Well we made it!  Actually we we’ve been here a couple of days but as I get older jet lag gets harsher.  We flew Air France this time round and I have to say it’s not too bad!  Food was edible, not a guarantee.  And the flight attendant presented the wine label when I asked for the Merlot.  Though for red wine it was that or nothing!

I’m stuggling with the French language.  The hearing part.  I saw what I thought was the drink cart coming down the aisle so I went over in my head what to say in French to ask for the merlot and water.  He rapidly said something and I responded with my sentence.  He looked blank.  Not a good start!  I asked my husband if I got it wrong and he pointed out I was asked what I want to eat.  Sigh.  I actually said the sentence correctly but was answering the wrong question.  Things haven’t improved much on that front but I’m forging ahead the best I can.  

 
Driving hasn’t been too difficult.  I went a bit overboard with printing out maps of our route because I don’t sleep on planes and it makes it difficult to do tasks.  We only struggled a bit round Paris because given the fact that the roads here can have 3 or more numbered names some weren’t on our maps from Google.  But we got it sorted.  There was a comedy of errors at the toll booth when it was time to pay.  Fortunately no one was behind us until the end, unfortunately not a soul to help us either.  We pull up, as you do, and put the ticket in.  Good so far.  Tried to pay with a credit card, didn’t recognise it, tried another with same result.  Eventually it spit out the ticket, just as the wind blew and it grabbed the ticket.  For about five minutes we were scrambling to find it.  We did just as a truck pulled in behind us.  We decided paying cash was the way to go.  

  
But other than that everything else was smooth going.  I do love the rest stops on the motorways in Europe, you can find real food.  And thank goodness we have air in our hire car.  It’s ranging from 90F/32C to 100F/38C this week.  The only saving grace is that the humidity is low.  If it was like it is back home we’d be having 95% humidity.  But it’s still a bit much.

We’re in a lovely gite.  It’s in the middle of nowhere so it is very quiet.  The villages are near ghost towns but I’m not sure if that’s because of the hot weather.  We have struggled to find a farmer’s market but we have it on good authority that there is one in Noyant tomorrow and a good one in Samaur on Saturday.  We’ve had to make do with the Super U.  Not impressed with that!  Can’t for the life of me find fresh herbs and when you buy produce you have to put them in individual plastic bags.  I’m not giving up though, this is France!  The good stuff is somewhere.

We did find a nice restaurant yesterday for lunch.  I had a delicious salad with bacon and a soft boiled egg.  The bacon was divine.

I tried for the first time duck confit.  Oh my that was good.  A bit heavy for the heat but worth having.  

 
We did a bit of exploring today and went to the Château de Lathan.  A small family owned one but they are doing a lot of restoration of the parks and gardens. I don’t envy them!  But they seem to be getting through the large list.

 
I think we’re going to have a grand time here.  A much needed break!