We woke to another perfect provincial morning. Endless blue sky, church bells ringing and fountains gurgling. Neil went off for a quick morning ride before it got too hot and the roads too busy. On his return we ventured out for the all important budgie smuggler shopping and to get some food. The swimmers shopping was relatively painless (for me anyway) however the food shopping was a nightmare. It seemed everyone in the region was in the supermarket and you could not move let alone think. I've never been so relieved to get out of a shop and home to my tranquil surroundings of gurgling fountains and village life. After lunch I redeemed another provincial leave pass and headed sans enfants for the small hill side village of Simiane la Rotonde. I'd read about it in a France magazine I'd been religiously reading back in Perth before coming here.
It was gorgeous, set up on a hillside with a Rotonde and small remains of a chateau on top. The village was pedestrian only so I parked at the bottom and worked off some of my holiday eating by walking to the top. All the streets were paved with large cobbles and the streets were thin and wound around the buildings in no obvious order. Many of the houses had ancient ornate doors with wonderful stone work. At the top of the Rotonde there was a aromatherapy laboratory making essential oils from all the wonderful local produce. Usually the village is surrounded by lavender fields but there was not an uncut plant in sight. I know harvest has not been long ago as you can smell the lavender in the air as you drive along. It was a very relaxing way to while away a peaceful afternoon. On returning to St Saturnin Neil and the kids were coming back from the pool. There were all sorts of exciting tales from the kids of the antics they got up. I'm sure more visits to the pool will be on the agenda. This evening in town we have been treated to an artisan market in the square. So another leave pass was granted (Neil is gaining points for the Alps) and I had a lovely wander after dinner while Neil put the kids to bed. There was about a dozen vendors selling everything from leather goods to jewellery, from olives to macaroons. After the wallet became a little lighter I headed home and I am now enjoying a glass of something local, watching the sun set and listening to the market vendors selling their wares. Tomorrow is a morning farmers market in town. The kids and I will be off to that to shop for some fresh produce and to practice our French and international sign language. Have not made it to the real estate office yet.
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