Le Puy-Sainte-Reparade

The day after Margery and Gary left, Elisabeth and I climbed into her car and took off for her sister's home in Le Puy-Sainte-Reparade near Aix en Provence. We were to watch the dog for a few days while Elisabeth's sister was away. This is Ghelba.

 We would also be able to swim in the pool. A few days to read and swim sounded like heaven.

The first challenge was how to get in and out of the pool. No handrails and not large enough for a dive at the deeper end. That chaise was the solution. Sit on it, swing legs into the water, and stand on the steps below the surface. Then a shallow dive was possible and easy.

 The house was very much opposite to those in Blanot!

We would raise and lower the two-tone shade between the red striped curtains depending on the time of day and how hot the sun was or how much light we wanted for reading. There was a nice terrace with table, chairs, and potted plants out there...and real grass.

I mention the "real grass" in the back yard because it was fake grass in the front. That hose will never make a mark on the fake lawn!

Years ago in England I discovered the Shandy, a mix of beer and lemonade. Elisabeth's sister offered me a Panache and realized it's the French equivalent of the British Shandy!  

One afternoon I went with Elisabeth and Ghelba on their walk. I found a pleasant place to rest by la Durance while they continued along the river path.

Elisabeth thought this might be a cork tree. After seeing a photo of the leaves and noting its location, Gary agreed that it probably is a cork oak tree. Cork trees grow mostly in Spain and Portugal.

Maybe the leaves will help identify it?

Elisabeth found a twig's worth of critters further along the path...

Before we left, we needed to get the robot to clean the bottom of the pool. 

It was another sunny hot day when we were driving back to Blanot. The Rhone River was almost the same color as the pool had been, but not nearly as inviting.

Below is the super modern performing arts center at the juncture of the Saone and Rhone rivers.

 And here are some more traditional buildings along the river...

There was stop and go traffic through the Lyon tunnel. Two monster trucks were on our right. We had to stop again and heard a loud crunch. The second truck had not stopped in time and both drivers were climbing out of their cabs. I felt sorry for the vehicles behind us; they were going to be in a big traffic jam. Finally we made it back to the peace of Blanot...

P.S. When I asked Gary about the cork tree, his answer included a photograph from the day we were all at Mont Blanc. It made me laugh. All I could think was that someone should have said, "Cheese!"