At one point I heard some strange scratching noises coming from the roof of the apartment – like a trapped small animal or something – a bit scary to be honest, even though it was probably something that’d’ve been a lot more scared of me than I would ever be of it were we eventually to come face to face...
Finally got to sleep and consequently didn’t waken until 9:30 – very late for me...
This morning it was straight to the market at nearby Forcalquier, around 25 km away on the other side of Reillanne....
Yet another beautiful old town...
The market was extensive but mostly fresh produce. We bought some croissants to eat on the go and some bread, strawberries and olives for later...
The sun was shining brightly and so I also purchased a pair of sunglasses and a hat...
I also found a CD stall and bought a disc of Concerti Grandi by German composer Heinichen who was apparently a big cheese in the court at Dresden at the turn of the 17th Century...
“To suggest that Johann David Heinichen's music and theoretical writings have been under-explored would be an understatement. Heinichen and his music has surely suffered the same fate as many of his contemporaries in being overshadowed by the 19th century preoccupation with Johann Sebastian Bach, yet his works are masterpieces according to the rules of composition still recognised today.”
Oh yes, Anne and I both agree with this quote from http://www.classical.net/ ..
Read the full piece here : http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/acc/heinichen.html
We took a seat at a café in the main square and had a relaxing coffee, taking time to ask the waiter regarding the seemingly endless different types of cups of coffee generally on offer in France...
We drove home for lunch in the garden, accompanied by Mr Heinichen’s fine music – pate, tomatoes and ham on bread with additional olives for Anne and Strawberries for afters...
We then took a drive in the opposite direction from Forcalquier and arrived at the slightly larger town of Apt which has a lovely old walled town within the city itself...
The shops were closed from 12 till 3 so we just took a walk around and took some snaps (a bit like slow motion Japanese tourists I suppose) before settling in the main square for yet another coffee (perhaps there’s another reason for my sleepless nights?)...
Notwithstanding its general beauty, Apt has the worst example of a “river” I think I’ve ever seen. It truly was pathetic...
Anyway, onwards and upwards to the famous “ochre village” of Roussillon in the hills beyond Apt. Truly a delightful little place and, due to the time of year, almost completely devoid of the tourists who must over run it in the height of summer...
Once again we mainly walked around and then stopped off in an open air café overlooking the wondrous red valleys and partook of Apple Juice and a Strawberry Crepe (Anne) and a Peach Melba (me). Tasty...
We stopped off at a hypermarket in Apt on the way home to stock up on supplies and with a view to a home made salad for tonight’s tea....
At home we had a relaxing evening, took a stroll thru the village after our salad (with wine and beer of course) and came back to watch a murder mystery called “Ladies of the Law” involving a glamorous female judge and a glamorous female detective trying to solve a murder....
I fell asleep before the end...
Highlight of the Day : The Ochre Village of Roussillon
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