Up at 9:30 and back to the “upper” bakery for croissants, pain au chocolat and a petit boule (a round loaf) – all very tasty and accompanied this morning by Handel’s Chamber Music...
At 10:15 it’s into the car and back to Forcalquier, this time with a view to walking around the historic old town...
It’s much quieter than it was on Monday, due no doubt to the lack of a market, although a couple of hardy souls have set up anyway in the main square to sell their veg...
We walk up to the Citadel which overlooks the town and the surrounding countryside and gives us outstanding views of both...
After a walk through the back streets, where we encounter three nice young children sitting next to a stray cat giving it some loving attention, we head back to the square for a coffee at the same place we sat outside on Monday. The best café au lait for me so far...
We return to Cereste and the garden for lunch having bought a very tasty looking mille feuille cake and a large strawberry tart...
We eat the remains of the petit boule with some wine for Anne and a small beer for me (the driver) and then wire in to the cakes, while Handel accompanies us once again, and is himself accompanied by some lovely birdsong from the trees...
Three cats are in the garden today and we enjoy just sitting for a while watching their antics...
Then it’s back to the car and we head west to the very small town of Oppedette, famous for the deep gorge nearby...
It’s a bit of a hairy drive up to the top of these hills and the village is indeed tiny whilst the gorge is indeed deep...
The best is to come though as, on the way back, we take a detour up to a real hilltop town called Viens. This is a quite delightful place and is totally deserted apart from a posse of old men playing boules outside the town walls...
We walked around taking photos and wondering why no-one else was there. An amazing little town which could so very easily become a complete tourist trap given the right (or some might say, wrong, marketing)...
We drive on and thru another hilltop town, St Michel before making our way back to Cereste again. At the Spar, we buy a fresh supply of milk and some still water for what turns out to be a successful attempt at some better tasting coffee...
Whilst “downtown” we notice the pizza truck we’d seen last Saturday has made a return...
Back at the house we drink more red wine and leaf through a couple of Peter Mayle books on Provence which seem raher smug to be honest...
We also read up on Avignon as we’re looking to visit this town tomorrow...
A little bit worse for wear on the wine front, we take a walk back out thru the town and find ourselves drawn to the pizza truck..
Before we know it we’ve purchased two pizzas, mine is unfeasibly large, and are heading back home for a tasty meal and yet more wine. I also write up the journal...
On TV tonight is the crazy mixed up French version of Noel Edmunds’ “Deal or No Deal” during which a contestant loses out on 25,000 Euros and has to play his accordion a lot???
Then it’s news, news and more news followed by football – Lyon v AC Milan which turns out to be a very entertaining “no goals but plenty of action” type game...
By the end of the 0-0 draw, I’m already asleep...
Highlight of the Day : The Village of Viens
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