To Slow Time Down

I'm writing from Chateauneuf de Mazenc, a small residential enclave of about 40 residences in Drome Provence - about 20 minutes east of Montelimar, an hour south of the TGV station at Valence, an hour north of Vaison-la-Romaine, and a couple of minutes up a steep hill from the village of La Begude de Mazenc.

Sunday morning here. I have access to the internet at our most gracious landlord's home - but this is the first time I've logged on since we've arrived. My brother & the owners took off yesterday to watch the French Grand Prix about 4 hours away. I was invited - but attending a GP race is very low on my list of priorites - somewhere between dental surgery and an attack of malaria.

Four of us arrived here eight days ago - on Saturday June 14 - meeting up with and sharing a house with one of my brothers and his wife. We have done a lot of typical ST activities - day trips, market visits, back-road wanderings, a GTG and indulging, if not wisely then too well, in good food and wine. Following is a thumbnail of our daily activities:

Early Wednesday evening here in Chateauneuf de Mazenc in Drome Provence. The early mornings are very pleasant, ideal for coffee & croissants on the terrace, looking out over a broad valley of farm fields stretching over to the Rhone River and the hills beyond. But by 10:00am the temperature rises & it stays hot for the rest of the day - reaching well over 30C each day. When the sun begins to set in the early evening it is again very pleasant to sit and eat outside, sipping a glass of wine (or maybe even two).

Following is an outline of my activities over the past few days, featuring a revolving cast of characters.