Pont d’Avignon

“Sur le Pont d’Avignon” is a French song about the Pont d’Avignon that dates back to the 15th century. The bridge is officially Pont St. Bénézet but it is better known as the Pont d’Avignon on which one dances, as the song says. The dance actually took place under the bridge and not over the bridge (“Sous le Pont d’Avignon”, not “Sur”).[1][2][3]

It starts out with everyone in pairs and they dance around each other.

When the chorus is done stop in front of your partner and traditionally the male will bow on the first part then tip their hat on the second.

When the chorus begins again repeat step one.

When this stops so does the dance and then the girl curtsies to one side then the other.

For the first part, repeat step one and then if you have an audience turn on your heel and bow to them.

Sur le Pont d’Avignon

L’on y danse, l’on y danse

Sur le Pont d’Avignon

L’on y danse tous en rond
On the bridge of Avignon

We all dance there, we all dance there

On the bridge of Avignon

We all dance there in a ring
Les beaux messieurs font comme ça

Et puis encore comme ça.
Gentlemen go like this (bow)

And then again like this
Les belles dames font comme ça

Et puis encore comme ça.
The beautiful young ladies go like this (curtsy)

And then like that
Les filles font comme ça

Et puis encore comme ça
The young girls go like this (salute)

And then like that
Les musiciens font comme ça

Et puis encore comme ça.
The musicians go like this (they all bow to women)

And then like that

Loud speakers can be heard from neighbouring villages and I just read about that activity in a book about this region. Apparently the loud speaker announcement of sales, local resident activities and even their death is sometimes announced for the area residents to hear.
Some of the greenery between the vineyards include rosemary, thyme, and lavender as well as sage and I have seen fields of old sunflowers, past their prime and ready for autumn season.
Olive and other trees (juniper, oak), grains and vines cover pretty much the countryside in every space. Fennel, broom, cactus and low flowering bushes.
Stone walls help with the erosion and trees no doubt assist with the winds that occasionally do blow. We are experiencing the winds today and sometimes you can see a row of trees all leaning in the same direction from efforts of winds past.
I have heard and seen the word “terroir” used in relation to wine and vineyards. It apparently is in reference to all the factors related to the vine in its environment. Growing conditions, I think is how it is described. A sense of place where the wines come from (reference the Wine of Languedoc- Roussillon). And then there is climate and soil as additional factors. I have seen many microclimate areas and soil varieties in my drives in the area, and many different vines turning colour, or not, along the roads and in the distant hills.  
Rainfall is low here and soil varies in colour however it seems pretty dry and the sun shines brightly almost every day, all day.  

Book: the Wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon, by Wendy Gedney
This region, Languedoc-Roussillon has every thing needed to make a great wine. They make many! Sunshine, Mediterranean climate, many different soil types and history of quality grape varietals. Great people are also important as we will also find out. People for passion for wines … For the way it is grown and then processed. People are developing new skills, some bring the history and experience of lifetimes to the bottle.  
Signs along the roadside state ” degustation”, wine tasting delights await! Many great cooperative wineries. Farmers can take grapes to the village cooperatives … Instead of having to process and make wine altogether.  
2600 years ago, Greeks and then Romans contributed to wine history. Then monks in monasteries added their influences.   
This region once named Occitania … From Roman heritage, meaning ‘yes’. 
Over 3700 winemakers in this region of France. Many are independent and small scale.  
(Taking a break from the book and going to the goat farm!). Brb.
Back from a wee drive in the surrounding countryside, including a visit to a local goat farm. My goodness. So cute. Many goats with bells around their necks coming in for dinner, I guess. Cute!
It was good to have Anne back to her villa. Barb I have not seen in a while either… Fun. We drove through Montesquieu (goat farm) and Vailhan, then Neffies. Little towns nestled in the hills in the neighbouring areas around Roujan … the nearest village to us.  
I love the old stone structures, churches, walls, buildings, and houses even in town. Remnants of days of old, memories locked away in stone and mortar. Shutters mostly closed indicating not a lot of people home. Perhaps closed up for the season? travelling to warmer areas for the season?
Scenic and beautiful, sun just beginning to set, sparkling off the golden leaves on the vines. Deep reds, bright greens and rust coloured leaves also flickering in the winds of today.  
I do love this area of south of France and would welcome any opportunity to come back again. Perhaps a retreat? Friends and family …. what are your thoughts?
ciao for now, 
Pamela of France.

