From the Netherlands to France.

I was back in Wageningen for a weekend for school and then off to explore the South of France for pilgrimage...kinda. lol First off, the Netherlands, where I spent two nights in Wageningen and Short Stay Wageningen right in the middle of the city center and one night at the Best Western Plus Amsterdam Airport. I recommend the first for anyone going to the middle of nowhere and the second, only if you have a car, because there is no public transport close to the Best Western, although the room was very nice and the restaurant was good as well, if a bit pricey (25E for steak and soda).




Short Stay Wageningen (108E) has private rooms and linens available, so no need to bring your own. The kitchen is very large and the bathroom is very clean, I highly recommend it if you are staying more than 2 nights.



The Best Western (95E) was also very nice, but like I said, it's kinda out of the way which means I wasn't able to get into Amsterdam like I wanted. If you have a car though, it's a very nice room.






After the Netherlands, I turned right around (literally 3 days) and headed off to the South of France. I was in Bordeaux for two days then headed to Lourdes, Toulouse, and finally Montpellier before heading back to Lyon. I did all this via Flixbus and let me break it down for you because there are some major points to note.


  • Lyon --> Bordeaux via Flixbus 0.89E for ticket additional 5E for front seat 7.5 hrs (3 stops, 10 min, 30 min, 10 min)
    • Too long on a bus without being able to move.
  • Central Hostel Bordeaux: 2 nights 61E
    • Good facilities, no common room, kitchen, or fridge.
  • Bordeaux --> Lourdes via OuiTrain 18E 2.5 hrs
  • Au Pied du Chateau (Gite* in Lourdes): 2 nights $89
    • *a gite is a room in a private house
  • Lourdes -->Toulouse via OuiBus 9E 3 hrs
  • ibis Toulouse Gare Matabiau: 1 night $73
    • Breakfast is Continental + sliced meats.
  • Toulouse --> Montpellier via Flixbus 1E for ticket additional 3E for front seat 3 hrs
    • 5 hr layover---BAD DECISION---No way to city center from station except taxi.
  • Montpellier --> Lyon via Flixbus 10E for ticket additional 3E for front seat 4 hrs
    • One 10 min stop at 2 hr mark for restroom break since toilets on bus didn't work. Stop is overlooking Carcassone, which is kinda cool.

Bordeaux: I went through or by 6 churches within the first two hours and got some great shots of the city. It's an easier city to navigate than I imagined, and since my hostel was on the major shopping street, I had a hard time losing my way.



I stayed in the new, very centrally located Central Hostel, which was a good location, but doesn't have a common room or kitchen, instead it has a restaurant/bar downstairs that I didn't like hanging out in, but it was easier than wandering the city for one. 



For now, enjoy a taste of Bordeaux while I eat Irish food at The Blarney Stone Pub, which honestly, was the best part of my trip as I spent most of my second day, after a few hours walking around the Musee D'Aquitaine, hanging out in it chatting with the bartender. 



The museum was not as large as I'd expected, but still a good collection of artifacts from pre-history, Rome, and the America's Trade. The cost for entry was 5€. Of course I have photos of most of it, but here are some highlights. 



On to Lourdes, which is amazing, but I overbooked my time here. 1.5 days is more than enough if you are an overachieving walker like I am. I went through most of the town (including the castle and the church) in 6 hrs.



I did go back the next day for 2 masses, silent prayer and the bath as I met up with a very devote woman and we ended up hanging together until dinner. The church complex is about 3 blocks long with multiple chapels as well as the grotto, candles and water areas. You need to buy a bottle beforehand but they are all the same cost across town.


 



I also went up to the Chateau, which really is 'up'. I went all the way up the tower as well, but shouldn't have bothered due to vertigo issues. Also, the views are better from the turrets. The Chateau costs 7.50€ and the Church is free, but candles cost between 2-10€ unless you go crazy and buy the huge ones. The water bottles are between 1-3€ depending on size and glass vs. plastic. I got a 2L plastic one for 1.40€ and 2 small glass bottles for 1.50€ each. The best option is to buy all of these in town, then light/fill them at the Church.



Keeping up with my unusual eating habits on this trip, I ate dinner at the local Asian restaurant and breakfast at a French cafe.




 Breakfast, the only French meal the whole trip (10E). :)


View from my room and the room itself.



Toulouse, Montpellier, and Carcassone. To be honest, I didn't see any of them. My stay in Toulouse was too short and my stay in Montpellier was too long, because I was so far away from the city without a way to get there. Carcassone I saw from the hill top, which was cool.







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