Mediterranean Afternoon

Way back in 2008 LouAnne joined a motley collection of American Lutheran choristers to embark on a very short concert tour of France with a particular emphasis on Provence and Marseilles. While there she was billeted by a lovely couple in Luynes, a small village just on the edge of Aix-en-Provence. So, upon return, it was only natural that she would like to revisit them and introduce Ted to them . And so it was that on Sunday morning, the two of them set off for Aix and met up with the Ariasis for a day or two of catching up. They were feted with a typical Provencal lunch of salad followed by lamb kebab (barbecue for these Aussies), a selection of local cheeses and sweets of fruits and almond biscuits. Tres magnifique! A walk along the Meditereanee followed. Not quite Bells’ Beach, but a bit more like Port Melbourne, but with rock, concrete etc. for the beach. The water was quite pleasant, especially as it was early October and unseasonably warm weather. It was evident that the local families were enjoying a final, leisurely Sunday at the beach before the colder weather sets in. On Monday Ted and LouAnne explored on foot much of old Aix. Aix is a city that began in Roman times but then stagnated until about the 1700s. There are many Roman fountains which were crucial to the water supply. However, it became very wealthy in the early 17th century and many of the buildings date from then. Perhaps Ted and LouAnne should have stayed ‘a pied’ as the car journey on the way home to Uzes included a few deviations, but in the end they and Peugeot arrived safely in Uzes where Chris and Judith had prepared a lovely meal of squid a la tomat avec vin, of which LouAnne was in great need of, given the interesting route to Uzes travelled. All of us love France and are revelling in it and all the new and challenging experiences. Viva la France.