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| Cozy country cottage that is Scout approved |
Since we were staying in Europe through the holidays again, we wanted to find some place that was Christmas-y. We wanted to find a small European town with the old world feel, snowy fields where we could hike with our beagle, and a small cottage with a fire place. Thomas and I had originally thought about going to the German Black Forest for the holidays. However, the complications of renting a car in Paris and driving to Germany which has stricter rules and regulations made us change our plans. Both countries might be in the same union, but it is surprisingly difficult to find a rental car in Paris with all the specs required in Germany (specifically snow tires which are required by German law, optional in France, and only available on rental cars in Lyon or closer to the border). Given this complication we decided to stay in France. The question now was which part. In the end, we found a charming little cottage surrounded by working farms in the foothills of the Pyrenees. No snow, but it was a great location. It was within a short drive (less than an hour) of fortresses, medieval castles, hikes, and even wineries. It was also about a two hours drive from the mountains and ski resorts, and hiking trails are everywhere (even one that passed right by our house).