ChateauChatter: August 2012

Our return to France had been played over in my mind for several months before the event. Would it be as new and unknown as before or would it be like returning to a place that one knows well - like coming home?

In 2008 we arrived in December - winter. In 2012 we arrived in August - summer.

Life is good

What a difference! The countryside in winter is brown; trees look dead; the sky grey and the temperature COLD. In summer, the countryside is a patchwork of brown of ploughed and harvested fields; faded yellow of the sunflowers that will be harvested in the autumn; lush green of the vines with bunches of white or purple grapes; a countryside that has been baked by the sun for several months. And it is HOT!

The drive from Toulouse down the peage (motorway) did seem like just another trip from the airport. Apart from having to remember that we are now in a righthand drive country and being very conscious of things being the other way around, it took David only this trip to feel comfortable about driving here. For me it will be a different story - having to drive a manual on the 'wrong side'.... no doubt this may well be a blog subject .... we will see!

View from top garden

Arrival at the Chateau was , as it always is, special. This time not a feeling of 'WOW!'(and mouth open), but more 'this IS a special place' (and the feeling of thankfulness to be able to come back). Last time the chateau was wearing its winter coat. This time the green ivy is covering all the walls and is a contrast to the brown of the lawn and some of the plants in the garden. The heat of the summer showing in the wilted and dried flower heads.

Now that we are settled in, having spent the first two weeks in the Petite Maison while guests of the owners were staying, it is beginning to feel like we have come home. The wish to be able to share everything about this place with family and friends is as strong as it was last time. Hence the camera/iPhone comes with us most places - just in case there is something we think special to capture - not just for ourselves but to be able to share with others.

We haven't ventured too far afield yet but where we have gone (supermarket , our favourite sports shop, the post office...) it is all very familiar. I can hear some of you saying "what about the market?" which is one of our favourite places to go. The first Wednesday we were here...and really looking forward to going....it was a public holiday! The next week....we had no car! It was in being serviced and having 'une petite probleme' fixed!! So when we do get to the market it will be a much looked forward to occasion.

Morning walks around Raissac and environs became a part of Liz's daily routine last time. And it is becoming so again but now it is nous deux. We are in awe of the magnificent vistas that one can see as well as enjoying the differences between here and home or the differences between city and country life. It is certainly easier to get up and out here (at least while the weather is warm) than it sometimes is at home. There is nothing to disturb one's train of thought - no traffic besides maybe one, perhaps two cars; no people or when there is there is always the friendly Bonjour - nothing..... just the sound of your own footsteps and heavy breathing at times from the unfit one!

Looking across sunflower fields

Here are some of the views we are lucky
enough to see on our walks....

Different views of Raissac

Next time perhaps we will have been further afield and will have some tales to tell...till then a bientot nos amis.

It's a long way from Auckland to Raissac sur Lampy...so...rather than flying business or first class we stayed a few days enroute in San Francisco.

We have visited SF a number of times so it was not a new destination for us but there were some places we wanted to see. The Rock was one, but unfortunately all trips to Alcatraz were booked out until late August so it is on the 'still to see' list.

We did get out to Sonoma and Napa Valleys - the heart of California winemaking.

With breakfast provided onboard a limo coach along with a glass of mimosa (similar to a buck fizz) we travelled for an hour or so north of San Francisco to Sonoma. On the way we stopped and looked for the Golden Gate bridge.

San Francisco's famous fog was alive and well. But once over the bridge - a change in temperature and lots of hot sunny weather.

First stop was in Sonoma Valley...and the first wine testing of the day at 10am! Beautiful country, much reminiscent of NZ countryside in mid January, brown, dry with haymaking in progress. However the vineyards are oases of verdant green.
Sonoma is a small town of about 8000 people. Small and very pretty with shops set out around a park-like square. Sonoma is the little cousin to Napa which we didn't get to.
By the way we didn't partake of wine here but instead settled for a very nice latte at an aptly named Cafe Basque (or something like that).

Lunch was a picnic affair at another winery. All very pleasant before we moved onto our last stop - wines to taste plus a sculpture garden to wander around.

David enjoying lunch - no wine provided!

Liz in the BIG chair - a challenge for short legs

Some interesting works....

After a day in the heat of Sonoma and Napa Valley it was a pleasant change to return to the cool of San Francisco. In fact it seemed colder than Auckland when we went out each evening for dinner. Not warm and balmy at all.

The remainder of our visit was done on foot. The following are a little of what we saw.