crépuscule

I'm happy to say that the A43/Peripherique/A7 route from Lyon Airport was pretty straightforward with only slight congestion at the first tunnel. Arrived in Clermont in plenty time for dinner. However, on Saturday, we came back from Beziers on the A9/A7. 45 minutes away from the airport, we hit terrible traffic and it took more than 2 hours to get to the airport.

Thanks. One of my friends who has just come back from Lyon says the airport is a complete building site at the moment so it will probably take much longer than usual to get from the plane to the Europcar depot. So maybe I'll miss the rush hour on the peripherique (and miss my dinner too)!

I'm sure you're right but I think I'll give it a go. Thanks for your help.

The A46/7 through Givors sounds like the Edinburgh bypass and my French isn't good enough to listen to the radio and drive an unfamiliar car at the same time. However, on consulting the map to follow your advice, the best route looks like A43 to the D383 (peripherique), head SW towards the river. At J16, go S downriver and then cross the river at J1 on to the A7 going back up river. Then, just after going under the railway turn left into the tunnel on to the A6. Then follow signs for the A89. I have followed this route on google street view and it looks easy to follow albeit it might be busy late afternoon. Is there any flaw in this suggestion?

I've noticed that my satnav suggests an alternative route via St Etienne: A46, A47, A72 then A89 to Clermont. It looks a lot longer but it's autoroute all the way, avoids central Lyon and the satnav & google maps suggest it's only about 15 minutes longer. Any views?

Thanks for the helpful replies. Assuming my flight is on time, I would be starting out from the airport at about 16:00 on Wednesday 2 September so missing weekend traffic but probably hitting rush hour traffic if I go through Lyon.

Does any one have a view on the best route to take? Google Maps suggests what looks like quite a tortuous route round the north of Lyon: D29, D147, D302, N346, A42 then eventually on to the A89 to Clermont. My satnav suggests a more direct route via the A43 through the middle of Lyon to pick up the A6 just across the river then eventually on to the A89 as above. I have driven through central Lyon before and did not enjoy the experience but the satnav route does look more direct and maybe easier to follow. Which of these routes is better or is there any other?

Thanks for all the comments following my original question posted on 26/6. To cut a long story short, my solution was to buy a smartphone! As an existing Virgin TV & broadband customer I got a Samsung phone for £11 per month. This is not what I intended doing at the outset but it seems less hassle than the alternatives. I did buy a TP-LINK M5350 but I then discovered that the PAYG SIMs for it only last 30 days which is no use for an occasional user like me. I have since handed the device back to the shop for a full refund. The M5350 seems like a good idea for mobile WiFi for regular users but not for occasional users.

[quote user="Quillan"][quote user="crépuscule"]I am retired. I can assure everyone that, were I still working, I would have no desire to see work e-mails when on holiday! However, I do some voluntary work and am happy to deal with e-mail relating to that and to e-mail from family and friends. That is only a small part of my requirement. Access to the internet is extremely useful for holiday purposes - restaurant reviews, maps, tourist information etc, etc. All of this could probably be found in book form but using the internet is much more convenient.[/quote] Could I ask who your Internet provider is in the UK (there is a reason)? [/quote] Sorry, I failed to answer this question. My Internet provider in the UK is Virgin Media. FWIW, I have a PAYG basic mobile phone with Vodafone. This switches to SFR when I go to France.

I am retired. I can assure everyone that, were I still working, I would have no desire to see work e-mails when on holiday! However, I do some voluntary work and am happy to deal with e-mail relating to that and to e-mail from family and friends. That is only a small part of my requirement. Access to the internet is extremely useful for holiday purposes - restaurant reviews, maps, tourist information etc, etc. All of this could probably be found in book form but using the internet is much more convenient.

I am going to France on holiday in September to an apartment that does not have WiFi or any other internet connection. How can I get internet access to my Samsung Note 8 without going to an Internet Café or any other public place with free WiFi? (I do not have a smartphone). I have heard about Globalgig which may be an option but I have no regular long-term need for this. Are there any other devices you can buy reasonably cheaply that act essentially as mobile wifi routers?