Barb and Anne arrive. They have been cruising ten days …in Greece and now back to enjoy the last of the month in south of France. We greeted them with a chilled magnum of rose frizzante, pink bubbly wine from this region and one of our early wine tastings. It went down fast … Now we are on to the next and the next .. Lol. So many wines!
Sun shine is warm in the solarium … We had snacks of cheeses, breads, rice cakes, figues noire … Tomatoes and olive oil with feta … Lovely.  
Now heading out to a goat farm and making plans of what next to see and where over the following four days with Steve, mom and Jim … And till 30 October with me, before I head to Nice and get on my ten day cruise to Barcelona.  
Life is very good indeed! Gotta go now …. Au revoir!  
Pamela in France

Another sunny and stunningly beautiful day in south of France!
Yesterday we rose and drove on a new road toward Carcassonne. We had a plan and time commitment to meet Glenn and Maggie Wicks (who I met on Cunard cruise last year, Baltic cruise). They are vacationing a few days in this fabulous place and so we planned to have a happy reunion.
On route we drove through some new towns and started by programming the GPS through Capestang. We made a few unplanned stops just to see what was there 🙂 and stopped at a wine store, of course! Steve bought Armagnac from Toulouse region as a gift for his son back home. Lovely. Mom purchased a fantastic book of “the Wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon” by Wendy Gedney. Fantastic watercolor illustrations and written in English.
Chapter 5, eastern Languedoc is our region between Narbonne and Nimes and spots in between. I am looking forward to reading it cover to cover before my mom takes it back with her to Nova Scotia. What a find!
We managed to arrive in Carcassonne in time for our reunion with Maggie and Glenn, the sun shining and although a cool breeze, we sat outside and enjoyed people watching and catching up on our lives and remembering how we met:) I loved the chat, and warm hugs from this great couple!
A few hours enjoying their company, we also then walked around inside the walls and saw their accommodations … like a bed and breakfast / guest house. Very inexpensive, very old and the fabulous and gracious hostess even walked out to the gate to meet them and show them to their place to stay. Inside was magic! Walking up an ancient spiral turret staircase to their floor and the great view out their window. Modernized bathroom of course and very quaint! La Demeure de la Cite, Maison d’hotes is the name … if you are ever in need of a fantastic place to stay in this location 🙂
On the way back to the villa I programmed in the GPS to stop in Minerve, another Plus Beaux Villages of France. We had tried to get their previously but got waylayed by a fantastic wine tasting. This time, despite the late hour of the day I wanted to get there before the sun went down. It was lovely.  
The public parking is quite a distance from the village, so we just stopped in a handicapped parking zone, near the bus parking. No other parked cars that we could see. The town was all but deserted and most shops closed up tight, likely for the season. A few open doors beckoned visitors to stop in for wine, chocolate or ??? I think just wine and chocolate! ha ha – what else could one need here?
The views and sights were spectacular. As this area is deep in what looked to be a quarry at first, was actually carved from the stone walls by rivers from very long ago. Smooth and very unique carvings completely surrounded this village. In fact we were driving and could not see a thing coming, knowing the village was less than 600 meters away by the GPS and then it came in to view. Down down we drove and around and around as if driving down switchbacks from a mountain. Spectacular carvings cutting across layers of coloured and textured stone. Almost speechless, “look there, and there, and OMG, look over there ….” Just wow!  
Once we got out of the car we started snapping pictures and wondering how this all happened. What must it be like to live here? surrounded by caves and carvings and mulitcolored layers of stone dating back before time.
Ancient midevil village dating back 2000 years! Limestone canyon eroded by glaciers and rivers making the valley look like a giant quarry filled with caves and tunnels. Deep riverbed canyon, worn sedimentary layers of rock swirling through the sides and surrounding the town. A fortress was here once, with access by bridges, over water perhaps?  
On the drive back to Roujan and watching the sun slowly disappear over the horizon and then the sky turning multi coloured … we entered some small towns again. Driving through there is often a speed limit posted for “in town”driving. A few places have electronic sign posts to tell the drivers the speed they are going. And if you reach the limit posted or below a huge green Happy Face appears! I was delighted and found myself wanting to keep receiving this positive feedback. Great idea for back home, instead of words in red, visual positive universal messages in pleasant green. Love it!
And we have been told by some people we met in Europe that the large plane trees lining the roads were so ordered to be planted by Napoleon, the emperor at the time … as shading for his troops as they marked along the road ways. So old, so lovely and really a demonstration of caring by a leader in the past towards the men who worked for their country.
One of my favourite sights this trip has been driving these roadways lined with magnificent trees providing postcard vistas for the driver, tourists and locals alike to enjoy. If I found a calendar or postcard with the sights I have seen, I would buy them! Usually in the backdrop are the vineyards in midst of changing fall colours, different varietals to different hues, different locations on the hillsides or flat valley floors.  
Eye candy at its finest – I love the south of France in the autumn season!  
ciao from Pamela, in France

