Vacqueyras

I wish I could send you all some of our sunshine!

Met with friends T&K to go to the morning market in Sainte-Cecile les Vignes.
All the usual sights and sounds, and smells!
The little man selling raspberries was there, so we bought some more, along with strawberries from Carpentras, melon from Cavaillon(Lovely green on the outside, and orange inside with a wonderful perfume) local apricots, and tomatoes.
The honey sellers, goats cheese producers,lavender growers, with their soaps,and perfumes. You can imagin walking through the stalls under the plane trees, and when the breeze blows wafting the aromas, a wonder sight and smell.

We had lunch in a village near by at "Chez Claudettet". Claudette and her daughter produce a wonderful meal. 12 euros including 1/4 ltr of wine per person.
Starting with a help yourself Buffet of hors d'oeuvres,then guinea-fowl with dauphinoise potatoes,plateau of cheeses(6 to choose from or have one of each as we all did!) then pamplemousse glace (grapefruit ice cream) home made and delicious.
This little place is a bar,restaurant,shop and post office! Always full of locals, and very welcoming. Don't seem to mind my poor french! I may have the right word, but the wrong pronunciation!

By now it was quite hot, but we decided to go to Vaqueyras to do a couple of wine tastings.
This photo is of the outside of one of the wine caves. Many of the vineyards have been in the same family for hundreds of years.
They are always pleased to give you a tasting of their wines, starting with a white, then rose, and then the reds.
The ordinary Cote du Rhone first, and finishing with their best cuvee. You can taste them all, or just one or two. They don't charge but they would appreciate it if you bought a bottle, even if it is only their cheapest, which may be 3 or 4 euros.
They are always very helpful, try to speak in English which they think isn't very good, but is always better than my french!

The wines we tasted were excellent, and both T&K and ourselves came away with a case each .

Back at our gite now. Have had a swim to cool down.

Now I have changed the settings on the camera, have managed to upload this photo. Looks good in large.

Hope the weather back home has improved.