Three Ferries to Greece or Two Innocents Abroad In A Honda Accord

Friday 10th November 2006

We left Nik and Lyn's at 8am and had a good run to Dover.  We were booked with SeaFrance on the Renoir which was the smallest and slowest boat in the SeaFrance fleet.  Sounded about right for us but still only cost £50.  After checking in at the ticket booth, we drove down to our boarding line for the ferry.  It was quite cold and this is us at the docks waiting to board the ferry.  The ferry left at 11am and once on board the ferry we watched the White Cliffs of Dover disappear into the distance for the last time over a full English breakfast in the "smash and grab" restaurant at the back of the boat.  The ferry journey was uneventful and we disembarked at Calais around 1.20pm French time and drove off the ferry, out of the port and straight onto the approach road for the A26 motorway.

The motorway was mainly two lanes but there was little traffic for a Friday afternoon.  The countryside was rather flat, boring and uninteresting.  We passes by many signs for "Aires" which appear to be off-road stopping places.  Some only have picnic areas, some toilets as well and a few had petrol stations with shops and occasionally an eaterie.  Our first toll booth had ticket machines on both the left and the right with French and English flags above.  We stopped off after 118 miles for coffee then at the next toll there was only collection points for left hand drive cars which meant Gerry had to do all the toll payments.  This was at the exit road to Troyes where we were to stay for the next two nights.

We found the entrance to the Villages Hotel after two attempts.  The hotel was next to a McDonalds drive-in and a large out of town shopping centre.where we were booked in for 2 nights and breakfast which cost 84 euro in total.  The room was simple and clean with a double bed and ensuite.  In the foyer there were machines for coffee, snacks and soft drinks and the breakfast area was opposite the reception desk.  We had to drive out to get an evening meal and we found a local Buffalo Grill which had a western theme based on Buffalo Bill.  They had a good range of food including excellent burgers and we ate and drank then went back tired to the hotel for a good nights sleep.