Sunday, 2 March 2014

Diano Marina Saturday 05 October 2013 Dijon

Saturday 05 October 2013
Up at 03:15 to begin the journey to Italy and I don’t want to go!
Feeling a bit low and sad but at least I don’t miss Del’s funeral as it is on the Monday after we return.
I am taking the Plaxton today (Brian’s coach) and before driving off have to transfer all of my drinks/cups etc as well as luggage and all of my paperwork, books and maps.
I only have two pick up points, Petersfield and Liphook, and am soon on the motorway heading down to Folkestone for our 09:20 shuttle.
It is all France today as we drive south via Reims and Troyes onto our overnight stop near Dijon.
We drive through torrential rain especially the last couple of hours but it helps driving in France as there is so little traffic.
Our hotel is south of Dijon and it seems to take an age to find it, but find it I do. We are staying in the Novotel Dijon Sud, a typical Novotel out of town, a bit soulless, but comfortable and convenient.
I drop and unload by the front door and then go around the back to park where there is another English coach. Within a few minutes of me parking another two foreign coaches appear with mainly Chinese/Korean folk.
Once inside my room I could be anywhere as all Novotels are very similar but it is very comfortable.
A quick shower and change to meet Dot and Nicola in the bar, shortly followed by Mr and Mrs Rickman. I have a voucher for a free drink which is much appreciated when it costs about £6 a pint!

For dinner we are sat in the main restaurant close to the other English group (Jewels Coaches) and we have a set meal. The dinner was okay at best and nothing more than I expected but I was a bit disappointed to find out later that one of our passengers didn’t like the dessert so asked for something else and was told that there wasn’t anything else! Typical French staff as well!

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