We had a day going through Vaison la Romaine last week and I was the van driver that day. Coincidentally, many schools of the Drome region/department had a field trip day to see the Roman ruins. As I was locking up bikes and going back and forth between the van, I was swarmed by a group of middle school girls. Sorry Dana, this is the truth but it’s pretty funny. They were all asking me what I was doing in France and if I was married or had a girlfriend and I just answered the questions while going along with my business. I went up to Renee at the ruins to grab some more bikes and told her that she needed to help me out.
We walked back down to the bikes and the group of up to 15 girls came running over screaming my name along with “my beautiful” (in French accents). I felt like a movie star, which they actually proceeded to ask me. Renee helped me out and told them (in French) that she was my girlfriend, so then they would stop bugging me. Then they asked how long we were in France and Renee replied, “Until the end of the Tour de France.” The girls asked in shocked voices, “You are in the Tour de France?!?!” and we said yes, haha. One girl came sprinting back with a piece of paper and we signed some autographs, hahaha. Luckily, the teacher came over and had to gather the students, so I was off the hook, but apparently I have a following in the Drome junior high school. Renee told them she wasn’t my girlfriend just before they left, and they found that exciting, haha, but I told them that I do have a lovely girlfriend back home!
That is just a small example of all the interesting and/or funny things happening, and I thought I would share that story.
The second trip is going well so far and we are at a beautiful hotel named Val de Sault. We had a beautiful ride through the foothills of the Alps amongst the true lavender fields. There is lavande and lavandin, which the latter is only grown above a specific altitude and is the “true” lavender but used in soaps, fragrances, etc. because it is hardier. The regular lavender is used in cuisine and some commercial uses.
We had a great meal at the hotel last night that started with some fresh wild mushrooms marinated in herbs de Provence. Next, we had a fresh pasta followed by scrambled eggs with cream and herbs de Provence. Then we had main plate of braised beef with a soufflé type of side, along with fresh bread throughout the meal. We proceeded to move on to cheese, which I chose the degustation (choice of cheeses from here and there). The meal finished off with a trio dessert plate of a strawberry shortcake-like dessert, fig ice cream, and a pear, almond and chocolate cake. All of the desserts were about the size of a golfball, so it is definitely not gut busting amounts like in the US (no offense).
I will try to upload more pictures when I can, but enjoy my story for now!
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