We spent some time on the highway via Saint-Etienne to Clermont-Ferrand.
We went to the major French site „Puy de Dome“ which is the highest of the volcanic mountains in the Auvergne.
From the Puy de Dome summit there is a good view of Clermont-Ferrand.
But the wind was very strong at the summit. It felt like we were being blown away. It helps to be a rock climber and able to hold ourselves on the fence.
By coincidence our friend Manu was accompanying a helicopter test flight (once in 2 years) and they were headed towards the Puy de Dome. So we waited in the cold wind trying look and listen out for a helicopter. Finally we saw them.
He was sitting in the back and waved at us. Unfortunately my camera is not so good, but you can see the guy with the white shirt.
A bit later we met with Manu and he took us to a magical fountain. The water contains gas that is released from the water and as there is a kind of natural siphon structure it erupts about every second when enough gas has gathered.
Val and Manu have bought a very nice old stone building that they have been renovating for some time already. It is getting more and more beautiful. In the evening after having some ham from a full pig leg we went to the inaugural concert of the Harmonic Orchestra of Clermont-Ferrand. They played various classical and modern pieces.
