SNOW IN THE SPRING

Heading toward Le Puy on a recent trip we found the snow getting heavier and heavier with snow-ploughs behind us and oncoming cars covered in thick snow. We figured that soon the road would be impassable. There was nothing for it, but to turn around and flee towards the slightly warmer climes of Montpelier a few hundred kilometres south.

The discovery of the Hotel du Parc in the centre of Montpelier, a town mostly ruined by recent construction, particularly the almost Disney town shopping centre (not what we seek out), lightened our spirits. It is our kind of place, family-run with care. The hotel is in an old eighteenth century house with a courtyard, and whilst the rooms are small, they are decorated individually it all costs a very reasonable 65 Euros. Breakfast also went beyond the expected, and tea was nicely served with the tea bag already in the teapot (and not as is common in France by the side of the pot with the water having gone off the boil a long time ago). We took this pleasant respite with gusto as the unexpected diversion, had added another day to our expedition to meet with potters in the Drome Provencal. More about that soon.