May 11, 2025 - Happy Mother’s Day! and Fontainebleau

 We pack up our bags and do all the expected chores before we leave the little town of Vermenton. We are off again on another “No Toll” route to our next place in Vert-le-Grand. We have been staying in very small villages the last little while and I’m really enjoying that. Parking is at such a premium in a lot of places even in the small villages and can be a little nerve-racking.



As we’re driving, we notice a huge amount of cars parked in a tiny village off the road so decide to stop. It turns out that it is a huge flea market. We spend the next hour and a half browsing the numerous tables. We’re not sure if this is a regular event or a one off but I would say it’s gotta be a one off. Thank goodness that they’ve got such beautiful warm sunny weather for it. It wouldn’t be the same if it was raining. 



We have brought our lunch along with us and pull off in a small picnic area alongside the road. It is surrounded by massive fields of grain and vegetables growing. We didn’t realize the extent of the grain farming in France; at least in this area for sure.



We will be going right through Fontainebleau so decide that it might be a good idea to stop there and have a look. Our check in time is not until 5 o’clock so we have lots of time since we were only 2 1/2 hours driving today.

We first drive to the forest of Fontainebleau, and find that it is literally what it says; a forest. Since we’re not strangers to forests, we decide to carry on to the Château of Fontainebleau since we are strangers to Châteaus.

Well now!! OMG! This is one of the largest palaces that we have seen so far. We take a stroll through the English garden, and then the Grand Parterre. We will have to come back to tour the Palace  itself.











We have booked the next three nights at “Welcome Home” in Vert-le-Grand. From here we can go back to Fontainebleau which is about 35 minutes and also 60 minutes from Versailles and then we’re only about 90 minutes from the airport so we are very central.. This village itself is very small with no amenities by our apartment but, like I said, central to most everything we need. 


We find a little restaurants, not far away for something for dinner, and then back home where I receive some Mother’s Day wishes. There is a nine hour time difference so back home they’re actually just getting up as we’re going to bed. It will be nice to get home to see all my peeps. 







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