Voting Day in Canada …. and it is supper time in France!
Hello Canadian friends and family! Get out there and vote 🙂 I voted before I left on vacation and have been waiting to see results …..  
Today I started out early taking Francesco to a meet to catch a ride to Italy. Then back to the villa to wait for the others to rise. I enjoyed the quiet and scenic drive home. In fact fell in love, again, with the tree lined roads. Wow! Several times today I have again enjoyed them. Very close to the villa I go through several miles of them broken up by round abouts … LOTS of roundabouts.
We headed to the beach today … south towards Spain and the border. We did not make it all the way but we did get to Leucate Plage. It was a fantastic beach, big surf and miles of beautiful coarse sandy beach rich with shells and exfoliating sand massaging the feet. The surf was strong and powerful and beautiful. Some people swimming in the sunshine, some playing with families and some flying kites. Not too many people out there – I guess the season is all but over. I would stay here sometime if possible and really explore the area.
There was some delay getting here and we did not get as far south as I would have liked. Partly as we had an injury. Steve shut his right hand in the car door so we searched high and low for a pharmacy with tensor bandage and some antiinflammatory cream – which we found in Leucate town.
After the injury and before the pharmacy we found a town that does not show on my map. Fitou. We stopped at a wine tasting hoping that would help with pain management. They only offered a few sips of different wines so not really much assistance 🙂 Then we took an off road to investigate an old castle looking touristy area. Pretty spectacular and we took pictures and all enjoyed Sangria and some tapas for lunch. I could not partake in either so took pictures of antiques, the view, tapestries, quilts and flowers at the spot we had lunch. Magnificent and funky – like a hippy stop 🙂 forgotten in time. Almost no one there but a warm fire place on inside with big leather and very worn furniture. So fun – we took some time and enjoyed our stop.  
The beach at Leucate was amazing. The wild sea waves crashing in and meeting the coarse sandy / broken shell beach. Magic. I even recorded a video of the sound and motion so I can revisit the experience another time. Shoes and socks off and up to my knees in surf. It was not very cold, in fact, surprisingly comfortable and inviting. Mom collected some shells and small stones and the odd piece of well worn beach glass. It really was magical.
   
   

Great morning, October 19 2015, south of France
Yesterday up early and a lovely drive to Toulouse to pick up my mom, Jim and also to meet my friend Francesco, at the airport by 930 am.
We met and it was lovely. Off to Carcassonne, a fabulous ancient stone castle and fortress within an old town in south of France. Of course the game of the same name, I have seen and also have purchased for family members. I knew of this town before I came to south of France.
The drive through small towns and countryside was again, spectacular. I can’t seem to get enough of the tree lined streets, plane trees I think they are called. Rows planted very close to highways and roads, sometimes both sides of the road. Leaves are very high in the trees and provide shade and incredible visual sights during drives through the countryside. My favourite is on the road to Pezanas from Roujan and it takes my breath away every time I am on it!
Catching up in the car, conversations with Francesco about his travels recently with his mom and dad in Spain, and how he spends his time travelling the world, as well as a contracted agent with GAdventures (which is where I met him last year at this time). Also catching up with mom and Jim about Venice. They spent three nights and two full days exploring the city, the islands and the culture and history of Venice on a Gateways International tour.  
They had a spectacular time and the tour guides were fantastic, knowledgable, on time and full of great information. As well, they highly recommended the boutique hotel where they stayed and they ate two dining meals at the same fabulous restaurant in Venice, so they loved that as well 🙂  
Carcassonne, we stopped and had a lovely little lunch at a restaurant by the old city walls. We then walked around … not sure if we were seeing all there was to see. Not many people around, stores and shops all closed, it is Sunday. Then we stumbled on a road side map and realized were not in the Cite area where the ancient sights are. Ah- ha, it makes sense now.
We hopped in the car and found a parking lot up close to the front gates of the magnificent sight, the Cite and old ancient castle – THIS is what all the fuss is about 🙂 lol
Steve purchased a ticket and went through the sights and got to take pictures from the high castle walls. The rest of us wandered around the cite, shops selling clothes, hats, mementos, chocolate, crepes, glaces, wine, knives and swords, dress up clothes, children’s toys and more chocolate and sweets 🙂 What a beautiful place to hang around! Lots of people watching, of course, all tourists and many speaking English.
I found a great store and spoke to the owner, creator of a clay soap product. She makes the clay dishes and exfoliating “soap” disc and sells also aromatherapy dispensers, all out of clay. All natural products, and she designs the products, and fires them and sells them in this little old walled town. The clay soap disc is rough and hard and solid but also porous and so it you lay it in liquid soap, it soaks up the soap overnight and then you can use it as a soap bar for long time until the soap runs out again, you resoak and voila! I purchased one.  
We are likely going back to Carcassonne on Tuesday to meet our friends Glenn and Maggie from UK – who will be there for a few days. I may go back to the shop and get more soap discs. The dishes to hold the discs are so beautiful and unique but I don’t really have room to pack them in a suitcase….. oh well. I took pictures 🙂
The drive back home was delightful and we got here before dark. The tree lined roadways, and old stone structures in the countryside, as we passed rows and rows of vineyards. The closer we got to home, the more I can really feel how much I love this area. It is feeling so comfortable and beautiful.
The pace is slow now, tourist season is all but over, and the air is cooler (about 18-20 degrees during the day only) and chilly at night so the leaves are changing almost daily it seems. Autumn is settling in this area of the south of France and I am loving the changing of the seasons and all the colourful and bountiful sights and sounds, smells and textures that it brings.  
Ciao for now. I was up early this morning to take Francesco to his meeting place for a ride to take him back to Italy. How fun to see him and he enjoyed meeting and spending time with my family. I feel we have a special kind of international friendship – connection.  
Perhaps a leisurely drive toward the south coast, toward Perpignon and Spain. Although we will not go as far as Spain … there is beach at La Barcares France, and that seems like a fun destination to start.
Follow along on Facebook to the journey:) https://www.facebook.com/pmacdonaldtravel
Have a wonderful day, 
Pamela in France!

