This weekend we will be in Paris as our niece has her birthday. We will be having a great party as she is turning 3. My wife was already there, as she traveled from Munich with the TGV and I had to travel by myself with the car. Flight was out of the question as I was in a meeting which end was not foreseeable and the location was somewhere in central Germany, where you don’t have any big cities in a radius of 60 km.

So after the meeting finished I got on some empty highways where I could speed so much I wanted.
![20170707_150907.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmV1nKhZyq5vb1RTZrk4iHWLdnEuWAFcXp1ri1vbJ7uWTW/20170707_150907.jpg)
*Don't do this at home, especially as in Germany is legal to drive with 200kmh and in other countries not*

The joy did not lost for long as I encountered a highway block. After the 2nd block, I already had enough, so knowing that France has very expensive highways tolls I decided to not drive on them an enjoy the scenery. So therefore I checked google maps and it was only one half hour driving time more. 
![20170707_154359.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmejd4qVfzrK6iXKZScRKeE73ESGJyhnH139ZgdN6hCc5q/20170707_154359.jpg)
*If not speeding this is an almost standard view*

I entered Belgium. Not so much traffic as in Germany, and the first km everything is in 3 languages, French, German and Flemish which I enjoyed seeing.
![20170707_172028.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRT14Qfpxc6MitBCyqfhGeAVQbo7znpxeVPMyBJxAjpAF/20170707_172028.jpg)

I got out of the highway at the exit “Bonne Fortune” which means good fortune. It must be good ;)
![20170707_175334.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPMNCWeW5z3KwfFdLTJ8CUMctLj3A45mTsdB1z7K5rrQg/20170707_175334.jpg)

I enjoyed the scenery, seeing some castles, and a region with a lot of lakes, where a stop was mandatory
![20170707_192535.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaZrCVTf6HBSM9zdHasn8ENTLnWY9rJQDrb8paH1UoWC5/20170707_192535.jpg)

Old villages with their palaces
![20170707_195206.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUQgwEL2wzmoCevNa15Sb6q6eVPopgjNFcqCypZA7HDSY/20170707_195206.jpg)

Then I entered France
![20170707_195927.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUFZLxFxqSv1mR6J4HSkRHdHK2Z5UVB1u6fBanhQsFPjk/20170707_195927.jpg)

France has a charm of itself. Even if there are not so well taken care of as in Germany and Belgium, the houses have their special flavor.
![20170707_202427.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmd399fgAixY6v7fXTNi83wQsAtxb3P8Xygqjkx8a52A4f/20170707_202427.jpg)

![20170707_203046.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmazYNkPm5mbbiWHgP2zUDSPk3BxNrxBQYyGMX1dGcjsop/20170707_203046.jpg)

![20170707_204133.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUutkZNDf87r96gtKbf7FxTTsUyMZPxb8n1dqiybAHbhA/20170707_204133.jpg)

I wanted another break, so I stopped at this abandoned windmill. Just enjoyed it.
![20170707_213751.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmW2yAwaSZPYytesZuW97xHGqrdDznhxc2SNf6xGhABzxZ/20170707_213751.jpg)

At last I arrived in Paris, later than expected but relaxed and happy.
![20170707_221510.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcCMutkdrB895WjB4KxtMnMW1by414tBvWmMdeKsorAS2/20170707_221510.jpg)

As I’ve not seen my wife for 4 day, we took a walk on the banks of the Marne to enjoy ourselves.
![20170707_225958.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVUSA8hbhHBvuM6CGGb4ft8teFvAYhes5LXy3bEZFGx3T/20170707_225958.jpg)