My week in Provence

[maillotpois]

Wow - great report and photos!! Good for you for taking full advantage of the opportunity to sample local wines....

[aka_kim]

Mimi - Mom actually said this was her first and last cycling trip - on like the second day!

MP - I think of sampling local beverages as almost a sacred duty. Maybe it was what I was born to do.

[maillotpois]

Wow. I think we share a calling, Kim.

We just had a bottle of Cotes de Ventoux brought back from our first trip there in 2003. It was great!! I can't believe it actually lasted four years. Maybe that's because we gave it to my in laws as a gift and they hung on to it. Wine doesn't last long here.

[Adventure Girl]

That was GREAT trip report. I really enjoyed reading it and following the links. And, Kim, do you have something against dressing for dinner?

[Thorn]

Thanks for the posting your trip report....I smiled, chuckled and read portions outloud to DH....brought back memories of France. I loved the cycling and, alas, trying to communicate vegetarian to the French was all you described it to be. Loved your tales. Such fun.

To digress, oddly, some of the best and some of the worst vegetarian food we've had was in France. In one case, we had a hotel that included dinner. When we checked in, we made sure that the message that we were vegetarian, no fish, was in the reservation. It was. When we got to the restaurant, we verified when we were seated. It was. The first course arrived. Clams. When we explained we were vegetarian and did not eat fish, the waiter did the stereotypical french waiter hrrrmmpph and muttered, in French, "they are not fish, they are crustaceans". Dinner that night was the most pitiful mushroom omelet. I swear the mushrooms came out of can.

But, the next day, we found a restaurant in a town of 10 houses, a school and the restaurant. The chef came out with the most beautiful fresh woodland mushrooms. He told us how he wanted to cook them up with a beef cut. When we told him we were vegetarian. He paused for moment then said, "I can do something." 30 minutes later we were eating the most decedant mushroom cream sauce over freshly made pasta I've ever eaten. All bad memories from the previous night were converted into something we could laugh over now.

Some get it; some don't. Glad you found enough that do. But, as you say, one must always taste the local vintages!

Thanks again for the report...

[Trekhawk]

Great report Kim. Love the pics.

[SadieKate]

Oh no! Everyone, sauf moi, has found this and laughed their way onto the floor, sans vin. I am so disappointed you didn't take my advice of finding that perfect little dinner outfit about 2 sizes too small. I was just waiting to hear about your mom's reaction.

I have to go look at all the pictures now. Are they as funny as the story?

Did you learn any good whines in French?

[aka_kim]

I only know how to whine in French about the weather, but I'll work on it.

What is with the 2 sizes too small thing? Major butt crack and camel toe sightings everywhere you looked.

[kelownagirl]

Great report Kim, I laughed all the way through it and I enjoyed your pictures too!

Your report is so timely for me right now. DH and I are planning our trip to France (in July). We're can't afford a bike tour, but are looking into renting bikes for 5-6 days and doing our own trip in the area you toured. We're looking for easy - medium riding so we can enjoy the countryside. Hope to stay in small hotels or B&B's along the way and carry what we need in panniers (storing our suitcase at the airport.) Haven't got the details nailed down yet so if you have any advice, please PM me.

Later we're hoping to rent road bikes for one day and climb Alpe D'huez. Got any suggestions on that? I'm been doing a bit of surfing to find a place that rents road bikes for one day only...