Sadly, not enough time this trip.

The new BBC2 series shows Impressionist paintings in different galleries which may or may not be in Paris. I am going to Paris soon and wonder if there are displays of Impressionist paintings that I have not seen before. On previous trips, I have visited the Orsay, Louvre, Orangerie and Marmottan. I belive the Petit Palais is an option. Are there any others?

I had to contact a French Polisher the other day to get some work done & I wonder if there is a French equivalent? I can't find anything in any of the online dictionaries I use.

I have tried this website and it is good except, when I hover the pointer over an error as instructed, the explanation appears in the top right-hand corner of the browser window, sometimes out of view! On second thoughts, I can scroll the screen so that the "error window" and the text are both in view.

My experience is similar. Our French teacher made us learn certain words and phrases by rote and insisted we use them in every essay. "Crépuscule" was one. Another was "Ce n'est qu'une averse. Ca passera vite." I once had a perfect opportunity to use the latter in France but I could not make myself say it! However, I did once have a conversation with a Frenchman which involved "crépuscule".

I have tried to look this up in a few French Dictionaries. "Not found" in some, spelt "arrobase" in one and both spellings allowed in another! Useful word to know!

The open carriages do not have much space and get pretty crowded. Personally, I would not like to share them with dogs. From the dogs' point of view, it might not be much fun either.

Just back from Nice. We visited Menton by bus. Brilliant value at €1 each way and you can make one transfer (although we didn't). It was a long trip at 90 minutes but scenic. We also took the Train des Pignes. Even more scenic. We decided to go to Annot instead of Entrevaux or Puget-Théniers. Annot looks like a good place for hiking but we didn't have the correct gear this time.

This didn't get any response from the "Useful Links in France" thread so I am trying again in the regional thread: I am going to Nice on holiday soon. I have heard that it is possible to take the train along the coast stopping off at intermediate points by buying a ticket for the furthest point of the journey, e.g. I could buy a ticket for Menton and stop off at Villefranche then get on a later train for Menton. Is this correct and does it require a special ticket or will a standard ticket suffice? I'm also keen to take the Train des Pignes but don't fancy the full 6 hour plus trip to/from Digne-les-Bains. Does anyone have any views on whether Entrevaux or Puget-Théniers would be the better stopping-off point? 

I am going to Nice on holiday soon. I have heard that it is possible to take the train along the coast stopping off at intermediate points by buying a ticket for the furthest point of the journey, e.g. I could buy a ticket for Menton and stop off at Villefranche then get on a later train for Menton. Is this correct and does it require a special ticket or will a standard ticket suffice?

Where does "manquer"  fit in? I thought you could "manquer le train" so could the gendarme have said: "J'ai manqué une bonne quinzaine"?

[quote user="Albert the InfoGipsy"][quote user="crépuscule"][quote user="Ron Avery"] [quote user="Dog"]I'd go theres bound to be a drink or 8 after....[/quote] And you would be totally wrong.  Its not Ireland. [/quote] For "Ireland" read "Irish Republic"! In my experience, the only drink you get at a funeral in Northern Ireland is tea. [/quote] But would that be in Derry or Londonderry? [/quote] You're absolutely right! I should have said "Irish Republic and outposts thereof".

[quote user="Ron Avery"] [quote user="Dog"]I'd go theres bound to be a drink or 8 after....[/quote]   And you would be totally wrong.  Its not Ireland. [/quote] For "Ireland" read "Irish Republic"! In my experience, the only drink you get at a funeral in Northern Ireland is tea.

The French commentator is Florent Rossigneaux who is coach at Rosslyn Park RFC. I have just watched highlights of Clermont v Perpignan and it is definitely "Entrez" although, in this case, with a very nasal accent. At least I have learned a new verb "atteler" which is very useful if you have a horse & cart or a railway!