Thursday 7/21/16

Happy Birthday to Laura!  We got up earlier than the kids would have liked to drive to Grotte de Niaux, a cave famous for its prehistoric cave drawings.  Unfortunately, all of the tours were booked until Saturday.  It was a disappointment, but we went to plan B.  We drove up to a ruined castle, Le Chateau de Miglos high up on a hill and admired the wonderful views of the mountains and the valley.  We decided to drive across the mountains - spectacular scenery and sometimes we were above the clouds - on an unsaved, winding road.  We stopped at a small village, but there was no bakery so we continued on to Ax-Les-Thermes, a city built on hot springs.  We had lunch in the main square and put our feet in the springs.  Ella was excited as her child plate had a hamburger and purple mashed potatoes!  Unfortunately, while we were having lunch, the market and most of the shops closed.  I took a picture of a little girl in the cafe who had the larges lollipop I had ever seen.  I took a picture and then went over to talk with the father.  It was not the huge lolly I supposed, but a round container filled with about 20 smaller candies.  The shops close up for "lunch hour" - usually from 1 or 1:30 until 3:30.  We did get to admire a mountain bike that was for rent.  The young man who owned the shop says he rents the bikes as they cost 5000 euros to buy!  I must say that it had all the bells and whistles - shock absorber on the front fork and in the frame and a specially raised chain so that you wouldn't bottom out while going downhill, but really - 5000 euros?!  On the drive back we drove through beautiful countryside.  There were many places where trees were planted next to the road making a lovely shaded alley for the car.  We stopped at Domaine Gayda for a bottle of wine for Laura - beautiful grounds - huge bunches of lavender and a rose bush planted at the beginning of every row of grapes.  We came home and jumped in the pool for a refreshing swim and then Laura and Nick went up the road for pizza (a small RV fitted out with a brick oven) for our dinner.  The choices were different and wonderful - we tried several: chicken with pineapple, ham, asparagus, and mushrooms, lamb, sausage, onions and mushrooms.  We came in and had cake and ice cream to celebrate Laura's big day and then played a game of pinochle.  It was another wonderful day!