France 13 and 14 June

Monday 13 June



On the Chateau walls - Grimaud



Headed to Grimaud, a village recommended in the guide book.  It is a lovely village with masses of brilliant purple bougainvillea everywhere.  We walked up the hill and explored the ruins of a chateau.  It gave us great views down the valley.



Stunning Hydrangers - Grimaud



We headed home via Bormes-les-Mimosas.  It is an extremely pretty village festooned with flower beds and it has spectacular views down to the sea.  It was the day of the Fair so we were lucky enough to see a performance of traditional French dancing.   The ladies were done up in big skirts and white shirts with scarves, white stockings and black shoes tied with black ribbons up their calves. They wore fine lace bonnets and hats.  The music was very pleasant although it seemed to be coming from only two recorders and a couple of drums. 



Traditional dancing - Bormes les Mimosa



        

We came home via the dreaded D41 which Bruce had told us had caused previous guests to burst into tears (the females I presume).  There were some hairy moments as we passed other cars that were going way too fast.  

Tuesday 14 June

Left early, for our trip to Ile de Porquerolles a 15 minute ferry ride across the bay.  It was a beautiful day and the water had a slight greenish tinge to it. 

Arrived at Porquerolles and like the other hundred tourists, we hired our mountain bikes.  With our map in hand, and following all the other bikes, we headed for Plage Notre-Dame. The roads were unsealed and quite rocky which made the riding a bit more challenging. I only rode into one tree which I thought was pretty good.  Now I am ready for the Tour de France??

We sat on the beach for an hour and a half just soaking up the scenery.  The water was a shallow green and blue, the quintessential Mediterranean colours.  

Headed back into the village for lunch where we had a relaxed lunch of moules and frites (mussels and French fries).  Worked it off by riding across the island to Calangue de L’Oustaou de Diou which is a tiny little bay with a pebble bottom and ragged cliffs on either side.  A little haven away from the dust. 

We returned to the village via some dubious signage and thank goodness we could give the bikes back.  Made sure we were on the 6pm ferry home and got home sunburnt, tired and with a sore bottom.