10th of May:

It was a perfect day; woke up early for a run on the beach, home-made brekkie of fresh asparagus, tomatoes, egg and lettuce; washed all the clothes; browsing through the Saturday 's market; lunch of mussels and rose; a quick nap; a coffee overlooking the ocean; some meditation;  in- movies night...oranges for dinner and hecti and I .....the small things in life...having the time and the attitude to appreciate them; I am a happy girl :)

"why live anywhere else when you can buy fruit boxes this good around here?" It was an afternoon full of smiles and the boxes look divine as a tv stand in the lounge room.....

Expect the unexpected. A huge truth, even more when you are travelling and experiencing the feeling of being free. As it happened not only we haven't left France yet but we found our new "home" (or motorhome) here....

She is a beauty, named "SalSolcito", in memory of all the holidays we had as children and then as adults with our kids. We always sang "sal solcito, calientame un poquito, por hoy y por mañana, por toda la semana"...We were right in being so picky, as we now have all we need: our big couch, the 4 beds (waiting for friends to come over) a full fridge and even some storage for the deck chairs, table and BBQ!!! Next: 2 bikes and a kayak (I haven't given up  the dream of carrying a kayak somehow!)

The trip from Fontes to Lyon to pick up our home was fantastic, discovering small and old villages through the french countryside

crossing the Rhine at Serrieres

department Du Gard

putting SalSolcito to the test...a very narrow and high bridge

After a few days on the road and needed to pick up all the papers for our car, we come back to Fontes. I will not write about the bureaucracy or the inefficiencies (which there is plenty around here..) that we met in our pursuit----I kept reminding myself that one of the lessons I need to learn is to be tolerant!!

Time to leave "the nest" now. What we loved the most during our time here has been our time together with Ali and Iso.  We are so grateful for all their generosity, kindness, laughs and stories. From working the land, the furniture painting, the markets, all the food, the walks, the supermarket rush, and the handiwork Hecti was able to do in their beautiful Fontes home. We will miss them so much! It is so difficult to say good-bye....I don't like it!

taking Ali and Iso to the airport we stopped looking at a canal for a celebration of life with wine, cheese and salami....Au revoir!!!

Next step: continue the journey along the border between Spain and France until we meet Tito and Clau in Paris

"just two simple words: to meet and to share", what would you like to share? I asked,  "our culture, our life, our differences".
You did more than that, you shared your home and your table, and your heart and your smile.

the view from our house- Fontes

lunch ready!

How do I summarise the last few weeks?? The highs and lows! We arrived in beautiful France, thanks to Alison and Isobel...they have this absolutely gorgeous place in the south of France, Fontes, which we have become very attached to...so much so that we forfeit our return to UK and decided to stay here! The vineyards just 100 mts away, the yummy rose, the beach only 30 m drive, the baguette we buy every morning fresh from across the road.....calm pace and the old towns all around us....it is easy to see why our friends love this place so much.

the "excuse" to come to France,
painting old furniture....looks amazing!

the vineyards 100 mts from home!

 

Pezenas- the neighboring town

Our quest for a motorhome continues...we have become "man and woman in a mission", single focused, Our friends have to remind me why I am doing all this, the purpose of our trip; as the intensity and anxiety tend to drive me mad.

...and Ali's favorite coffee shop

Drove for ages to different dealers, exhausted we arrived to a guest house; pitch black; no one around us....we were greeted by Michel and Patricia, a young and lovely couple of teachers who decided to also "live their dream", to open a B&B in Patricia's great great grandfather.

found Lyon, what an amazing city!

I am wondering if people know the impact they have on others. I will send Patricia a note about this.
They were the nurture we needed; a calming influence. They gave us coffee and tea and they prepared a homemade full breakfast for us in the morning. She was impressed about our journey and our courage- things that I forget when in trouble. She remained us about our dream and our purpose and encourage us to take it all in. Ali actually said the same last night, and to accept the difference in pace and culture.....Great wisdom! It actually changed our energy...





We are really so blessed by the love and care of our family and friends, they have embraced us and our dream, they are the strenght that we need...thank you so much to all of you

             

On a "holding patch". A tad disappointed, not surprised though, of not being able to find a left hand drive motorhome in UK!

Plan B- we will fly to Germany after Easter to attempt to buy, register and insure a motorhome there. Sometimes it feels all too much, too difficult; and the urge to go back to safe heaven - Pyrmont- is all too tempting. Thanks for our friends here. All the TLC provided by Ali and Iso and all the emotion, the excitement and the discovery with Edu and Jan.

Taking old Ringo for a walk

Drove through Oxford. The university has evolved into a city, I was so moved to be there....it was so pretty.....for a moment I looked back to my student years....I wish I could be 20 again, rent an apartment and study there!

Ahhh! home sweet home with ALi and Iso at Windlesham - UK...just what we needed...gorgeous friends, vegi soup, wine and cheese...viva la vida!!

I am glad that we drove to Jaipur after all. On top of the intensity that I have now become accustomed of all that is India - the flavors, the smells, the traffic, the amount of people... Jaipur had more to offer. The "pink city" (more like orangey..) with its gorgeous palace and fort  was a pleasant surprise to us. What really stuck on us is the fascination that most civilisations have with death. All the most beautiful temples or halls are memorials or burial places.

What the buildings lack in luxury (think gold, think churches in Europe) India made up in size.

A very enjoyable day looking at the archaeological remains of the "old city" in Delhi.

People eating @ the temple

A most unusual way to finish our time in India: visiting a Sikh temple were more than 25,000 people a day come to eat an much more to pray. You should see the kitchen!

Truly breathtaking. Saw the sunrise at the Taj Mahal and stayed there for a couple of hours. Every minute of the day brings a different view as the lights and shades reflect on the building. It is such a magnificent place! Always thought it was pure white but it is the reflection of its encrusted gems that gives the monument a silvery/shining color.

The story is as romantic as you can get, or as sign of power if scepticism defines you. The emperor Shah Jahan was ridden with grief when his "favorite wife" died during the birth of her 14th child that he commissioned the construction of the building as her memorial. It took 22 years, 22.000 workers, working 24h/day and a cost of 32 million rupees (1632-1653)

The story took us to a very interesting discussion about  love, death, power, greed, sacrifices. What we did agree is that it is better to demonstrate love to someone when they are still alive! :) (That is also what my mum used to say....!!!!)

We spent the afternoon in the mosque in Agra, were tons of local people gather to eat, pray and get together. It is so unusual for us  to see so many people and yet it has been difficult to establish any relationship or even talk to anyone. We are struck by how many people want to take their photos with us, as we are "rare specimens" in same remote areas. Mostly, we are seen as "potential clients", a means to get some kind of money. It is frustrating as it takes away some of the enjoyment.

Drove in a nightmare freeway at night.....it was not planned, believe me....to Jaipur, the "pink city".

Look closer (double click on the picture).
 Gracie drinking mate on the streets of Jaipur!

The tuk tuk stand at Jaipur

We left Varanasi at 5:30 am, on the "Holi" festival where people throw tons of colored powder to each other and where the whole India celebrates. It was good to arrive in Delhi and just relax in the afternoon; it gave us the chance to recover a bit!

The highlight was without doubt visiting Gandhi's memorial, his resting place.

Delhi is such a huge city, 22 millions people!....and I have a sense that they are all in the street at the same time!

We visited some impressive places....in preparation for the Taj Mahal!

Humayuns's Tomb