We ended up in Betz, which is a small hilltop town with rather an interesting looking chateau on the outskirts, about which we know nothing. I took a photo of the chateau, but apparently didn't notice its most interesting aspect (I was driving at the time Susan saw it). Still - here is my photo:
I was most impressed, however, with the town's garage. I am not sure if these two are for spare parts or awaiting new owners, but for some reason the picture really appeals to me
Simon
9 comments:
Aaah this brings back memories of my lovely old Renault 4. It had 3 gears and a sort of wooden spoon the change them with sticking out of the dashboard. The most useful accessory was the starting handle. I hated that car. Would love another one just to see if it was really that bad.
That sounds fun - for anyone watching. I have never had the dubious pleasure of using a starting handle, but I got good at push starting my first car
I had my first driving lessons in that car. One of my most ignominious experiences ever was being overtaken by a milk float when going up a hill in it.
Ah......first car stories. The pathos - the humour - the sheer idiocy! I think always better over a glass of Calvados, in front of an open fire.
I had an R4 -- a 4L, more precisely -- for the last year that I lived in Paris. Walt and I had a good time tooling around it the little Renault. I loved the shifter, which stuck out of the dashboard. The gears were arranged in a W pattern, rather than the more common H. And the brakes were terrible. I'd be speeding through the streets chanting "stay green" at all the traffic lights, because I was never sure I would be able to stop.
Bonjour!
Betz-Le-Chateau is where I grew up! I live in Sydney now. I was just browsing the web to see if there was anything on my childhood village. One story that I remember that is related to the Chateau is that it was where lived Gilles de Betz, apparently a ruthless seigneur who would have the bride before the newly married husband! Otherwise, the garage used to be open when I was a kid there in the late 1970's and early 1980's. They used to sell petrol, but mostly repaired cars. My grand-mother was born in Betz-Le-Chateau, lived there all her life and lastly a "la Veulerie" on the road to Ferriere.
Very nice blog and very nice photos.
Lucette
Lucette - welcome to the blog. It's funny to think that someone now in Sydney grew up in a little village near to where someone who (almost) grew up in Sydney is going to live....
Hi Iam from Scotland and in 2004 moved to France and ended up buying a house at 7 La Perruche Betz le Chateau .I stayed there for four years before I returned to England . I do miss Betz although it was a small village in the summer there was always something to see and do.The garage was still going when I left but the corner shop opposite had closed down. Sandy MacPherson
Sandy: Betz is a lovely little place. I'm not surprised you miss it.
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