Important news first - the hair appliance problem has been solved! Yes, I knew you would be happy to know that. We purchased the three appliances I use, and we justified the cost with the fact that I could use them again when we travel through Europe on our year off (I am aware that that is still three years away). The price Glenn must pay for my beauty - he was well aware of this BEFORE he married me!
Okay, the travelogue begins.
We loaded the car with bags and bodies and proceeded to Nimes because we had tickets to see Franz Ferdinand in a Roman amphitheatre. Your envy is understood! The concert was fantastic. The sun was shining, the night was warm, and the crowd was downright receptive. Four British bands played upbeat, energetic dance music: The Dodoz, The Virgins, The Ting Tings, and Franz Ferdinand. check them out. Andrew loved it. In fact for much of the car ride, he listened to both The Ting Tings and Franz Ferdinand, becoming quite familiar with the lyrics, and so then quite ready to enjoy the show, avec earplugs of course. Didn't I tell you I am a good mother?!
Jonas and Elija - Andrew thought about you and your soon to be concert experience; have fun with dad!
The concert crowd consisted of mixed ages, old, middle and young,(Andrew wasn't the only child) who kept pace with the bands, generously cheering and dancing. I didn't think anything could come near the venue of the Gorge used for the Sasquatch Festival, but ...
Before arriving at our hotel in Nimes, we stopped in Arles, residence of Van Gogh. It was in Arles that he painted over two hundred pieces, and also cut off his ear after an altercation with Gaugain. Not long after that he killed himself, dying at a young age of thirty seven. Arles also has a Roman amphitheatre, larger than the one in Nimes, and currently under reconstruction. I believe the notes said that it would have held 20,000 people during Roman times. During Medieval times, the arena was boarded up and turned into a fortified city before it fell into disuse, hence the current restoration.
A little shopping was in order for Wednesday, and after a leisurely breakfast and coffee (two actually, tea for Glenn) at a well-established boulangerie/patisserie (dating back to 1775) in Nimes, we drove to Uzes for their market. Colourful, busy and wonderfully scented, this experience alone would make anyone want to remain here! Olives, cheeses, meats, lavender, honey, the list goes on. Lunch has continued to be breads, meats, tomatoes, and cheeses; no complaints from Kevin and Michelle, especially when there are so many breads, meats, and cheeses to try. Even Andrew is expanding his pallet. Soon he'll be eating foie gras with us! Uzes is a beautiful town with pleasant shops which didn't sell the tourist kitsch.
The afternoon saw us at the Pont de Gard, a Roman aquaduct. See the picture with the information. It took five years for the Romans to build this amazing structure. Jaws were dropping. It's a busy place, not only because of the structure, but also because people are ALLOWED to swim in the river below this UNESCO World Heritage site. When in Rome, do as the Romans do! Sometimes it's good to be a sheep. Sheep who like grapes: we managed to squeeze in stops at two vineyards for a tasting and a purchase. Sante!
Our first real dinner at a restuarant was nothing to write home about, yet somehow I am doing just that. The Lonely Planet guidebook for Nimes disappointed us. Note to self: if the main course comes with french fries and a green salad, marchez vite!
Thursday morning dawned, and breakfast thoughts turned to crepes, and coffee. Again, we lingered; there is something so relaxing about sitting at a cafe in a large square with good friends, good food, and good weather. The absence of cars is another bonus. Reluctantly, we piled into the car. Destination: Isle sur la Sorgue, aptly named the Venice of France. No, don't let your imagination go too far. Gondolas don't really fit in all of the waterways around the town, but our feet did! There was a great market here too, and it sold more than just food, enticing us to spend some money. Andrew was pretty proud of his purchase of a digital watch - Opa & Yia yia, he is spending wisely!
We have enjoyed decimating the French language as we try to engage with shopkeepers, waiters etc. They are patient, and honestly, we are learning. Just wait. You should check out Toyota Fleet Guy's blog comment from the other day - in French. Tres bien, Monsieur Schwarz!
There are a couple of hillside town pictures on the blog, and we placed them there because we thought they were stunning. Not when you have seen the hillside town of Gordes. Our picture will not do it justice. Gordes has become the summer place for the rich and famous, who have bought up and restored properties; if the guidebook had not told us that, we would have figured it out - rockwall after rockwall after rockwall surrounding large houses, not to mention the pools we could see when looking down the hillside. Another draw to Gordes was the Abbey de Senanque and its lavender fields. Gorgeous in sight and scent. These nuns also grow wheat: storybook picture accompanied by the sound of swishing wheat sheaves.
On our train ride from the airport in Barcelona to the station in Perpignan, we forgot Andrew's car seat. Communication with the train station meant checking the lost and found at the Montpellier station (last stop after Perpignan) which we decided to do on our way home Thursday night. No luck finding it, but we did find that our first impression of Montpellier was not accurate. It seems that the dodgy, dirty train station area was not definitive of the city itself. C'est vrai. When we drove into the city centre to find a place for dinner, we were met with a vibrant, young culture. Our dinner here was tasty, and our waitress told us how it is very much a lively cultural arts centre, she herself being a theatre student.
Tired but content, we arrived home, stumbling up the stairs to sleep. Friday, we introduced Kevin and Michelle to our "Why should we start the day or leave the house anytime before three" philosophy, not arriving at the river in Rasegueres until four. We stayed until seven, enjoying the company of Alain, Eloise and Angeline.
Saturday brought another late start. Quelle surprise, eh?! Plans for today paired a hike with a visit to Chateau Perypertuse, not far from Chateau Queribus which we visited in our first week. This castle was set atop a longer ridge, and it had three levels, with two sections housing dungeons. Sadly for Andrew, just the remainds of walls. It is difficult to adequately explain the feelings one has when visiting these hilltop castles. The amount of work to build such a structure in such a hard to reach place... I would have just surrendered. Instead, I will retire. A demain.
I was reading your blog outloud to Elija and Ian, who had to stop listening because all the food sounded so yummy! We had a good chuckle at the picture of Andrew with his big ice cream crepe! Expanding his pallet eh? I'd say his ice cream pallet! LOL!
ReplyDeleteGlad you solved the hair appliance problem - I know it is your mission to be sexier than the french women, so good on ya sis! : )
We are all just recovering from a weeklong stomach flu that has worked its way through us all, ending with me. Nothing like a week where the kids were supposed to be in day camp and me getting stuff done, to be boarded up in the house with horrible smells and wretching sounds! But alas, there is your blog to escape to!
Sounds like you guys are having the time of your lives!
We miss you!
t
xoxo