Advantages: ~~a unique visit
Disadvantages: ~~ the crowd

...signs of civilization at Carcassonne go way back to the VIth century b.c. In 122 b.c. The Romans ruled over Carcassone and the rest of the "Narbonnais" area. In 70 b.c. They start building the "foundations"of the inner rampart, and the the Gallo-Roman towers. In 350 a.d., the Francs battle for, and take the town briefly, before the Romans take it back. They decide to fortify the town. In 436 a.d., the Visigoth take hold of Carcassonne. In 584 a.d., the town is once again taken very briefly by the king Gontran, and re-gained by the king of the Visigoths, Reccared. In the VIIth century, Carcassonne suffers attacks from the Saracens, and in 725, the Arabs move in. In 759, Pépin le bref, Charlemagne's father, chases the Arabs out of the region, then called "la Septimanie", and over the Pyrenees. The constructions took up again... Read review

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Advantages: A great story, very well told
Disadvantages: It ended!

...This is the tale of Jim, who is a whippet. And his two companions (the humans who mistakenly believe that they own him) Terry and Monica Darlington. And their "brave" decision, on retiring, to take a canal narrowboat the Phyllis May, all the way from Staffordshire to Carcassonne in Southern France. Everyone told them that they were mad, or brave, or stupid or brave in a madly, stupid way. The upshot of this advice was that they were more intent on making the trip. Jim has bad habits. The kind of bad habits that endear dogs to people who are not their owners. His habit of begging in pubs is told by Terry in a fashion that is both highly amusing and original in tone. Terry's sense of humour that shines through the telling of this tale has brought a unique voice to the fore of British writing and it is to be hoped that Terry... Read review

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Advantages: Makes you want to do the trip yourself
Disadvantages: Puts you off ever doing the trip yourself

...My choice this month is a work of non fiction and it represents a complete change of tone; it is an hilarious account of a completely hairbrained attempt by a couple of pensioners to navigate a narrow boat from Stoke in Staffordshire through the canals of France to the Carcassonne region. It would have probably have been safer and less eventful if either the author or his wife had any idea of what they were doing, but it is all too apparent that they had not. Fortunately their whippet Jim, who can be viewed in a disgusting pose on Terry's web site, seems to have some sense of self preservation and, despite his penchant for rogering large lady Labradors, inveigles his way into the sympathies of characters crucial to their survival, who would otherwise have been justified in having Terry and his wife sectioned or whatever the equivalent... Read review

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Advantages: Beautiful place.
Disadvantages: None at all.

...I visited Carcassonne this year and I think that it is an experience that is worth sharing with my friendly Ciao companions, because I notice that Ryanair do cheap flights to Carcassonne and thus that a visit there by people from England is very cheap and quite a viable proposition. Carcassonne is a Medieval Town, housed in the walls of a castle. Imagine living there, it would be a super address to have in France. I wish that I could add photographs to this op because I am not sure wordpower is sufficient to describe how beautiful the place is. As you approach Carcassonne, you suddenly see the turrets of the castle high on a hill in the distance, and it is breathtakingly beautiful, as well as entire, instead of being a relic from the past. It is a living town, a place where people are born and raised, not just a dead monument like... Read review

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Advantages: It's in Carcassonne
Disadvantages: Not many flights

...Salvaza Airport, locally known as the airport of Carcassonne, "pays Cathare", is situated 4 kilometres west of Carcassonne, just by the Narbonne-Toulouse motorway. There is a commercial zone just next to it, with a supermarket, furniture shop, MacDonald's, and a few hotels. The first thing that is striking when you reach the airport, is its small size. 100 square metres altogether with the departures, and arrival areas. ₪ ₪ ₪ ₪ ۝₪ ₪ ₪ ₪ ۝₪ ₪ ₪ ₪ ۝₪ ₪ ₪ ₪ ۝₪ ₪ ₪ ₪ ۝₪ ₪ ₪ ₪ There is a car park in front of the terminal, and another next to it. Sometimes it is difficult to find a parking space, however, there is a petrol station just behind the car park where... Read review

