Bright blue sky again so off to market for chicken and breakfast. We managed to bag a table in the sun, just, and basked for a while watching the usual comings and goings across the road.
One or two rather strange stalls but the usual stallholders were mostly back - we asked the chicken sellers why they'd been absent last week and they said it was because they'd been washed out by rain on the Friday. The same rain we had on Monday if you see what I mean! And they warned that more was to come - tomorrow. That decided us. We unloaded the spoils at home then set straight out again for Visan to get as much sun as we can before the wet.
We like Visan, and its wine. The village is rather grand picturesque stone houses overlooking the vines and hills, so after purchasing wines in the smart Cave we strolled up into the old town to the top and enjoyed the view before a restorative beer and wine in the bar.
I had vaguely hoped we might visit the Salon de Santons that is being held in the local centre this weekend! Ha Ha. Not a chance. I do like Santons. They are terracotta figures representing local people and occupations but linked to Christmas, so you get camels and shepherds as well as lavender sellers and bakers. They are part of the tableaux in most Provençal churches at Christmas and have a long respectable tradition. Adrian considers them on a par with Eddie Grundy's garden gnomes!
There's a fine alternative return route over the hills which was too tempting to ignore today. Through vines and olive groves with view to Ventoux one way, Montélimar another, sort of the Alps to the north. It was so still today, not a breath of wind. But we could see the clouds gathering over beyond the Cévennes and they will be with us this evening.
Stopped on the top for a short walk through the vines and olives. We tend to take it for granted a bit that you can just do this. And now that the harvest has taken place there are occasional opportunities for scrumping the small bunches of grapes that have been left behind. They are so delicious - sweet and ripe. Why buy them? Well, of course, because We are British and Honest!
We lingered as long as we could then headed back. Resinous pine perfumes, twittering of little invisible Olive Warblers in the groves and a robin trilling in a bush. You just have to fix the memory and the sights in your mind to remember how lovely it is once you are not there. So easy to forget.
We lingered as long as we could then headed back. Resinous pine perfumes, twittering of little invisible Olive Warblers in the groves and a robin trilling in a bush. You just have to fix the memory and the sights in your mind to remember how lovely it is once you are not there. So easy to forget.