Carcassonne is a walled town, it is not a large castle. I really don’t understand you going home via Bilbao, that’s a very expensive and boring route from Carcassonne. Why not travel up through central France and take one of the short crossings?
That was very expensive petrol that you saw. Most of the petrol that I have bought in France recently has started with 1.6 euros. Spain and France have very different tax regimes. In Spain personal taxes are much higher than either the U.K. or France. The tax free threshold is very low and you pass through the tax bands very quickly. Consequently in a low average wage country like Spain disposable income is tight. Luckily everyday prices compensate for that and food shopping, fuel and hotels appear reasonably priced. It comes as a shock to U.K. citizens who move to Spain drawn in by what appears to be a low cost of living. Tourists of course benefit from that regime. France has a more favourable tax system but higher everyday living costs. You can enjoy a much higher quality of life living in either country than you could with the same income in the U.K. You will have passed close to Limoux a very well known wine region that produces a dry sparkling wine, Blanquette de Limoux. It’s a méthode Champenoise wine that comes in at a fraction of the price of ‘real’ Champagne but very few people could tell them apart.
Although I've visited France many times over the years, on 2 and 4 wheels, that ride from Blanes to Carcassonne stole the show. Great photos and video footage and what a magnificent fortress. Loved every minute. Thanks.
8 Comments
Great Britain is in Europe , so what is your point exactly ?
Bonjour Monsieur
Carcassonne is a walled town, it is not a large castle. I really don’t understand you going home via Bilbao, that’s a very expensive and boring route from Carcassonne. Why not travel up through central France and take one of the short crossings?
That was very expensive petrol that you saw. Most of the petrol that I have bought in France recently has started with 1.6 euros. Spain and France have very different tax regimes. In Spain personal taxes are much higher than either the U.K. or France. The tax free threshold is very low and you pass through the tax bands very quickly. Consequently in a low average wage country like Spain disposable income is tight. Luckily everyday prices compensate for that and food shopping, fuel and hotels appear reasonably priced. It comes as a shock to U.K. citizens who move to Spain drawn in by what appears to be a low cost of living. Tourists of course benefit from that regime. France has a more favourable tax system but higher everyday living costs. You can enjoy a much higher quality of life living in either country than you could with the same income in the U.K. You will have passed close to Limoux a very well known wine region that produces a dry sparkling wine, Blanquette de Limoux. It’s a méthode Champenoise wine that comes in at a fraction of the price of ‘real’ Champagne but very few people could tell them apart.
Excellent choice of music on this video, perfect 👍
Although I've visited France many times over the years, on 2 and 4 wheels, that ride from Blanes to Carcassonne stole the show. Great photos and video footage and what a magnificent fortress. Loved every minute. Thanks.
Great to see all those little towns and villages…it’s the real thing for motorcycle travelers especially the ancient history.
Rest and be Thankful shudda had a tunnel years and years ago: Whatever it is that they're currently continuing with will continue to fail.