theXtraSuitcase

Le Viaduct de Millau

"The Pont Du Gard of the 21st Century", completed 2004 

 

From our balcony, we could see the famous Basilica St. Sernin, the largest Romanesque church in Europe built between 1080 and 1120.  I always double check the dates because I find it so hard to believe things are really that old.

I shopped and ate ice cream while D worked.  It was a Monday so all museums were closed.  But I was as happy as I could be because Toulouse has one of my VERY favorite ice cream shops in Europe.  Thank goodness we were there this week, as the following week they were closing for the season.

In order to help them clear their inventory before closing for the season....... I took D back that night and had two more scoops.  THAT'S RIGHT - I ate 4 {FOUR} scoops of ice cream that day; chocolate espelette, panna cotta with fig, violet and berry.  D had panna cotta with fig and pear with brandy.  

The next morning we headed to Millau to view Le Viaduct de Millau.  One of the best views of the Viaduct/Bridge was from the picturesque hillside town of Peyre.

The bridge was awe-inspiring.  Many of you have probably seen photos of this bridge floating around the internet in an email showing unbelievable sites around the world.  
 

The total length of the bridge is 8,100 feet long and it cost 5 euros (approx $7.50) to cross.  Crossing the bridge also gave a beautiful perspective.

As we crossed it I took continuous photos and D created this very cool video from my photos.  There is music, so make sure your volume is on. 

A very pleasant surprise we were not expecting were the autumn leaves - they were at peak.  It was also exceptionally warm and sunny while we were there.  Red - Orange - Yellow.  Gorgeous.

Doesn't this leaf look like it could be stained glass?

All so intense and bursting with color.

A self-serve pumpkin patch.

The old stone houses were dripping with vines of color.  
  

The camera did not capture the true intensity of the colors we were seeing.

I love this photo of the cow.  It looks like we placed her in front of a fake background.

Our drive from Millau to Uzes, bursting with color and winding roads, was one of the most beautiful drives we have ever taken.  I took this photo while the car was moving.  I was trying to capture the colors as a blur.

Our second B&B was as lovely as the first but with an artsy flair.  It was an old stone house which Natasa and Michiel transformed into a B&B with tons of character.  There were beautiful oil paintings hung everywhere in the house (inside and out).

This was taken in their outdoor courtyard.  Look closely on the back wall, you can see where Natasa  hung original paintings outside.

The view from our bedroom window.

Meet the guard of the front entrance to the neighborhood.