15.10.2022 Hotel Kyriad, Orange, France

The entrance already shows it: this wasn't may best choice of hotel. In particular in terms of communication, this hotel was a total failure. The service was also poor. 

The carpets throughout the hotel were worn and dirty. Even the rickety lift used to have brown carpeting, now almost black with dirt. 

When I complained because the internet didn't work, the owner at reception just shrugged in a French way and said "My connection works" - probably LAN, not WLAN. So I was cut off from the world. 

 This is how the room looked. Not too bad, except for the WLAN.

The room was OK and the breakfast was good. For 80 euros, however, you can expect that. The Fasthotel in Mâcon was only about half the price, and they were friendly.

For a French breakfast, that looks quite good. Often you find just some croissons.

The old town of Orange is worth seeing, many small restaurants and cafes, and a gigantic amphi theatre from Roman times, but I was spoilt for choice.

The sockets in France fit the German plugs if your plug has a hole in it. The slim power adapters like the iPhone power adapter can also be used, they just fit under the steel ground pin in the socket.

Some impressions of Orange, and the old city centre. I didn't find a restaurant or café that offered free internet. I would have sat down there with my MacBook and had something to eat and drink. But there was nothing, no service of that kind. So I ate a salad that I had taken with me from a rest stop. I also bought a fresh baguette and Janon Serrano there. It all cost less than 10 euros, I would have easily paid three times that in a bistro. 

Nice places, but no service I could make use of. No problem, I am looking forward to Empuriabrava in Spain.

On my way to Orange, I met this friendly chap from Argentina. He lives in Rostock, working as a motorbike mechanic. He owns the Yamaha JF1200. "Did you also drive through that pooring rain yesterday?" he asked. Well, I sure did, 6,5 hours. "But your bike has a Kardan, while I have a chain. Kardan is no problem, a chain must be greased after such a water impact!". His boss owns a Harley Davidson repair shop, and to everyone's surprise one day he arrived at his yard with a 1200 GS. "What is this?!" the Argentinian said in surprise. "This beast looks dangerous. It bites, no?!" - Well, to some the GS might look aggressive, because of its beak maybe, but truth is that it is a very gentle giant, my Black Betty.

Omar asked my on the phone today if I would feel tired or stressed from my travels. Well, not at all, Omar. Actually, I feel like sitting in a soft cocoon, the sound of the wind and the engine muffled by the ear plugs to a continuous whisper, the speed control set to 130 km/h, my right arm rests on the tank bag, the beautiful landscape around me, blue sky and the sun, man, that is like heavens, and I am in a bit of a strange wide awake trance.