Welcome to GoodaTREK.

We’ve met in Toulouse Antonio Ferreira, his wife Paula and daughter Beatriz de Jesus ( Bia ) our little Princess.

Little did we know that we were meeting a great Chef of Portuguese Cuisine that we nicknamed The King of Setubal.

We have met them through  Dona Mariana, an amazing woman that worked for Dom Jose Restaurant here in Toulouse has survived the fight against Breast Cancer with a very strong message I LOVE LIFE therefore here I am as a SURVIVER

If you haven’t been in Portugal… it is ok! The best of Portugal is here in Toulouse we joke as we meet a lively and friendly community.

A  Brilliant Community that gets together to share and celebrate life through FOOD!

Getting the BBQ ready!

Surprise!  We were about to eat BACALAHU DO PAI as Antonio call (Father’s Cod Fish). The Secret is in his family and he can’t tell me…but guess what?

I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING IT FOR LUNCH! The picture can’t tell you how delicious this is.

Then more food…

Between him and his wife Paula they keep the secret of their kitchen.

then come the children,

It is ready…Lunch is ready…can’t wait!

I had too much… The Broiled Roasted Potatoes regadas no Azeite …OMG! You can’t stop eating ten.
Mr Goodatrek will have to have this!

The flavours are to die for. The Bordeaux Vin rouge “regou” o Bacalhau. Mind you, White Wine is highly reccomended says Antonio.

I REALLY WISH YOU WERE HERE….ALL OF YOU!

1.The english men are not afraid of independent women. They treat women equally…they were born from strong women …England had the most powerful Queens so the men appreciate to have a queen in his house.

2.You will never be bored!
They have London, The best kept Castles (the Queen and Royal Family still live in Castles) , The Beatles, The Rolls Royce, Fred Mercury & Queen, Yorkshire Pudding, the Best Bands still playing, Country side, Earl Grey Tea, Garden Parties, Girls Night out Parties, Guy Fox Night Parties, Notting Hill Carnival, all sorts of Festivals and the Most Polite Police in the world

3. The most amazing weather! You will never know what the weather will be like in the beautiful island of England. As the weather change we need to change clothes, shoes, everything… Perfect for those women that love dressing up like me.

4. The most charming English accent in the world that changes like the weather too. The posher the better? Oh yes!

5. Their sense of humour and politics… Only country in the world where Liberals and Conservative politicians manage to unite forces and survive… I take my hat for them indeed.

6. They have BBC the best TV in the world where you can see the best documentaries and broadcast always there for you when you want to put your feet up and snuggle up with your Eman (english man).

7. He will never figure you out but at least he will drive you MAD enough to go to pub with him as long as he can talk about motorbikes.

8. Actually they don’t need to talk much either…so you can do all the talking how about that for a man?

9. They love travelling abroad….anywhere as long as there is sunshine and beer and everything else you can’t get in England.

10.They are the most generous man in the planet. They open their wallet anytime as long as you use the magic word pleeeeease.

I probably forgot lots of other reasons but that will be added later on.

Walking with my long time friend ( my husband ) without having to hurry? It is the a bit of heaven. We did travel the world many times but it was always in a hurry with our four children running around, I sometimes forgot what places looked like as I was so worry about loosing our children.

 Now here travelling through the back roads of France it is just relax and enjoy …until something happen. It always does even if it is making sure we don’t miss the menu of the jour as most restaurants close for lunch at 3pm.

On our way to Albi, we stopped to have lunch in Rabastens.

Martin  and I did not think much of the place to begin with but as tasted the food we really enjoyed: taste of homemade food. The little bistro was packed with locals: that is a sign the food is good. For us being with the locals and eat and drink with them is something special that many people take it for grant it. There is so much in just simple things, but I must admit here in South West France, somehow feels like it silence bonding . Rabastens like many villages close to Albi is in the Tarn Riviere, perfect for walking and digest all the good food and wine. Ces’t la vie j’aime!

Someone said “the best things in life is for free” I did question that all my life.

Not anymore. Walking through the back roads and finding all the small lanes and paths is something special. I wish you were here …

Monalisa was hidden during World War Two in Montauban. It has been awarded the city of art and history in 1998.

The architecture of buildings and structure at the city centre side of the bridge is the noted Ingres museum , named for the artist from the city, housed in a 17th century former bishop’s palace, which subsequently served as the city hall. This is where Monalisa was hidden in the war.

When we visited Montaban the perception is that Past and present is an intense reality. Something fascinating! The picturesque and historic city of Montauban has much to offer. As soon you arrive you see the impressive Tarn River and over the bridge gorgeous fine bridge known as Vieux Pont ( Old Bridge) built in the 14th century.

Among the various examples of impressive architecture at Montauban, the one which probably stuck me most was

the square called the Place Nationale, with its double row of arcades, built in the 17th century. The beautiful church

When I got to the Place Nationale there was an Antique Fair going on and that made that place surreal with findings that you would never imagine to find it. I think there is something very stately about these well-preserved, sheltered walkways, in the red brick building material which has made an impressive city and proved popular for some centuries in various structures at Montauban.

