A French Rest Stop

The French take eating and cycling seriously. At most highway rest stops you can get a full hot meal with dessert and wine. This is true in much of Europe. I've stopped at Italian rest stops that had better food than most of our local restaurants and a better cheese section in the mini-mart than most American supermarkets.

We were driving from the Basque region to Provence when we came upon this rest stop with a monument and outdoor museum to cycling. With the Pyrenees visible just to the south, it is the perfect place to appreciate the climbs of the great tours.