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Advantages: You won't regret visiting it
Disadvantages: You'll regret not visiting it

...came from the hospitals created for the crusades both in Jerusalem (1113) and later in Italy and France. It was only in 1140 that these were militarised, with a charitable vocation, defending Christianity. The Templar's settled on the Larzac plateau and more particularly at La Couvertoirade in the 12th century. This strategic position allowed easy access to the Mediterranean, and therefore to Jerusalem, but it also offered an agricultural paradise for breeding sheep and horses, and growing wheat. In 1312, when the Templar's are prosecuted and killed, their belongings are left to the Hospitaliers who now rule over the Couvertoirade. The village around the castle counts 800 inhabitants at that time. During the 14th century the Larzac suffered from gangs of thieves and killers. To protect themselves, the villagers of La Couvertoirade... Read review

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Advantages: Extreme Athletic Ability
Disadvantages: Too many problems with doping etc.

...In recent years, the Tour De France has been synonymous with Lance Armstrong who won the event seven years in a row. However, with Armstrong's retirement and several other big names pulling out at the last minute due to a doping scandal, this year's race promises to be one of the most exciting for some time. Firstly, a little bit of history of the event. Held every year (with the exception of during the two world wars) since 1903, the race is the premier road-cycling event in the world. It features around 20 stages taking the riders around France and some surrounding countries. Other countries visited have included: Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and the UK. The race is held every year for three weeks during July and the dates of this years events are 1st - 23rd July. It alternates between going round... Read review

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Advantages: one can choose one's tan with or without lines
Disadvantages: I can't think of any

...What, what, what? No op yet? I wonder how such an insignificant French town managed to worm its way into a Ciao category if no one ever heard of it and/or is willing to write about it (sneaky frogs, aren’t they? *g *). But as I do know about it, I will fill in the blanks, and enlighten you. Gee aren’t you thrilled? Yes, I can see the gleam of avid anticipation in your eyes, no no, don’t deny it my fellow Ciaoer, I know you always secretly dreamt ( it IS an irregular verb isn’t it?) of learning all about Le Cap d’Agde. For those of you who wouldn’t be aware of it, Le Cap d’Agde is a small coastal town, hosting a famous nudist camp (or naturists as they call themselves) situated in France – duh! That’s the category title so you’ll already have figured that out – near the Mediterranean sea. If not for the naked people wandering... Read review

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Advantages: More Economy Class Legroom Than Other Airlines
Disadvantages: Your Baggage May Not Arrive With You

...My partner and I booked a holiday to Paris in August, partly for the World Athletics Champs, and partly because being from the other side of the world, we'd never been there before, so it seemed like a good opportunity to go. I booked the flights directly on Virgin Travel (online travel agency). The return economy tickets from Heathrow to Charles de Gaulle cost £65 each, which was cheaper than the Eurostar, and other airlines. We booked these in late June or early July, I cannot remember which. Looking at Air France's website, they do have last minute specials if you are one of those people who decides to travel at the very last second. About the flight itself, it was fine (both ways). I cannot comment on the food, as the flight was short (45 mins or so), so you only get a cup of coffee, and biscuits etc. These seemed... Read review

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Advantages: stunningly beautiful
Disadvantages: mosquitos aaaarrrrrghhh

...of it as the French, justifiably, are. We visited France for a driving holiday in July 2001. We wanted to spend time in the Dordogne and the Lot and then move from there up to Poitiers (Jan wanted to see the 'Futuroscope' theme park), through the Loire valley and eventually on up to Paris before the dash home on the final day. So, we felt that, rather than driving all the way down through France before our holiday had even started, we would book the car onto the Motorail from Calais to Brive in southern France. The idea is that you put the car onto the train in the evening and then sleep aboard as it chugs across France through the night. You wake up next morning, have your breakfast and then begin your holiday. Only problem with it is that it is expensive. With the Chunnel tickets (return) and the Motorail ticket (one-way), the bill came to about... Read review

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