We travelled back to Paris and the caravan site, Indigo Paris. It was a very straightforward journey and we arrived at 3:10pm. The site was much busier than when we had last been there. It didn’t take much settling in and we were soon having lunch. The plan was to visit Paris that evening but the rain was very heavy and we decided to do what I think we do best and that’s just chill 😂😂

The following day we  headed off to visit the city and see the Christmas decorations, lights and Christmas markets. We browsed through galleries and passages with lovely quaint individual shops, cafes and bars. All decorated for Christmas they were gorgeous.

Then it was on to see The Galleries Lafayette. This store was amazing. It had a wonderful central dome. Designer shopping Paris style.

We then headed to the Place Vendome. This square was lovely with Christmas trees everywhere and all lit up. The Ritz Paris Hotel is also here in this square along with designer jewellers, watch makers and leather goods such as Cartier, Rolex and Louis Vuitton. It was just window shopping for us.

On to Place du Concorde and a huge wheel ride lit up the area. Looking from here down the Champs Elysees, the Christmas lights went on for ever. We walked along and looked in the shop windows all dressed for Christmas. We took the Metro along to La Defence where there was a big Christmas market. Browsing around with a cup of “vin chuad” and actually buying nothing 😂😂

It was was our last night in France and the following morning we set off to Calais as we had a booking on a ferry to Dover at 19:55. We took the autoroute and payed the tolls as it cut the journey by one and a half hours. As we left Paris the sun was shining again.

We arrived in Calais and parked at Cite Europe shopping centre to do a little stocking up on goodies we would miss from Carrefour. So with the caravan stocked up with lots of red wine it was time to leave for the UK.

The weather forecasts were not looking good but the ferry crossing, although it was a little late leaving, was a smooth one. We had a booking at the Caravan Club site in Folkestone for the evening and as we drove there we ended up on a diversion due to road closures. After a cross country journey 24 miles longer than we should have had we arrived on site. The following morning the news was full of reports of snow and an amber warning on the roads. The advice was do not travel unless you need to. We stayed on site and watched the forecasts all day. Then at 4pm we decided to leave and head home.

It was a long slow journey but the snow was clearing and after 5 and a half hours we arrived home. We had been away for 74 nights and travelled 3675 miles, visited lots of beautiful places and met lots of lovely people along the way.

For now we are home and we have time to plan many more adventures for 2018.

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Andy & Carol