In France according to wikipedia “The Ministry of Culture and Communication gives the title of Cities and Regions of art and history to local communities that drive their heritage … It guarantees the competence of guide lecturers and facilitators of the architecture and heritage and the quality of their actions.

Ancient ruins of twentieth century architecture, cities and regions of art and history depict the heritage in its diversity. Today, a network of 149 cities and countries offers its know-how throughout France.

The heritage center coordinates initiatives Montauban city of art and history and offers year-round visits, exhibitions, conferences and events for Montauban, visitors and schoolchildren. It is at your disposal for any project. 

Montauban has been awarded the city of art and history in 1998. 

In Midi-Pyrenees, Auch, Cahors, Figeac, Millau, in Rouergue Bastide Country, the Land of the Dordogne Valley Lotoise, Pays d’Aure valleys and Louron and Cathar Country in the Pyrenees of the benefiting designation Cities and Countries of Art and History.”

DAY DREAMING walking on THE CANAL DU MIDI

300 year old Canal du Midi is a Unique Experience! Why?

It skirts the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean before meandering inland through ancient villages, Roman fortifications and famed vineyards.

The Mediterranean weather and pace of life is relaxed and lulls you into unwinding as you walk along.

There are people who walk all the way from Carcassonne to Toulouse…

We can walk all the way from where we are to the centre of Toulouse and the scenery changes all the way….

This is the perfect place to day dream imagining all the people that once where here like us … simply watching the scenery pass by!

So relaxing just crossing the little bridges and admiring all the view from one side to another. In the distance you can see the Pyrenees, whereas closer to hand are the vineyards that stretch for thousands of square miles. There are some luxury cruises where people can enjoy private wine tastings at chateaux en route, locations that vary with your choice and budget.

Travelling by the back roads of France ( for the last 3 months) Midi Pirinees has been such an experience, really!

We seem to meet some of the kindest, generous, helpful French people… I feel like hugging them all  goes without saying (I am brazilian so hugging comes naturally) and hope to meet more of them. I know the french can be difficult but if you learn how to show them appreciation and trying to say few words in French, they will turn into the most helpful people. I can’t tell you how many times they have stopped what they were doing to help us in different plenty different circumstances.  

Oh, yes, there are plenty of them around and we have all the time of the world for those people. Here in this part of France feels like a time warp where people forgot what the rush and stress of life  of big cities is all about!

Met a lovely Scotish man travelling also.  He did show me around Moutaban and Albi.

I can understand why the British love it here so much…we love it here VERY MUCH TOO!

The pace of life slow down specially this time of the year. Winter months have been good as we can enjoy winter things and take time in historic places that for our surprise are still open.

We meet people from all parts of the world.

Mr GoodaTREK is really touched by his french neighbours. They have a long history (the English and the French) and plenty to share but suffice to say that in this trip all we want to share is “THE FRENCH BONHEUR” their love for all the good things in life like family and a great gastronomy….Cassoulet and Canard Confit? Can’t have enough … c’est bon por moi…

Like Medieval times? Carcassonne, no doubt about it! It is in South France. The history of Cathars and Troubadours, romance of a far way land with the taste of Cassoulet, its local cuisine c’est magnifique and when you come driving through the archway which you can see this amazing view… Oh la la…

Our trip to Carcassonne, the most impressive fortified medieval city in the south of France was magic.  

 It was far beyond our expectations! It is magic trust me…fairy tale magic but real! Even the photos can not show it. You need to see for yourself

The night view from where we were… overwhelming!

This extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage site was built over the course of 2,000 years, by passionate men and women willing to give up their lives for their beliefs.

Everything in The city of Carcassonne is exceptionally even the front entrance!

It is well-located in the southwest between Toulouse and Narbonne

and close to another Heritage site, the Canal du Midi.

This network of navigable waterways was built in the 17th century to link the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. This in itself is a remarkable site worth a visit.

Also Lac de la Cavayère

Welcome to our blog: GoodaTREK

This is a warm welcome for those of you that just joined us and a hello, again, for those that are following us!

This blog started by sharing MR and Mrs Gooda’s travelling adventures in their motorhome in Europe, or should we say England and France as we seem to enjoy these two countries too much to go anywhere else, yet.

Having said all that; bare in mind that the way we live our lives is not quite as ordinary as you may think.  There is far too much going on as we are inter-twined with family and friends that also travel and move-on, quite often. It has been like that for me since when I was a little girl, from a small village called Florania, in Brasil.

The travelling blood runs in our family since our ancestors came from Europe to Brasil.  We have this saying in Brasil: that “Europe is the world!” All the best things come from Europe, including my husband.  I am not shy to say.  He is truly a man of the world in all he is and all he does.  The difference between us is that he is English and like most English, he keeps things to himself.  I am Brazilian; and, like most Brazilians we were born to share what we are and what we do.  We are not show-offs, our culture is a very playful one and by that we express our sense of being in love with life.  If you have ever been to Brasil you know what I am talking about.  Using an Englishman’s words

“I travelled the world but when I arrived in Brazil I felt an immense energy that was overwhelming. It changed my life beyond my expectations”.

That Englishman is my husband, the man with the mission.  The mission to show me the best of Britain and France and hopefully everything else.

Many thanks for those of you that have been following us

 …the best is yet to come xxx