What's a man gonna F**Qingdao!?

[xoxoxoBruce]

And they're using the same damn pictures they're using here.

[Cyclefrance]

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

...I think it's French blood from more recently than the Dark Ages - the month I spent in the shadow of the Puy de Dome - where Volvic mineral water comes from - felt like coming home...

We visited that area a few years ago - about the time that Volvic started its UK TV ad campaign - it's an awe-inspiring region. We also visited relatively close-by La Chaise-Dieu during the same trip. Have you been there? A village set in a cup-like bowl in the mountains. Beautiful to see, but it unexpectedly and sadly suffers from car exhaust pollution which settles there because it has no means of escape. We couldn't work out at first why the inhabitants were walking around with towels across the lower face. As the morning visitor numbers (and traffic) grew, we discovered the reason.

I also stayed in the Haute Loire region as the French leg of the student exchange we had at our school. I visited the other famous puy then, Le Puy-en-Velais where the plug of volcanic rock that forms the puy supports an enormous staue of 'Our Lady' which visitoirs can enter and ascend to the shoulders and head - much in the manner of the Statue of Liberty.

[Cyclefrance]

Hey, you're still up and reading like me, Sundae - mind you, I'm off for some shut-eye now - my body is still fighting off China time. Have a good night!

[Sundae]

I honestly can't remember the name of the village I stayed in. Close to Clemont Ferrand obviously, but a check of the map just left me more confused than ever - I assume we were to the South of the Puy de Dome because of the village layout, but who knows. It was steep streeted and stone - like the Cotswalds in my memory. And permanently shrouded in mist (althou I was homesick & missing Autumn at home so don't rely on that).

I recently found a packet of photos from the time - if I can sweet-talk the boss into letting me at the colour scanner I'll post some pictures of a typically French village in 1997. It was a disposable camera (you don't trust 15yo with the family camera!) and point-and-shoot was an accurate description of my style.

My one day climbing the (to me) magical volcano I forget to take my camera... I know. I was there a month and my primary memory is the boy I snogged at my best friend's 16th before I left. Youth is wasted on the young.

[Cyclefrance]

That village sounds like Volvic itself - although there are a few that look similar to each other in that area. You probably won't remember for sure having been so distracted - but your allowed such diversions in France when young, so pas de problem!

I like the fact that every French region has its own identity and style. We've been to so many different areas over the years - Nancy where the Art Nouveau movement started (amazing architecture and design), Prades, Perpignan and Carcassone (rich mediaeval history), Aix, the Alpilles and Le Castillet in southern Provence, and the Dordogne and Auvergne.

Even though the Dordogne has some heavily Brit populated locations, the area still appeals with its ancient villages and superb scenery. We've also been through Millau a few times but not since the new bridge has been completed (one still to be done).