Day: May 8, 2011

Shopping for the girls…a beer for the boy…

Sunny skies, balmy weather and a leisurely day trawling Aix au Provence Saturday markets…lush bunches of full bloom Peonies for just €5, two dozen long stemmed roses €24, the sweetest strawberries €1! And the boutiques! Soft grey suede platforms, crisp white linen harem pantaloons and €5 floral spring scarves for Pixie, sexy black suede, ever so French sandals and scarves for Fifi… retail therapy and market sated while Dicky trawled his own essentials…beer and chips…and eyed up the stylish young things. This city is home to a renowned international University full of ’em.

20110510-105707.jpgWhen in France, one must reduce one’s bouffant to a chic pixie cut, just €35, cleverly orchestrated through elaborate sign language, gestures and a deftly murdered French pronounciation. A pixie for Pixie! Apt, the name coined by Fifi and Dicky after twice having to wee in forests.

No chubby folk in this neck of the woods….and were just short of blatantly staring at a particularly slender, attractive woman sporting black skinny jeans, a crisp white double cuffed shirt under an exquisitely tailored black cropped jacket all atop sky high kick ass black patent leather Louboutin heels…tres magnifique!

A fond farewell to the adorable Arlene at our Maison and the delightful Aix au Provence. Nice, here we come!

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A day in Provence…

What a gorgeous place is this? Jenny’s bespoke travel agenda continues to enthrall. We’ve squeezed Poppy car through impossibly tight cobbled streets and into the tiniest car park where, rather than drag suitcases to our abode for the next two days, a quick transfer of essentials to overnight bags…same clothes tomorrow – the Parisian uniform of jeans and a T, leather jacket and red lippy fits suits the austerity.20110507-054214.jpg

The Pont du Gard Aqueduct, outside Nimes thrills. Incredible engineering considering the Aqueduct was built in 50AD within 5 short years! Amazing chaps those Romans! A quick ‘drive by’ to admire the walled city in Avignon and on to the quaint Aix en Provence. Our B&B digs are at the top of 59 steps in the delightfully appointed Maison de Carlotta, a mere stones throw from the heart of the atmospheric village. Our hostess the lovely Arlene has made us most welcome, furnished us with a robust agenda and we are determined to satisfy.

20110507-054224.jpgOnce settled, Fifi and I canvassed the local culture then settled into a corner bar to sip €2.50 vin rouge and indulge in a spot of people perving while Dicky napped. The exhaustion of navigating our way through the complexity of foreign signed highways, roads and skinny streets taking their toll.

We concur…the women are incredibly stylish – jeans, platforms, fitted leather jackets, slender and exuding a sense of ‘joie de vivre’…often on the arm of equally elegant males…we favor the more rugged but damn these guys make great eye candy!

Finish the day dining Italian, the best steak, saltimbocca and a rustic salmon pasta…

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Contemplating in Demeure Saint Lewis…

Sitting in a relaxing bubble bath, contemplating the beauty of the french language and playing with the Chaud and Froid taps with my toes while determining whether the bathr20110507-051915.jpgoom decor could be classed French ProvinciaI, I realize there’s extra flesh protruding. Necessitating immediate mental note to pull the reins in? This could be challenging as I’ve just eaten the best meal yet at Auberge des Lices.

Tucked down one of the narrow alley ways that meander through Carcassone’s medieval fortress Auberge des Lices offers temptations including rich tomato mousse in jars accompanied with delicate salted wafers, tenter chicken breasts nestled in rich cognac sauce; the food excellent, service disinterested, the fortress rather ho hum for it’s hard to remove Sarlat’s uniqueness from the race.

20110507-051752.jpgWell deserved too after a long day exploring Chateau Feodal de Beynac, a castle originating in 1453 and where Joan of Arc was filmed. The view from here is absolutely breathtaking. Lost for words, we simply stare in awe. A ‘very’ scenic drive to Carcassone via Domme, as the Garman continues to confuse us and now secure in the quite magnificent Demeure Saint Lewis, our B&B for this evening.

Must say, Dicky has been the most marvelous driver, Fifi the ‘back seat in the front seat’ back up to silly Garmin woman, Poppy, our Peugeot… ‘carriage de magnificent’.

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