A Provencal Market in Nyons

On Sunday we visited the market in Nyons, a medieval fortified town with narrow, winding streets that is known for it's olives and olive oils. The market meanders through town, stopping at a 15th century Roman Bridge that spans the Aigues River. The drive from Mirmande takes about 1 1/2 hours and travels through quaint countryside villages and past field after field of grape vines, olive groves, peach trees, lavender & sunflower fields. Deep through the heart of Provence.

We were fortunate that, in addition to the regular Sunday market, there was also a pottery festival in town on this particular Sunday. Each artist had his or her own style of pottery and it was fascinating to see so many potters assembled in one place. We found and purchased a pottery wall clock for our kitchen that we hope will make it home in one piece. We also bought an assortment of olive oils, olives, tapenades, cured meats, and fresh bread for our Sunday night al fresco feast. Just outside the markets we found a pizza truck with a brick oven and a long line - two sure signs of fantastic food. We ordered pizzas and had lunch on park benches. This is the life!

Josh enjoyed the1-man band (in background)

The artist where we bought our kitchen clock

Josh & Sadie choose wooden frogs

Gelato before lunch!

On the Roman Bridge

Andrew & Nina visit

This weekend we've had some comings and goings here in Mirmande. We said goodbye to the Harris family on Friday morning as they headed off for the train to London to continue their European adventures & said hello to Annie's nephew, Andrew, and his girlfriend, Nina. Andrew & Nina are students at the University of VT spending their summer in Zurich helping out at Nina's grandmother's art gallery and they came down by train on Friday afternoon for a 4-day visit.

On Saturday there was more tree climbing at the AcroPark with Eric, Andrew, Nina and the Cohen children followed by swimming in the Drome River. Annie stayed back at home for a quiet day filled with reading and bike riding into the villages of Cliousclat and Mirmande. A perfect day for everyone...

Dorian & Andy on the "Super Black" - the most advanced course in the park

Sadie, Josh, Ari & Nina enjoy a picnic

Nina & Andrew

The Drome River was cold!

Le Palais Ideal of Ferdinand Cheval

We've been blog free for a few days as Eric (& the computer) have been off on a Tour de France adventure. Stay tuned for a post from Eric about his exploits...

In the meantime, we'll try to catch up on our travels.

Last Monday, July 18th, we returned to Tain L'Hermitage and the Valhrona Chocolate factory. They no longer offer tours, unfortunately, but they make up for this disappointment by placing bountiful samples of their chocolates all over their store. I don't think I've ever seen children devour so much chocolate before lunch!

After gorging ourselves on chocolate & making our purchases, we drove to the little village of Hauterives for a visit to the historical monument called the "Palais Ideal" - the Ideal Palace of the Postman Ferdinand Cheval. Ferdinand Cheval, who was a rural postman in Hauterives from 1867-1896, devoted his free time to creating this masterpiece, which has been classified as a historical monument as an architectural example of naive art. Postman Cheval spent 33 years (1879-1912) building his Palace; using 4000 bags of lime and cement and various rocks that he picked up along his postal route, and representing 1000 cubic meters of stonework.

Throughout the structure there are inspirational quotes carved into the stonework from the Postman. My favorites:

"Work has been my only glory and honour my only joy."

"I am the faithful companion of the intelligent worker who looks for his little continent each day within his own countryside."

"To a valiant heart, nothing is impossible."

"For good men, all people are our brothers. Our motto is to love everyone."  

The palace is quite remarkable...

Outside the Valrhona factory

The North Face of Le Palais Ideal

The Three Giants

Looking into The Gallery

Grotto of the Virgin Mary

A Fun Day!

Hi everyone this is Dorian blogging! Yesterday we went to many cool places including Valrhona Chocolate Factory, The Crazy Castle, and Circuit Karting!

At the chocolate factory, we tasted lots of free samples which some were good and some were awful tasting. We brought home a big bag of chocolates that we are going to eat over vacation.

Then we went to the Crazy Castle which is a castle that a man made by hand all by himself. We got to walk through it and look at all of the designs.

Finally, after the Crazy Castle, we went to an outdoor Go Karting place called Circuit Karting. It was SOOOO awesome! First we got fitted into hairnets, helmets, and neck braces. We all got a Go Kart with a different number on it. I was #25... We went two times for 15 minutes each. The second round I won the race!

Getting On Hairnets

And We're Off!!

Chased by Jerry and Ari

Scores-- I Won!!

Having A Blast!

Hi everyone it's Sadie!

On Monday we went to many places. First we went to the Valrohna Chocolate Factory. We thought we were going to get a tour, but it was just a little shop. That's okay though.... They had so many free samples. My favorite was the milk chocolate, caramel disks. They were so yummy!! We bought a bag full of things home. When we were checking out, the cashier put our chocolate in a bag and every time she added other chocolates to the bag for free.

Later in the day, we drove to the Go Kart Racing place. Josh, Dorian, Dad, Ari, Paige, Camilla, and I all went at the same time in our own group for the first race. We all put on a hairnet, helmet and buckled up! We got in our Go Karts and I was #34, Dorian was #25, Josh was #21, Ari was #23, Dad was #10, Paige was #27, and Camilla was #33. The man helping us pulled the engine cord and we drove off.......

In front of the Valrhona chocolate factory

My hairnet

Burning up the track

Go Karting!!!!!!

This is Josh blogging now. Yesterday we went to a Go Karting place in Valence which was awesome!! We went twice but the second time I spun out and hit my leg on the tire. I got a minor burn and I had to stop because it hurt to push down on that leg.

Acro Park

Hey everyone it's Dorian! The other day we went to an awesome place called Acro Park. It's a ropes course/zip-lineing in the trees adventure park. We all had so much fun but my dad couldn't do any of it because he had a hurt heel... If u were a certain age you could go alone in a tree. Ari, Paige and I got to go alone. There were many different color coded courses to choose from. Ari and I chose the harder ones like super red and brown (black was the hardest one and those right below it)

Getting on harnesses

Sadie gets excited on the first course

Examining the wire...

Walking high in the sky!!

Waiting for Ari...

Our friend Paige Harris on a zip-line

Our friend Camilla Harris