Wednesday

Today we all decide to do different things.

Marian and Ben head off into the blue yonder on the bikes - not quite sure where they went but whatever they came back all happy and enthusiastic still about the wonderful bikes they'd hired.

I actually think they went up to the Fontaine de Vaucluse at one stage and I gather Ben is now very very keen to buy himself one of the amazing carbon fibre framed bikes - ultra lightweight and easy to handle.



Trystan, Leila, dad and I head over to Aix en Provence for a sightseeing day.

 We drive past Lacoste up on the hilltop to our right and also through Bonnieux (again up on the hillltop) past Lourmarin and eventually arrive in the centre of Aix itself.

These three villages are among the many famous  ' villages perchees' of Provence..

All this really means is that they are what we would call hilltop towns as they seem to be perched on top of the hills !!

They are fascinating to walk around as they really 'perch' ! and the narrow little lanes meander uphill, downhill or around - such fun to ramble about and make discoveries in ....


We park up and wander for a few hours, snapping away with our cameras and dad, as always, guiding us through the maze of streets.

I swear he has a map in his head of everywhere!!



Leila browses in a marvellous bookshop and treats herself to a new book - the writer/illustrator is very famous and revered in France and her style is quite unique and thoughtful.



We buy nibbles for lunch and some lovely cakes as treats for afters ! yum.

Aix itself was an interesting town with lots of ancient narrow streets perfect for wandering about it in.


Mid afternoon we head back home and eventually find ourselves at a supermarket where

Trystan and Leila decide to shop for his favourite Sauerkraut and sausages dish as it was their turn to make supper.


 When a young boy this was always his request for a birthday treat !! so it goes back a few years.....


We arrive at the villa and find that Isabel and Marian have been busy drawing and painting.

 Isabel is working on her drawing of Gordes and Marian is sketching out a memory picture of their time in New York.

This involves remembering where they went and drawing little reminders of each of the places. A fun thing to do.

New York was where Ben whisked Marian off to and proposed to her while there !! so it will all be very special to them both,

She is very organised and seems to be getting on well with it all.

Isabel is at the colouring in stage. All looks wonderful.

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Trystan and Leila get busy preparing our feast this evening.


Both are good cooks and this meal requires us to have really good appetites - which we usually have !!

never fear.....

Tonight Team Eeles prepare themselves mentally for the big challenge ahead tomorrow.......

wait and see ......!