Now, let me paint you a picture. As I made my way along the Loire River, I stumbled upon a sight that tickled my gnome heart. A quaint little French café, Café de la Loire, tucked away from the hustle and bustle. The aroma of freshly baked croissants and brewing café crème was truly irresistible. I must say, the French sure know how to live!

In the words of a popular French saying, “Joie de vivre“, which translates to “joy of living”. It felt like the café embodied this philosophy in every sense. You might say, this was my interesting observation. France, in all its beauty, has taught me to find joy in the simplest of pleasures.

Now, friends, I’ve been on this road for a whopping 72 days, covered a distance of 2021.5 kilometers so far. I’ve strolled through Vierzon, took a pause in La Ferté-Saint-Aubin, ambled around Olivet before finally reaching our current stop, Orléans. The journey has been tiring, no doubt, but each city brings its own flavor, its own story, and its own joy.

As a popular local song goes, “On prend la route pour des jours meilleurs“, which means “We hit the road for better days”. This trip has been my better days, and I hope to share many more with you.

So, mes amis, as we say in French, “Au revoir et à la prochaine!“, which means “Goodbye and until next time!”. Keep strolling, keep exploring, and remember, the world is full of wonders, if only you’re willing to wander.

À bientôt!

Oliver, your favorite traveling garden gnome.

On a lighter note, I had the pleasure of visiting the Maison de Jeanne d’Arc, where I was instantly transported back to the 15th century. And of course, no visit to Orléans would be complete without a taste of the local specialty, Orléans mustard! Its unique, tangy flavor is as bold as the city itself and well-loved by the locals or, as they say, “Les Orléanais“.

I must admit, I have a newfound respect for Charles Péguy, the renowned French poet who once said, “Heureux qui, comme Ulysse, a fait un beau voyage” (Happy is he who, like Ulysses, has made a beautiful journey). I certainly have here in Orléans!