St Chinian

St Chinian is our base for the next 2 weeks. The house that we have rented dates back to the 1820's and is wonderful. Beautifully renovated, it is like a 5 star hotel with every convenience included - beautifully appointed rooms all with en suites, crisp linen, all the latest appliances, awesome wifi and (and this sounds like a small thing but it aint) it is even  stocked with salt, pepper, oil, foil, glad wrap etc. It is absolutely perfect in every way. We were gobsmacked when we first saw it based on what we paid.

Situated on the Cevennes foothills, between the sea and the mountains, the St Chinian wine region is made up of 20 villages which together produces one of the most famous Crus from the Languedoc. Its gorgeous. Not sure how many people here but its well appointed with post office, banks, chemists, many great restaurants and a supermarket.

We spent our first day settling in. After the obligatory breakfast of croissant, coffee, juice and baguette, we went for a stroll to take a look around. We came across a gorgeous swimming hole and some of the most lush, furtive gardens that I have ever seen. A huge fig tree completely weighed down with fully ripe figs appeared to lean over the fence towards us as if to say eat me, eat me. I of course did the right thing - told the kids to sit in the car while I knicked some! Sorry Mum but they were sublime.

 Freshly stolen figs

Every Sunday and Thursday, there is a market in the square - a good 10 metres from our door. This is exactly the sort of thing we came to France for and as I suspected, it was great. We loaded up with goods (placed in the basket that was left for us for this very purpose) and strolled home. Lunch was fresh moules (mussels) in a light cream, garlic and white wine sauce and baguette. Followed by cheese, fresh fruit and more wine. Nice. I don't eat mussels at home, they are completely different to their French cousins. Others may disagree but as far as i'm concerned, NZ mussels are huge and kind of chewy. French mussels are small and melt in your mouth. Completely and utterly delicious. Our entire haul is below.

Market purchases - not the nasal spray

After lunch, Chris and I had a cuddle followed by a read and a snooze. Its been a stressful day and now we have to wait another few hours and decide where to go for dinner! Mon dieu! Not sure how we will survive this for 2 weeks.

The action in the photo below for me sort of epitomizes a part of the French way of life. It was 9.10am and these guys behind a fromage stall had in front of them some indiscriminate looking sausage, a hunk of cheese, a torn up baguette and were drinking red wine. My kind of breakfast.

Mmmm that makes me think. Its 3.00pm, now wheres that rose i have chilling? By the way, is anybody actually reading this?

Vin rouge for breakfast