We begin our journey home today and want to load the cases at 07:00 for an 08:00 departure. I had asked the passengers to bring their cases to the coach as this saves us a lot of time and allows us to enjoy our breakfast.
Karl would have none of this and insists that he porter collects the cases. This is ok but if he is not on time, which often happens, and the cases appear in dribs and drabs then we take a lot longer to load and may miss our breakfast. And you can’t have a couple of fatboys going hungry now can you?!
I shouldn’t have worried as the porter is very efficient and we are sipping coffee and eating bread and cheese by 07:20!
At breakfast we do a collection for the staff and everybody is most generous as I pass a basket filled with Euro’s to Karl who is very appreciative.
He hands out a hotel brochure and postcard to everyone as they get on the bus and a big bottle of schnapps for Brian and I.
I normally put a hotel postcard in the mileage quiz but this has blown that little idea!
Karl has been great and has helped make the holiday. The hotel is certainly not up to our usual standards but he has helped everything run smoothly and has been great fun, although I must have a word about the meaning of gala!
It is a bit cloudier this morning, perfect for travelling, as we head towards Switzerland and into France at Basle.
We have a short stop in Switzerland before entering France and stopping for lunch in the gorgeous Alsace wine village of Riquewihr, a lunch stop we always try to make if time permits.
By now it is sunny again and very warm, no need for coats today.
Brian and I walk up the main cobbled street and go into a cafe for some lunch. Alf the coach are in here eating the homemade tarts/quiches or pancakes.
We both have a pancake and mine has cheese and ham in it and is delicious. I rarely eat pancakes and thoroughly enjoy mine as does Brian. The fruit tarts are just screaming to be eaten so we both succumb and have a rhubarb tart with cream. Very naughty but also very nice!
From here we are making our way to Metz and are going to go a different way that should save a little time. There is a tunnel at St Die that cuts through the Vosges mountains and also cuts a big corner off the motorway.
The ride to the tunnel is lovely as we drive to Ribeauville and pick up a small road that climbs up a mountain to a height of 742m and then continues down the other side to the tunnel. I haven’t been on this road before and am always excited about finding new routes and roads. This is definitely a route I will use again.
Once back on the motorway we stop to top up the fuel and look for some water to fill the empty tea machine. The taps are turned off here and I get no joy out of the two ladies behind the counter. A more miserable pair of ladies you would be hard to find! I wish we had bought our fuel elsewhere.
We arrive at our hotel on the outskirts of Metz by 17:20 allowing a nice rest before our 19:00 dinner.
We fancy a couple of drinks before dinner and begrudgingly pay the €6.50 per pint.
Dinner is a set meal but very good.
I am tired tonight and look forward to my bed after dinner, no rocking tonight.
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What a fantastic holiday this one was, id go as far as to say it was the best winter wonderland yet, and very close to being my all time favourite Greys Holiday that ive done so far, so much fun and laughter, the weather couldn't have been kinder and 'Peter Sellers' just added to the character and amusement of the whole trip. Well done Jamie this was a great holiday and is only such because of all of your hard work and efforts. Great to have the blog up to date and being able to read about all of your other adventures as well.
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