Sunday, 26 August 2018

On to more permanent living

25.08.18
Our last night of moving around was in Tournon sur Rhone. The town lies on both sides of the river with a pedestrian bridge to connect the two, steep vineyards with their names on billboards backed the streets. We didn't explore very far as we were not here for long but the river frontage along from our hotel had been newly developed with pontoons. We have read that there are few mooring places along the Rhone, so it was good to identify this one at least. It was backed by a plane tree edged square which looked likely for a market on certain days. At the back of the square were several bars and restaurants. We had our evening drink on a barge. This establishment appeared to be run by a very young couple and it was difficult to establish just what they were offering; cakes, pastries and alcohol it seemed. An enormous hotel boat passed by, we will be dwarfed this end of the Rhone for sure!
We intended to have a light dinner as we are overdone with restaurant food. We found a tiny restaurant the back of which was cut into the steep rock that runs behind here and that forms the base of it's castle. We had 'ravioles' - the restaurants speciality, which were tiny green ravioli parcels of cheese and parsley in a cheese sauce, mine; goats cheese, Pete's; Roquefort. Delicious, but so much for the light dinner! Of course a bottle of cote du Rhone had to accompany it.




25.08.18
Saturday and on to Nimes where we have a gite for 2 weeks. An easy motorway drive despite a few hold-ups which we were warned would be the case as this is the last weekend of French holidays.

Our gite is in a quiet suburb and quite rural. We were met by hostess and neighbour, Lou who showed us around this quirky little 'barn'. We have our own pool which is luxury. Lou is an artist and her paintings adorn the walls. Everything is shabby chic and slightly scruffy, which suits us. Her dog, Yagi comes to visit and positively moaned at me when I didn't give him dinner scraps. He is gentle and friendly though and well trained not to go for your food so we will welcome him despite not being lovers of dogs particularly. The garden is wild with fig trees, olive trees and firs and all the windows are leafy.
The temperature has dropped from a sticky 32 to 27 degrees with a cool wind and clouds. It is forecast to crank up again tomorrow.
A light dinner at home tonight.





2 comments:

  1. Just caught up with your blog. It all sounds great and lovely weather too. Enjoy that super pool and look forward to reading more.
    Sid mending well.
    Lots of love from us both. X

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    1. Thanks for following still. We have seen another canal today : Rhone and Sete which goes into the Med which Pete obv wants to do!!!!! Good to hear Sid on mend xxxxx

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