Orange

On a Thursday, we would typically be at a Provencal market and usually it would be Nyons - where Vivian might be? - but because Claude and Carole needed to experience the Roman Theatre in Orange, it was a no brainer. I reflect to the first time we came to a market in Orange and how we were intimidated by the ethnicity of this market and how now, we think nothing of it.

We didn't exactly get going quickly today, so by the time we hit Orange, many vendors were already starting to pack up. Given that, we still found lots of nice produce - fabulous field strawberries - and other potential lunch items. The temperature, by the time we left the market was at 29 degrees celsius, so it was a pretty nice day to be wandering about.

After out market meander, we left Claude and Carole at the entrance to the Roman Theatre for a tour. We gave them a couple of hours and then drove to the Carrefour, just south of the downtown for essentials. They toured the theatre and we walked the aisles of Carrefour in the same time. Interesting!

By the time we returned to downtown, C&C had just ensconced themselves at a brasserie opposite the theatre, so we joined them for Affligems and Ricards.

As a little side bar, we parked at the place with this VW. This is the name the French give the VW Beetle. It's so much more civilized.

Instead of returning directly to Chez Pigeon, we stopped for a tasting at the Palais du Vins, at the major roundabout to the A7 autoroute. This place represents 120 domaines with 600 different wines. Two hours later we tasted 4 whites and 7 reds from the Cotes du Rhone, with a very helpful young lady, who used her best English to help us out. From this, we discoverd some new best wine friends and returned to Cairanne with yet more wine.

Back at the ranch, we enjoyed a light snack on the terrace, while playing cards and then had steak frites for dinner, which was the best beef we've had in France. I'm not embarrassed to say that I won both games today, because tomorrow could be total annihilation. Tomorrow, by the way, will be on the Med.