I want to thank my clan, my network, my tribe. For all that you do to support me on my journey. Whether my travels or while at home. I value your witness to my experiences.
I am in process, finding balance, exploring rejuvenation and enjoying cozy autumn experiences. Today while in south of France I can feel the supportive energy around me.
I am in awe of my admiration for and inspiration from women living their life in their own special way, driven by their internal magic and precious uniqueness.
I read somewhere this morning that to follow something or someone is to select to let go of my own path, usually out of fear of missing out on something. When the truth is that is exactly what happens … I miss out on me being me.
I am witness to fabulous women and how they navigate their lives within the rhythm and pace of the world gently turning. I can and do admire and support them. I am worthy of no less. I can remain steadfast to my purpose without needing to join in another’s’ passage,, at the expense of following my own truth. These paths are not always exclusive of each other, when we link arms and follow our bliss, we are unstoppable.    
Another lesson learned, at least for now 🙂 This may not be the first time I have this one to review!! lol
Pamela from France 2015, October 16

“The idea is simple: for women to spend a few weeks embracing a lifestyle that allows them to peek into the region’s cultural heritage. They visit local farmers and flea markets, meet traditional artisans, and back at the château, eat delicious meals from local ingredients prepared by the chef. They visit a lavender plantation, a master weaver, and a mohair goat farm. Each day the women get busy in workshops and create original art atop crafting tables draped with antique linen, integrating vintage materials picked up locally that morning, for a song. Over the course of the retreat, they learn weaving, jewelry making, paper marbling, hand-lettering, and book binding.” Chapter 64, 100 Places in France Every Woman Should Go

