Ma coeur est francais...et De Nimes et Genes

Yesterday was fabulous - we saw the bridge at Pont du Gard, strolled and shopped in Avignon, and then got a tour and wine tasting at Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The wine was sooooooo good, it's torture that they don't ship to the US. They refuse to add sulfites, per US requirements.

You cannot irrigate your vines in France, you depend on the soil and the underground tributaries.

Turns out denim comes from "de Nimes", a town here in the south. It was exported out of Genoa, Italy, because the taxes were less, and in French it's pronounced "Genes" and if you don't know French you pronounce it like "jeans". That's where denim jeans comes from.

I love this place, I'm already trying to figure out when I can come back, possibly for a couple weeks. In the winery, the smell of olives, lavender, and wine was just so pleasant, it's like paradis here. I've got to find olives from Nyons back home, they are the best olives.

I'm using the computer in the hotel, twice the price but an American keyboard. Aah...

Travelling on a tour is turning out to be nice. The wine tour was fabulous yesterday, shopping in Avignon was great. I picked up some nice jewelry made with Swarovski crystal, it's wayyyy cheaper here than in the states. I spoke entirely in French to the saleswoman, she asked where I was from, was I a student? I'll take the compliment on my speaking where I can get it. I can easily roll off simple sentences, and I've turned into a bit of a translator for the folks who don't speak French.

These folks are great. There's a couple, Ellen and Norm, from Long Island, they already feel like family. He composes music for schools, she's a physical therapist. There's another couple from Brooklyn, they're hilarious. There's another couple from Vancouver, very nice. There are also other Canadians, Kiwis, Australians, also people from Kentucky, Oregon, Florida, etc.

Travelling with older folks is nice and refreshing. One told me that the older you get, the less you care about what people think. I like hanging out with that vibe.

This one lady from Connecticut (30 mins from Niantic, mom) is married and also has an apartment in Washington DC, because that's where the stimulating conversation is. She says that she thinks she knows what my issue is with men - they're intimidated by my brilliance. I'll take the compliment, c'est la vie. Not sure what else to do with it.

I had the most painful check-splitting experience last night -we ate at Les Deux Garcons here in Aix-en-Provence. We ended up splitting the check 6 ways, it was sooo painful. I left an extra big tip to make up for the hassle. Some folks here, they don't pay attention to stuff as I would. My new friend Jan from Oregon (she's on vacation from taking care of her mom who has Alzheimers) and I were horrified at the inconvenience. One woman thought she had paid for one sixth of a bottle of wine.

Today we're off to Arles, where we'll drive by Cezanne's house, see the Cafe where Van Gogh painted his Cafe Terrace at Night painting and see where he painted the Sunflowers. Sunflowers are not currently in season, bummer.

I'm finding so many of the things I love here, they're all in one place. The plants are very similar to home. The weather is fabulous, just like home.

Oops, 5 mins to the bus ride, gotta go...