Day 24: Hello Orléans... just for a little while

Catherine says:

After a five hour drive from Beaumont-du-Périgord we have arrived in Orléans and are staying overnight at the Mercure before heading off to Paris tomorrow.

I must be honest and say that I feel somewhat sad.  Being back in a big city like Orléans and holing up in the sterile environs of a hotel makes me realise that our trip of a lifetime is over - or rather, 3 days away from being over.  I miss the green fields and forests of Beaumont and its surrounds; its beautiful stone buildings; the sounds of the wild boars, foxes and nightingales at night; the hot days; the Bastide; the wonderful community feeling; the laid back lifestyle.  Sue & Steve and Sue & Neil  and Betrand & Elizabeth certainly made us feel so welcome and part of the Beaumont family.  Here in the big smoke we are nothing more than an anonymous number:  Tourists # 5,763,767 and # 5,763,768.

However, we will return home with some really wonderful memories, new friendships and many more stories to tell.  And perhaps my dreams of returning again next year may become a reality.  During our week with Sue & Steve I learned many valuable life lessons that have had quite a big impact on me.

Tomorrow we take a shorter 2 hour-ish (depending on traffic) drive to Charles de Gaulle airport to drop off our hire car and then somehow manage to drag ourselves and our excess luggage into Citadines Les Halles where we will stay until we check out on Wednesday before flying home later that night.

I am dreading the drive into Paris tomorrow.  The Little Mother doesn't know this, but I have no idea how to return the car to the hire car folk.  That is, where on earth is the hire car office at Charles de Gaulle airport?  It is very big and whilst I may have managed to miraculously exit the airport last time (surely that was divine intervention!), entering it this time could prove to be very interesting!  I'm hoping Tomasina (a.k.a. TomTom) will be able to help us out in that regard.

The other thing I'm dreading is Paris itself.  I am by no means a city girl - and prefer the wide open spaces, parks, gardens, quiet winding roads and little villages.  However, we have three things we wish to achieve; visits to:

1. the Louvre
2. L'Orangerie
3. the Musée d'Orsay

Perhaps The Mater will post some more news for you later.  As for me, I'm signing off now to repack my luggage and hope that I can consolidate everything into one bag!  Dream on!