Left late this morning from the villa. Stopped to take some pictures of the vineyard. Also waited for the maintenance guy to finish putting cover on pool and put away the lawn furniture for the season.
Beautiful sunny day and we decide to go back to Olargues, le plus beaux village we spied yesterday. I set the gps, put on some fabulous Italian music as I forgot to download French music (tonights project 🙂
We stopped a few times, savoured the moment, the sunshine, the surroundings and took a few quick shots on my ipad. I will share on my facebook site – if you care to check them out … https://www.facebook.com/pmacdonaldtravel
Patrimoine de Cassan was the first stop, less than 10 minutes out of Roujan. It once was established as a monestary by Charlemaine in year 805 AD. So beautiful the site, and trees, peaceful and blowing in the cool wind. The hot sun was more than enough to make this a fantastic experience, warm, and historic.  
Trees lined the two lane roads, high and old, bearing green leafy branches way up high and ancient bark down at my car level. I must have commented 20 times today at how stunningly beautiful these country roads are. Why does anyone take the highway here? I don’t want to miss a thing!! I never tire of the vineyards, row up on row of green leaves turning ever so gently as the autumn falls on the region. Some with old gnarly stems and trunks, some young and vibrant still, bright green leafy tops as if starting a new crop. Some tied to fencing and some standing alone and strong out in the fields – row upon row as far as the eye can see and the mind can imagine. Such a beautiful place. Little homes made of stone and tile, nestled in the fields and between orchards and groves of green trees. Small dirt roads, or gravel pathways for vehicles to reach the destination.  
On many roads we drove we would pass wineries signs that take the driver up a road, and there at the top would be an old huge fortress looking building… perhaps at another time it was a monastery or abbey or fortress or was it always used for a large family farm and winery? Olive groves shining silver leaves in the bright country sunshine. Wow …. inspiring me to paint with words and one day with watercolor.  
A brief 35 kms from Roujan is the hillside town of Olargues, a medieval village, also defined as a Plus Beaux Villages … one of the few identified as such in France …. it was quiet and peaceful. Only the sound of church bells ringing from time to time.  
Walked up to the old ancient Cathar church that is all but destroyed. Some revitalization make it possible to walk around on the grounds but not go inside. It was obviously built at one time on stone ground with stone walls rough from the earth.  
We went by a museum – not open. We wandered and took pictures for over an hour. One tiny store open, in what seemed to be the “centre-ville”, selling products from the region. One woman sitting at the table making what looked to be ornaments for hanging on string from a tree?? Made of fabric and ornamental decorations, perhaps glued to wood or cardboard? For sale was honey, jams, wines, oils, soaps, jewelry, and some antique nik naks.  
The views included stone structures far in the fields, indications that once people lived in them or used them for farming. One such structure had a large olive tree growing up inside, likely since the roof had collapsed so many many years ago!
The Eiffel bridge, red, and constructed very similarly to that of the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris. This bridge is painted bright brick red and crosses a ravine, people walk and ride bikes across it. We could see that from where we climbed.  
A river flows down below and glistens in the strong autumn sunshine. Also we could see old bridges of Roman design …. high archways of stone and brick. And below, shorter archways likely for letting water run through for human use. Brilliant and spectacular views.  
Bright blue sky, hot yellow white sun, terra cotta red roofs of tile, buildings of stone still standing and huge old doorways with heavy wooden doors and shutters still in their place doing the duty for which they were designed.
People live here. Evidence of mail post delivery, flower pots on the stone shelves and in hangers outside of windows. Cars parked and a school yard full of young people, looked to be elementary school at recess 🙂
We saw a few dogs and cats wander and no more than half a dozen people in the time we wandered. Quiet sleepy town, likely napping in the warmth of the afternoon? Even the tourist information center was ferme! No cafes or restaurants were open, although it looked like they may have been in the busy tourist season of summer. Now only quiet cobblestone streets and tiny alleyways welcomed us to their town.
We followed the same route home to the villa. All in all about 5 hours we drove and walked today …. a mere gentle 35 Kms, 70 round trip 🙂
In Herepian, we pulled a uturn and stopped in a bar restaaurant and told no kitchen till 7 pm. It is not even 4. Haha. Cool to watch the triple kisses on alternating cheek of locals greeting each other. L’artichaud is the name of the bar. It is an Americanized bar, with signs showing the distance to Miami beach, lol. Bathroom has a large poster of yoda, “may the force be with you”. 
Must be 15 people in here now. Loud with French voices, heavy accents and laughter. Coffee and beer, as well as wine being drank.
Saw two men in tight bicycle pants arrive and leave. Left at bar, two Demi casse cups from their espresso. I think they were in the bar maybe five minutes tops!  
Looks like they may have live entertainment later in the evening? We pack up and drive on from this small town. We weave our way back to Roujan.
Once we arrive we take a walk, not wanting to miss the chance to enjoy the view from the villa property in the sunshine, before we rustle up something wonderful to eat 🙂 I take another 50 photos of vineyards, grapes, vines, individual leaves and the vistas from almost every step I take.
I love this vacation! I am in love with south of France. The pulse of this place is now part of me. I will always carry with me the views, the sights and sounds of this place. I am changed by my ten days so far in France.  
So much more to write. Time to post this for now and have a drink of rose …. and a light snack while I wait for dinner 🙂
Thanks for staying with me, for travel with me and for following the blog posts.
Bon soir, and au revoir for now, 
Pamela in France!