And busy with our first visitors. Hosting Ryan, Jules' 16 year old son and his girlfriend for a few school holiday weeks. We've done a bit getting out and about when the teenagers finally made an appearance. One largely disinterested and not really open to lots of experiences. Never mind, this retired teacher put on her best bossiness and got her off her phone and things moving when I could. It never fails to amaze me how engrossed in their phones kids of this age are, not interested in what's going on around them more interested in what's happening elsewhere in internet land on those post and view video sites manipulated by the billionaire class (the names of whom I will not mention).
There's so much to see and do around here, especially at this time of year with festivals, concerts and summer holiday activities. We got some good time out at the lake enjoying the cool water on a hot day and the bonus that the 2B bus heads out there several times a day. There's a couple of activity parks of the park, an inflatable park where kids can go crazy, the ropes course and all number of paddleboards and boats for hire. Definitely a place to spend more time at as we head to less scorching weather.
There have been a few fires in our vicinity although not as many as a bit north of here. There have been some very smoky, hazy days with the orange sun peeking through the murk. Watching the helicopters dipping their giant water bags into the river to fill was sobering, knowing the fire was close enough to have been worrying. Having grown up in a forest where there were frequent summer fires means I'm very respectful of the damage fires can do. Some folks didn't evacuate, some died because they didn't move fast enough. Standing on our house roof with wet sacks extinguishing the sparks as they landed is not the best of my childhood memories. That and the sound of the pump while the men battled the fire on the hill across the road.
But I digress, it's hot here. Delightfully hot and sunny. One of my first purchases for the house was ceiling fans. Others wondered why, the electrician questioned the need but shrugged and fitted them anyway. Fans are essential to keep the house cool, coupled with making the most of the cooler morning through breezes and keeping the shutters on the sunny sides shut. We don't have curtains and I'm not in a hurry to get them. The shutters provide privacy and darkness too. The novelty of pushing open the shutters in the morning to let the sun stream through hasn't left me. It feels like I'm in a movie and I have to pinch myself some times.
So much of our life here is like a dream, like being on a permanent holiday. Getting up when the sun peeks through the shutters; sourcing a baguette and croissants from the Tabac across the road with a cheery bonjour to our neighbours and Cyril the owner. He pretty well knows our order by now and asking for different things is a great way to practice our French. I suspect by now all our neighbours know who we are, especially that we're here permanently and renovating this lovely old lady we live in.
We've started our wider exploring with a trip to Arles, a place with some lovely memories of previous visits. An interesting place with the Rhone running through; visible and restored Roman history; and typically French culture, cuisine and wine. Here's a selection of pics from my phone, the phone with a broken lens restricting what I can take. Note to self, bring the big camera next time.
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| Les Alyscamps - The street of the dead |
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| Crypt - Much cooler under the streets |
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| Arles Arena - The pilgrims sign at the top of the tower stairs |
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| From the tower across the arena and walls |
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| Amazing blue of the sky above the arena |
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| Sunset on the Rhone |
