Cairanne

Well, after a good night’s sleep in Cairanne, we feel we’re back. No big walks today because quite frankly, we didn’t wake up in time. However, shortly after 9:00 I did walk down to the cemetery and then to the boulangerie for morning bread. The air was already warming up, but the sky was also pretty cloudy, so it wasn’t clear what was coming weatherwise.

It’s obvious from my morning walk that although the 2011 vendage has begun, that most grapes are heavy on the vine. One of these years I’m going to make a point of learning how to identify the varietal from the grape and leaf. Maybe this year – who knows? In the meantime, if I guessed Grenache, I wouldn’t be too far from wrong, since more than 50% of the vineyards are planted with that grape.

Following breakfast, we drove to neighbouring St. Cecile les Vignes for their Saturday market. Anybody keeping track? Two days – two markets. The girls had a good time in the clothing stalls and actually walked away with a fair bit of product and I have to say I got into the back of one of those merchant’s trucks myself for a fitting.

Following lunch back at Cairanne, we drove down to Auchan in Avignon. This is always a very entertaining destination due to quantity of product available. Not long after we entered the store, the skies opened up and a torrential thunderstorm was upon us. We were thinking our timing was impeccable, but so was the rest of Avignon. The store was a zoo!
Back in Cairanne we found ourselves ahead of the storm, but once inside, the skies again erupted. Good thing it was cocktail hour even though today’s would be inside the house.
Tonight’s dinner consisted of veal meatballs and fresh pasta with carbonara sauce, all from Auchan. Parfait!