The Only Gay in the Village??

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Trip Start May 04, 2010 Previous
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  Aiguèze, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Tuesday, June 22, 2010

So for everyone who was holding their breath... we made it to Vallon! Yay! Now for the bad news, the day after we arrived Kerrren got a gastro-type bug and was confined to the house due to proximity of toilet! YUCK!

Despite this I was excited to be back 'home' and some of my dutch family (Marjoke and Hans) arrived the day after, they also stayed with Inge and Robert so it was great to have all 6 of us together.

Before Kegs' tummy bug kicked in, he and I managed a drive through the tourist route along the gorge. As per usual it was stunning and this time it was sunny so it really got me keen to head out for an overnight canoe trip. Kerren had his first drive in Europe in my trusty Citroen (minus hubcap) and although I had a few hairy moments where I thought I was going to be driven into the side of the cliff, he soon got used to driving from the left side of the car and it was great to hand over the reigns and sit back and enjoy the view. We also went to the Vallon summer markets which are much bigger than usual and we bought some gifts for our families.

On Friday I went with Inge/Robert and Marjoke/Hans to Barjac for the markets - I love those markets, they are really colourful and Barjac is a gorgeous village with lots of big shady trees so its very pretty. We had a drink in one of the brasseries before heading a restaurant which is owned by a friend of Inges (everyone is a friend of Inge!). The set menu was really yummy and I had forgotten how cheap it is to eat out in France if you order the menu du jour. I had salad for a starter, chicken with mushroom sauce, rice and vegetables for main and coconut and mango icecream for dessert.... delicious!! We also stopped by Marjoke and Hans' block in Brujas as building is starting next week.

On Saturday Kerren and I took the scenic drive to Les Vans which he really enjoyed, when we got there it was market day so we wandered through the village looking at all the stores and again buying a few bits and pieces. I couldnt resist buying the pickled garlic cloves as I had tried them 2 years ago and fell in love! Even with his dodgy tummy Kerren tried one and really enjoyed it so we bought a small container to snack on - I can hear you all saying "snack on garlic cloves!?!?" but really they taste so good and arent that stinky at all!

The following morning I drove out to Labastide De Virac as they have a flea market on Sundays. Unfortunately the mistral had set in so it was super windy and not that enjoyable but I liked the wander through the village as per usual. One afternoon we walked into the Centre Ville of Vallon so I could show Kerren around. We had an espresso at Tom Pouce (cafe) and then walked across to the patisserie. I got a Tarte Citron which was divine (the french do GREAT desserts) and Kerren got a chocolate eclair, I I was walking in front of him and I asked how it was, when I didnt get a reply I turned around to see him taking another bite with this big grin on his face - apparently it was amazing!

Since then Kerrens stomach has gradually gotten better and so we have done a few drives out to various villages in the vicinity of Vallon. Aigueze is my favourite village in the ardeche region, it is very small but very picturesque and overlooks the river from a high wall. We stopped there to buy a cigale for home as houses in this area typically have one out the front and we also rested at the coffee shop overlooking the square for a while - so peaceful. Marjoke and Hans had moved to Vagnas to stay in Margots house for the next few weeks so we dropped past so I could show Kerren the house. It is a beautifully restored house with an amazing garden and view across the fields. It used to be a silk worm farm a looong time ago so it has some historical value as well. Marjoke and Hans had a gift for me, when looking through the tools at the house in Vagnas they had found a hand saw that had belonged to my Opa when he lived in Holland. It had followed his brother to the house in France and had been living in Vagnas for many years. Margot had said I could keep it so I will be coming home with a handsaw with the initials of my grandfather engraved on the handle - dont know what customs will think of that!!

Yesterday Kerren was feeling much better so we drove to Barjac for lunch 'menu de jour' for both of us included salad and cold meat for entree, steak and vegetable or steak and chips and creme brulee and coffee for dessert.... so very full! From Barjac we drove out through Uzes to the Pont Du Gard which is an enormous bridge/aqueduct built in 50AD. It was quite amazing and very picturesque. Kerren was disappointed as we couldnt walk along the aqueduct on the top because it was too windy though we crossed the bridge and sat in the most beautiful cafe/restaurant I have ever been in. We both thought it would make the perfect place for a wedding but Im not sure how many guests we would get if we chose to marry in France!

That evening was a music festival in Vallon where the streets are closed to traffic and local musicians set up on various corners and outside all the cafes/restaurants and bars to play. It was such a great atmosphere and we loved walking from performer to performer listening to the different styles. In particular I enjoyed a group of young musicians playing flamenco style guitar with a cello and flute accompanying, very nice sound. We chose somewhere to eat slightly away from the music so we could converse over dinner however before we had even finished our entrees a group of african drummers had set up directly across from us and were already attracting a large crowd. By the time our dessert and coffees arrived there were people crowded all around our table jostling for space to watch the drummers. It was a lot of fun and a little strange at the same time! Now we ordered from the mostly french menu and thought we were getting carpacchio of beef for entree when out came beetrrot, lettuce with these tiny little livers around the plate - not my kind of food! I hid most of my livers under a lettuce leaf after trying one and deciding I couldnt do it, Kerren surprised me by finishing his!! I had salmon for main which was very nice and Kerren had beef when the restaurant ran out of the pork he had originally ordered. We both had chocolate mousse for dessert - I could really get used to this life!!

We stopped at Tom Pouce for a scotch on the way home - for me it was mostly to warm up as it was a really cold evening and then wandered home after encountering a very drunk french man in the street outside a cafe/bar who wanted to introduce us to his 'lesbian and gay' friends!!

We have decided to forgo Spain, not because we dont want to go but we are running short of time and the expense to get there and the daunting thought of cross country train travel again has helped make our decision. Also, Kerren has only just recovered home his bug so we havent had the opportunity yet to do the canoe trip or several of the other things we had hoped to do in Vallon. Plus, its really very comfy here and nice to feel at home and be around family so here we will be staying!!

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Pont Du Gard - right bank	Drinking .... a profane word!	Ardeche Gorge	Kerren - relaxing at Inge and Roberts
Cafe at Pont Du Gard	Village through the grapevines

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