Day 4
Christmas Card 2003
We got up late again but I guess it's relative because the sun doesn't rise until 8:00. Jill wasn't feeling so hot so we didn't go out till noon, when we went to Bonnieux' Hotel Cesar for lunch with a view.
We were the first in at noon, and had a nice, not great, meal. Dave - Fish soup (excellent!!!), chorizo/calamari salad and a lemon meringue pie with a shot of espresso. Literally a shot, but zoom! Jill - warm goat cheese salad, boeuf bourguignon & chocolate cake, Kristen - cured ham & frites, chocolate cake. All just "OK" - 66€.
Then took Kristen to a modern playground where she had a grand time. Jill's tummy was upset so we drove 10 minutes back home where we met the gardener Patrick who spoke no English but loved it when I told him the property was beautiful. His wife and daughter were picking the olives.
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Then we headed out to find the Pont Julien, a 2000 year old Roman bridge that still carries car traffic. Very impressive, especially when you consider it was built by hand! Unfortunately the views were spoiled by the adjacent construction of another bridge, but I got some photos anyway.
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After we got back in the car and started moving, I noticed my window going down slowly. I started to yell at Kristen, but stopped. It was going down too slowly. Like it was broken, which it was. Oh shit. We started to panic, but recovered. Hey it could be a lot worse - we could be stuck in one of the many deep roadside ditches.
So we regrouped, and tried to find the local wine co-op. This is where all the local wines are sold, by locals to locals. We found one just outside Apt, not the one we were looking for, but why not?
So I went into the very attractive warehouse, where many types of local wines were stacked up on pallets, Price Club style. Mostly bag-in-box type (labeled "Bag-in-Box"), but some bottles and about 10 gas pumps in the rear where all the old guys were filling up their 1-5 gallon jugs.
I bought 4 bottles of "expensive" Cotes du Luberon and Cotes de Ventoux for 30.90€. I guess I don't look like an American the checkout guy gave me a 5-minute dissertation on the proper care and serving of my bottles, temperature, decanting, aging, etc., about 10% of which I understood. But he didn't realize I didn't understand.
So we regrouped, and tried to find the local wine co-op. This is where all the local wines are sold, by locals to locals. We found one just outside Apt, not the one we were looking for, but why not?
So I went into the very attractive warehouse, where many types of local wines were stacked up on pallets, Price Club style. Mostly bag-in-box type (labeled "Bag-in-Box"), but some bottles and about 10 gas pumps in the rear where all the old guys were filling up their 1-5 gallon jugs.
I bought 4 bottles of "expensive" Cotes du Luberon and Cotes de Ventoux for 30.90€. I guess I don't look like an American the checkout guy gave me a 5-minute dissertation on the proper care and serving of my bottles, temperature, decanting, aging, etc., about 10% of which I understood. But he didn't realize I didn't understand.
Then back up to Bonnieux, where we parked and walked around. Checked out eh "New" Church (1875), tried and failed to find the old. Also found "Mayle's" wine co-op, and checked out some restaurants, most of which are closed for dinner and early in the week at this time of year.
Then back home, waving to Patrick on his way out, for Pastis / wine before we go out to dinner. Kristen is looking forward to it - how many 6 year olds can you say that about?
And I called Europcar to report our window trouble, in French, and arranged with Christophe to exchange our car at the Avignon TGV station tomorrow at 10. Very friendly.
Dinner tonight may be just pizza, we'll see.
Today was another gorgeous day, bright blue sky, 62 degrees. I got a little sunburn. This house is perfect - location, view, quite, ambience - and this time of year is great because there are no crowds, traffic, or tourists. Except Us!.
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Well, dinner was ok, and expensive. 1 Pissaladiere, 1 Pizza de Parma, 1/2 carafe wine, chocolate ice cream, 2 very good profiteroles, 41€. A pizza / snack kind of place, with a bunch of locals at the bar, only 1 or 2 women. But they had a fire going, hand made pizza, and courteous service. And a very dark, windy (broken window) ride home. Bonnieux looks beautiful lit up from afar.
Day 5 >>>
And I called Europcar to report our window trouble, in French, and arranged with Christophe to exchange our car at the Avignon TGV station tomorrow at 10. Very friendly.
Dinner tonight may be just pizza, we'll see.
Today was another gorgeous day, bright blue sky, 62 degrees. I got a little sunburn. This house is perfect - location, view, quite, ambience - and this time of year is great because there are no crowds, traffic, or tourists. Except Us!.
...
Well, dinner was ok, and expensive. 1 Pissaladiere, 1 Pizza de Parma, 1/2 carafe wine, chocolate ice cream, 2 very good profiteroles, 41€. A pizza / snack kind of place, with a bunch of locals at the bar, only 1 or 2 women. But they had a fire going, hand made pizza, and courteous service. And a very dark, windy (broken window) ride home. Bonnieux looks beautiful lit up from afar.
Day 5 >>>
