No Photoshop required

You know that tilt/shift miniaturising effect in Photoshop? Well, this isn't it. I was roundly outvoted by my blip committee of two on this one, but I liked its weirdness, so I stuck to my choice. Go large to see the shepherd and his flock.

Today we went to the 1900 museum in Lagrasse. We've been before but not for a few years; we only go when we have visitors. They still have their massive collection of dolls and old shop fronts, but they have transformed the upper floor with a "4D experience". This is a model of the old "tramway" (steam train) that used to run from Lézignan to Saint Pierre des Champs in the early 20th century, providing transport for both wine and humans. The model has been augmented with a film composed of old photos and postcards with a limited amount of animation, reproducing a journey on the tram, complete with passenger conversation, vibrating seats, occasional gusts of air from a fan simulating opened windows, a thunderstorm, and a whiff of garrigue scents. It's quite kitsch, but fun, and it's a real labour of love.

The museum is a family enterprise, the brainchild of a winemaker who built it up in his spare time when he wasn't tending vines. He now makes vinegar. I unkindly thought that this was a reflection on his wine-making abilities, but it turns out he's really good at making vinegar. We had our first ever vinegar tasting, a flight of five different ones. It's not quite like wine-tasting, fortunately -- no glugging and swilling round your mouth. He sprayed small amounts onto spoons and we sniffed and sipped delicately. With occasional coughing fits.

His balsamic vinegar was a revelation. He makes it properly (unlike 99.99% of what you find in supermarkets), ageing it in barrels outdoors. Tasting his seven-year old balsamic was almost like drinking a fortified wine like port (I do stress the almost). This ageing comes at a price though; a tiny bottle of it costs 16 euros. I didn't buy any -- though next time I need some balsamic I will -- but contented myself with a bottle of spiced vinegar, scented with nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.

Oh, if you've read this far, here's the photo the blip committee favoured :) Do you agree with them?