I forgot to mention "The Band.". . . . We were just returning from our visit to the castle and we heard a big band playing, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". . . . . Now there is a sound one does NOT expect. It was a group of about 20 college kids in various state of dress and undress and costume and fancy pants. . . . All very wonderful. We listened to them for about 20 minutes in the great plaza of this magnificent castle . . . . It doesn't get any better than this! Rock and Roll!

"Chutes de Branches" is the phrase of the day. . . . Literally translated . . . "Tunnel (Road) through the Trees". . . all over this part of France plane trees (French Sycamore) have been planted on both sides of miles and miles of French roads. When mature (about 3' - 4' in diameter) These magnificent trees span across the road and create a tunnel providing shade and a wonderful scenic drive. We drove through miles and miles of the Chutes de Branches today on our way to Carcassone, the most beautiful castle in Europe. This was a functional castle for almost 2,500 years and survived thousands and thousands of attacks by varous barbarians. (Remember, these goodly people loved nothing more than roaming around the French countryside picking a fight with their neighbors.) Good Times!!!  

Duane learned several things yesterday (It's about time): Strawberries are better in France. . . . They just are! Roads in the country are unbelieveably narrow, even for tiny cars, the Punto isn't as big of a lumber wagon as previously thought. . . . Duane simply missed the apex on several of the first curves and THAT can be deadly! (Into the thicket deadly!!) Hurray for Fiat! The Gorge du Tarn was scenic as can be and the roads, though incredibly narrow, challenging. We picniced along side the road with a magnificent waterfall to our back. The car temperature camembert was otherworldly in flavor and aroma!! Oh My!! We did get to see the "Out of this World" Viaduct Millau (Bridge). Lord Norman Foster has outdone himself yet again!! What a bridge! We did not drive across it as that interfered with Duane's schedule. Getting to Saint Guillhem le Desert before dark was the goal and nothing must get in the way. Saint Guilhem le Desert is everything they say it is. . . Mostly it is just one big, giant, humongous photo op. There is a photo around every corner. Our Hotel is accomodating and offers dinner, breakfast, free parking and wi-fi. It is morning! Paula is out filling up her memory stick and enjoying the sunshine. Funny, it has been sunny every day since Chris and Betty flew home. Duane Thinks Chris is cursed. (Not by Duane). We miss them. Today we have NO idea where we are going. . . . I love it when that hapens! Happy trails . . . . . see you soon!!

Paula really wasn't asleep. . . Uzes is now completely clean. After the great BIG (Over 200 vendors), messy, dirty, trash filled market these goodly people ganged up and cleaned this place like Paula on a Saturday morning. Everything is spit shined and ready to show off its better self. We like. The town square, where most of the market takes place  is really spectacular. It is large, airy (It is outside), packed with locals, decorated with a couple dozen Plane trees (our favorite), and right in the middle a marvelous fountain and on this day a trumpet player and his wife blowing great tunes!! Now normally a trumpet is not thought of as a solo instrument (Sorry Al Hirt), but this guy,who also has a magic music machine to make drum sounds, is great. We plop down and down a couple Edelweiss's and listen to the tunes. We also fill his hat with coin. A local man follows our lead and puts in some coin, we exchange the "Thumbs up" sign and he decides we are friends now so he comes over and sits at our table. He turns out to be a delightful gentleman from France (Duh!) who just happens to like trumpet music, beer and conversation. He speaks just enough English so that we can discuss the urgent matters of the day . . . . . Like, What are we supposed to see around here? Where are we to go?? What to do? His name is Jean-Marie and he is our new friend.  I love it when that happens!
Dinner tonight was in our Hotel . . . . Hostelliare Provencal is supposed to have great restaurant and Duane jumps at the chance to eat foie gras and an entire leg of lamb!! Eureka!! Paula has some risotto and a salad as rabbit, lamb and duck are not in her current list of edible food stuffs. Duane's in heaven. About half way through the first course a middle aged couple comes in the restaurant with a GIANT BROWN DOG!! Now the French are well nown for taking their pets out to eat with them, but we always thought that would be restricted to tiny, lttle cute French Poodles, Maltese and tiny terriers. . . . NOT so!! We've been joined at dinner by a large brown Hungarian Hunting Hound that weighs about 70 pounds. . . . He lies down by Paula's feet. He is calm, nice and friendly. Paula's feet are warm and we enjoy his company. Now that's a new one. today we head for the Gorge du Tarn and see if Duane can keep the Fiat out of the ditch. Happy trails!! 

Paula is down for the count. . . . It is nap time. Duane thinks a few pictures are in order. The sun came out today and that makes for some spectacular Kodak Moments. Duane keeps thinking we may get tired of the French countryside and the cute, little French Villages, but so far NO signs of that. As long as they keep making this food and wine Duane will return!

Going to a good French market just makes for a glorious day. These are country people just out to sell some of their stuff (Good Stuff, I might add) . . . . clothes, linens (Yes, Paula bought some more!), knives, kitchen tools, fruits, veggies, meats, fishes, rotisserie chicken, sausages and CHEESE!! Duane bought some of each as there will be picnics in the near future. Lunch was, in fact, wild boar sausage and a baguette. Paula had crostinis and humus. . . . . and , of course, ice cream. Tonight Duane will get foie gras and Paula will have something else. This year we got a Fiat rental car from Hertz. Duane is surprised they rented him anoher car after last years frivolities in Spain. . . . . Duane nearly drove the Punto into the ditch on the very first round-a-bout. The car has adequate accelleration, freakyly powerful brakes, comfy seats, a dandy radio and extremely poor handling characteristics. Duane will take it into the mountain roads tomorrow and probably drive it off a cliff. This thing handles worse than Paula's Lexus. I want my Boxster!!! The market people have now left Uzes and it is, once again, a small quiet French town with friendly people and a dynamite city park. Duane prescribes a bottle of French Wine. Paula takes a nap. We miss Chris and Betty already, but know that they are happy to be back in the Villages.   

Yesterday we saw Louie's Summer Palace (Versailles) with 50,000 - 75,000 other nasty tourists (Well, all of them weren't nasty, but many were) making the visit almost unbearable. Today we saw the Palace of the Popes in Avignon with about 250 people. . . . What a joy that was!! Now seriously, one can't compare Versailles with the Popes old place (There is NO comparison), but seeing it with 250 other eager tourists made it fun, entertaining and educational. That was about all we saw of Avignon, being more interested in going to the Laundramat, (Paula just can't stand dirty clothes!!)  and generally being burned out of BIG sights!! Tomorrow we hit the small villages in Lanquedoc-Roisillion and get the big city dirt off our shoes. Uzes is our first stop for the morning market where we will stock up on picnic supplies and head for the Gorge du Tarn. Our hotel tonight is small, cheap and friendly. Paula and Steve are already close buds and no one has had to lecture Duane on proper French etiquette yet. Nice Place!! Weather is cooperating and we look forward to sunny skies and the full moon!!