends with the neighbors -- especially Jeanine and her husband up the street who sell the Midi-Libre. I had the baker bake me a birthday cake and we ended up having birthday dinner at the Chateau du Port (Not the Taverne du Port) in Marsellan. It was quite good and a charming setting -- I had called John Brown for his input and he suggested it. My various buddies and I covered a lot of the day trips and found when we stuck to your advice, we were happiest. I especially loved Couvertoirade (or however you spell it); Minerve; Roquebrun; Les Baux and Pont du Gard. We kept trying to make it to the Tarne Gorge, but the traffic was too thick -- so I consoled myself by purchasing two pairs of fabulous (on sale) gloves in Millau.
I also bought a gorgeous on sale dress at Zapa in Montpelier. We ate twice at La Coquille in Montpellier which was very enjoyable. I also was very impressed with the Auberge restaurant in town. Excellent food and service. Pezanas is also a real charmer. Loved the little restored theatre near the Saturday market and was also drawn to the Jewish Ghetto part of town. Went to Hexagon and saw the most fabulous purse - but alas couldn't justify the $300 price tag.
"To close my trip after the house rental, two girlfriends and I went South to Catalan France and stayed in a little town called Ceret, right in the valley facing Mount Conigou. Actually got the idea for going there from an article on visiting Rouisillon which was in your looseleaf black binder holding the house manual. My friends and I read your house diaries which were great fun. I had printed them out ahead of time. "I'd love to come back to your house....maybe some fall. It was truly a delight. Thanks again for everything. I'll put the key in the mail." -- Roberta Hantgan
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We shot frame after frame of colorful fishing boats, tree-lined lanes, vegetables, fruits, seafood, cheeses, breads, undies and fabrics on market days. We found wireless Internet in Pezenas and Peace in the cloisters of St. Nazaire of Beziers. We found magic in the Maison de Joyaux/Ahern. But best of all we found kindness, patience, warmth and welcome from all the people of Languedoc. Merci for our magnificent holiday! -- Melody, Larry, Linda, Jaime; May 2005
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John and I are still reminiscing fondly of Valros – we will re-live and savour it all again when our other friends arrive back in NZ this weekend. The other couple arrived back yesterday. We are going to have a nice “re-union” dinner together, swap travel notes and see who has taken the best photos etc. Forgot to tell you that we enjoyed meeting John [Brown, the greeter and trouble-shooter at the France house], and I also had a talk to his wife – they were very helpful. We found that neat swimming spot by the weir on the Herault, the oysters at Bouziques were wonderful, Carcassonne was amazing – just everything was absolutely fabulous and we are still drooling over our adventures - one week is not nearly enough to even begin to scratch the surface. You must be very proud of your home and location and I am sure you make the most of it – as one of your previous guests said, “life is good”. -- Jenny and John Marchbanks, Nelson, New Zealand
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May 2003 "We thoroughly enjoyed the house, the village of Valros, and the surrounding area. We had glorious weather, ate great food (some prepared simply in your well equipped kitchen), and drank great wines! Thanks for the chance to visit France in style." -- Rosemary D'Arcy
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October 2002: "We rented four different houses, two in Italy and two in France. La Maison Joyaux was my personal favorite. Our Tuscan farmhouse was several hundred years old, but La Maison was the oldest. It was also the best remodeled. Thanks for sharing your wonderful home and village. The south of France was even more wonderful than we had anticipated." -- Charlie Aron
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"Dear House... What an amazing house! If its walls could speak I am sure it would have stories to tell. To think that this house was built before Christopher Columbo telephoned Queen Isabella to say "Hey, you'll never guess what I've found, India." And that bits of this house were probably already falling down when Napoleon sat on his horse to have his photograph taken is just well amazing. House...here's to the next 500 years." -- All the best, Rus
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"We had a terrific stay here in Valros. I don't know how they do it but the owners have kept this villa superb throughout." -- The Browning Family
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"While in a foreign country I have the annoying habit of making the simplest things very complicated. I get it into my brain that going to the bank machine can't be as easy as it actually is at home. So we're in Pezenas. I need a bank machine because the wonderful toy store where I want to get my wonderful kids a gift doesn't take Visa! The sweet proprietor gives me simple directions. It's 2 blocks away. I can't find it. When I think I've found it I give a huge sigh of relief for the benefit of the guy in front of me. It's not a bank machine. I glance over his shoulder. It's a porn machine.I'm properly and prudishly appalled. Glance around in case someone I know has noticed me and slink away to the bank machine which is 15 meters away in a little enclosure that you have to slip your card into and then PUSH and PUSH, swearing, sweating - a beautiful French maiden is concerned for my ell-being - baffled by my idiocy - and (gotta say it) Voila!!! PULLS the door open for me. I have to add that among many wonderful places in this house, my very favorite has to be the deck on the top floor.
Even though my oldest son was thrilled to be assigned the bed room on that floor, I would go first to that deck each morning to watched the sun peek from the sea, over the tree tops and over the vineyards. The breeze many mornings seemed to sweep the pigeons across the rooftops." -- Archie
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"We LOVED staying in your home -- it is by far the best we've ever rented. I would love to return sometime SOON. It was the perfect place for us. Thank you for EVERYTHING. I am sitting in Tennessee longing for France..." -- Pat Bellingrath
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"July 2002 (via postcard from France) -- Bon jour! We are having a wonderful time here in Valros and in your wonderful home! The house is just perfect, and we have loved spending time here. The kitchen, the CD's, the terrace, it's ALL been great. I would love to have house here someday. I do know why you love it here. We hate to go home!" -- Pat Bellingrath, near the end of a three-week stay
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"April 2002 -- The house was terrific. We really enjoyed ourselves, and the maps and travel guides proved to be very helpful. We only used the garage once, because of the hassle of putting down and taking up those metal strips. There was always plenty of parking on the street. John Brown stopped by the house on Sunday morning, and was very friendly. He gave us some very good tips on where to go and where not to go.
The boulangerie that is only a few doors away is closed permanently.
We had two terrific dinners at a restaurant called Apres Le Deluge in Pezenas. It is on one of the side streets right off the town square. The owner and his wife were extremely friendly. The wife speaks a pretty good English, and she sat down at our table after dinner, and we had a nice, long conversation. We spent one day at Collioure, and we fell in love with the town. It is absolutely beautiful, and to be able to see snow on the mountaintops of the Pyrenees while you are swimming in the Mediterranean is something special.We also had a great meal at Le Framboisier in Beziers. However, the attitude of the hostess and wait staff left a lot to be desired, and put a damper on the evening. Thanks again for making this a great vacation." -- Bernie & Judi Eggener
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"Today I woke up thinking in French! I am very comfortable in this lovely house. Everything French is so...French. I sat outside every day on the patio listening to the birds. It has been a great vacation." -- SSt.
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"I can’t stop marveling over the vaulted ceilings. They are a harmony of negative shapes miraculously suspended in midair. I can’t help feeling like a cave dweller from ancient times. Love it all." -- Remo (an artist)
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"What joy – to live in the 15th century, with all the amenities of the 21st!" -- The Reeves family
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"...we’ve had a wonderful stay. The best part is driving through the vineyards which, day by day, become more lush as the plants begin their growth cycle.... We had a picnic in the Gorges du Tarn, and a visit to Carcassonne was terminally romantic." – GH Hovagimyian |
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