It is not very touristy, but it has lovely hills, woods and most importantly, plenty of good driving roads for our cars.
BHPian Jeroen recently shared this with other enthusiasts:
We have just returned from our annual Spider drive to Paradise in France. It’s owned and run by our good friends Cees and Annelies. We met some 25 years ago through the Dutch Alfa Romeo Spider Register.
In fact, everybody involved in this annual Spider drive met through the Spider Register. We have all been board members or volunteers on various committees. Ever since Cees and Annelies moved to France and opened their B&B, we have been visiting them.
We usually set off on a Thursday and meet up in the southernmost part of the Netherlands. St Geertruid, a small village south of Maastricht. We have found a lovely B&B that can accommodate us and our Spiders.
Right opposite this B&B is an excellent Italian restaurant. Very appropriate for Spider drivers, of course.
On Friday morning, we set off and made our way to Le Paradis. We take only small and windy rural roads. It will take us the whole day to cover the distance, about 350 km.
Here we are.
Le Paradis is situated in Lorraine, which is near Verdun, Metz and Nancy. It is not very touristy, but it has lovely hills, woods and most importantly, plenty of good driving roads for our Spiders.
Every day after breakfast, we set off on various drives. On Saturday, we decided to have an en route picnic. So Bianca and Marianne set off first to do the picknich shopping at a nearby supermarket.
All four Spiders parked for a coffee stop. There are not many open cafes in this part of France. So usually we bring our own tea and coffee in thermosflasks.
Not sure why there was a painting of a steam engine on this building, but there was!
We drove on for a few more hours. The route had been scouted earlier by Cees and Annelies. They had spotted a nice picnic spot as well, alongside a little stream of water. All drinks, wine and beer are strictly non alcoholic as we have to drive for many more hours.
We do a lot of driving and we stop at the odd little town. Towns are the best places to stop if you want to have tea, coffee or something to eat. Rural France is low on cafes and restaurants these days.
This is something I have shown before on other threads. We have them in the Netherlands too. It’s a little free library. The idea is you put a book in yourself and you take a book out to read.
Along our route out in the country, we pass endless little villages. Almost all village will have their own cemetery. Which parts of the world are always kept immaculate
On Sunday, we went to see several Brocante markets. We love Brocante. All these villages are completely dead seven days a week. There are cars parked, so people do live in these villages. But for some reason, very few people are outdoors. Till there is a Brocante!
Mrs D bought various items. Alex bought a lot of small Lego sets which he said cost a fraction of what they go for online these days!
I bought another vintage multimeter and some spanners.
We decided to drive to nearby Verdun for lunch.
This area of France so heavy and prolonged fighting in the First World War. There are dozens of war cemeteries around. Tens of thousands of soldiers from all nationalities are buried in these parts. There are reminders of the First World War everywhere.
And there is, of course, the river Maas! Nice river, makes its way into the Netherlands as well. I have sailed on the Maas often in our boat, Sirion.
Only a few kilometers from Le Paradis is another war memorial. An American one, known as the Monster American Monument. I like visiting it. It’s an impressive reminder of the atrocities of war. And you get a stunning view of this part of France as it is situated on a hill.
Of course, we did a bit of spannering along the way. One of my headlights stopped working. Not the fuse or the bulb, looks like I might have some mass or wiring problems. I will fix it once we get home.
Earlier Peter and I found a new oil pressure gauge for Bianca’s Spider. She brought it with her, and together with Cees, we set about replacing it. Only to find it wasn’t working at all. Back to the drawing board.
Next to their daily drive (a Volvo) and their Spider Coda Tronca, Cees and Annelies are also the proud owners of a 2CV. Which always requires a bit of inspection by Peter.
We have been coming here for the last 7-8 years or so. Peter and I have been coming twice a year now and then. When the two of us take our annual Spider drive across parts of Europe, we often stop by Cees and Annelies as well. This year, that will not happen as in September we are off to Ireland!!
On Monday morning, everybody packs up and we drive home again. Very pleasant long weekend. Very relaxing, always endless banter as you get with lifelong friend.
Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
