Monday 8th October

Vezelay.
A day off for Beatrice as the navigator, so she settled down in the back to enjoy the ride giving some helpful comments as to which way we were going!
Took the usual meats,salad,cheeses etc and bought our baguettes on the way so we could enjoy our own lunch when we wanted to.
We drove right up into this medieval village as very few tourists were around. This is one of the great sites of the western world as is classified by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The Basilica of Saint Madeleine, is a (we read) a masterpiece of Romanesque art, ramparts and countless ancient houses. An essential place to visit in Burgundy and in the summer you can't get anywhere near the place and have to park outside of the town and walk.
We walked up to the Basilica through the town and looked in whatever shop or gallery that was open. Marisa discovered a shop owner whose son was working and living in Manly and we found a local artist who lives in isolation 50 klms from Vezelay and would love to visit Australia and tour the outback.
Driving back from Vezelay Marisa guided us back through some parts of inner France that I'm sure hasn't seen a human being for years! It was all very exciting, I was very thankful that we had a full tank of petrol, some food and drink in the car and the knowledge that it had been serviced recently, as if anything had happened I don't think we would have been found for years. However it was all good and Marisa knew where we were at all times. Wow, what a tour guide! I'd be happy for her to navigate me anywhere in the world.
Arriving home we lit the fire and settled down to an evening at home.