Catching up

Yesterday, after our walk we visited the Abbaye Sainte Marie de Legrasse. This Benedictine Abbey had its origins in the 7th century. Part of it is owned by the community (that's the part we visited a few days ago) and the section today is still used by the order. Extensive renovations and restorations have been carried out in the last 5 years. Some of it is open to the public and there was a short video that showed the working lives of the monks; early to rise, much prayer, learning and contemplation and seemingly very little talking. Not sure I'd make the cut but it is a quiet, serene place to wander about.

They have a wonderful garden restored to its original medieval style - woven cane sided beds with vegetables, herbs and flowering plants. Sitting here and looking back across to the town and the old wall gives a real sense of times passed.

Today we made a trip to a larger supermarket. Lagrasse has an épicerie, a small general store, that has kept us going for the last couple of days - open in the morning, closed for a few hours in the middle of the day and reopens late in the afternoon, but closed on Monday. Have to love the French way of doing things.
Our little car chugged up the hills out of town and the along a wide valley floor with many vineyards and olive groves and the occasional very old and gnarled olive tree. We drove through small narrow-road villages and towns, all with their share of cafes and restaurants and the compulsory outdoor eating area to watch the world pass by.
The roads were mostly straight and like the country roads we have at home. There are no double lines just arrows pointing back to your side of the road. I think they mean get back over now because you are scaring the pants off the tourists who are toddling along towards you.
We got our weekly supplies (somehow even supermarket shopping is more interesting). We included a couple of bottles of wine, just because you can. All supermarkets have a wine selection and this one had an extensive range but we couldn't be sure which ones were local.

We have decided our special, super power is to head out for somewhere, get completely lost, take an interesting scenic drive and yet still manage to end up where we wanted to be. This explains our longer trip back. We're not complaining as we get to see more of the country this way and our small car (that makes us feels a tiny bit like Stuart Little) uses hardly any fuel.
Met for drinks with our upstairs neighbours, enjoyed the company and the rather late dinner, hence the slow start today. It is drizzling and overcast. The weatherman says it will fine up by this afternoon, so we may get in our planned walk.