Charolles

Mimi still had a few days left of her time with me in France. I thought she might like to see the town that the white meat cows are named for. Elisabeth was joining us with Colleen, a granddaughter, who was staying with her for a few days. Colleen was supposed to go to a birthday party, but she preferred the idea of going to a restaurant! 

First we hung out with the Charolais cow statues. 

After eating we drove into the town and parked near the river. We followed it for a ways…

Those who care for the flower beds had already cleaned them up for winter… 

The street became a path into a park and playground…

I liked this raised bed with its bench. No time for sitting as you can see that Mimi is disappearing into the trees...

Elisabeth spoke with several teenagers who gave her the directions to another park. We left the river and headed up another street…where we passed a fountain…

Colleen was posing like the statue

 …and visited an open courtyard. 

There was a really nice statue, though I’m not sure standing on a snapping turtle is a wise move. The turtle’s face indicated he wasn’t happy about it either. 

Can you find the red geraniums at the window? There was enough red on the vines so the geraniums get lost in the picture.

Tiny grapes were growing on the vines that decorated the walls, but it’s the leaf colors that made these vines so attractive. 

Some of the trees echoed these same colors.

This had to have been a defensive area at one time because there was an old cannon or mortar and the town was below the wall.

And there was the river wending its way past houses and yards.

forget painting a house...just let the grape vines take over

Every so often there are splashes of red…

…and here’s the fountain as seen from the other direction since we were now walking back down the hill. Elisabeth noticed a small boutique and sure enough, the lady had my favorite olive oil soap, Savon d’Alep. Mimi was willing to take that batch home for me. I’ve since found more in Cluny at a non-boutique price. 

 We followed the green route home, the scenic route.

Even with fog it is beautiful countryside.