First of all, my cellphone number in France is +33 6 4866 8533   however, where I am living now, I do not have cell phone reception, so email is still the best way of contact for now.

6 July, 2012
It was not easy to get up so early again, but it has to be done! Luckily when we start at 7am it is only around 17 degrees - however, after 'smoko' the temperature goes up to 25 degrees or so, which feels to me like plus 30 degrees - I have not realy adapted to the summer temperatures yet. This morning was more of the same and wire lifting - it was quite a pleasant morning and after that I spent the rest of the day at the swimming pool, which feels like a private swimming pool at the moment. How could I have imagined last week that I would end up in such a place and be able to relax..........

7 July, 2012
Yes, it is already weekend and so no work for me today. So what to do on a day off in the Provence - after some long consideration I came up with the 'grande idee' to go for some winetasting and soaking up some Provencale scenery.

It took me to a rural town where it was market day and where I bought myself a nice skirt (yes, you read this right!!! ) and blouse, since I packed obviously all the wrong clothes for this climate and surroundings.

The destination for today was Chateau La Martinette near Lorgues that I had read about. It is a Chateau that was redone in its old glory by some Dutch people. However, I never met these owners, but a friendly girl at the cellar door which took me through all of their wines, which was mainy Rose, since I am here in the French capital of the Rose. In Provence 40% of the French Rose production is made and this is equivalent to 8% of the world production of Rose.

Then I got the taste and decided to visit another one, this time Chateau Roubine, where I tried to practise my best French again when I got responded to in Dutch. http://www.chateauroubine.com/vin/domaine.htm It sometimes feels like half of the Provence is Dutch, also the number plates of the cars here proof this. This winery produces some very high quality wines and it was very enjoying to spend time going through there three tiers of both whites, roses and reds. Two of the reds were a real high light for me. This was a Chateau Roubine, Terre de Croix 2009, 14.5% - which is a belnd of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah and the Chateau Roubine, Inspire 2009, 14% which is mainly Syrah and a little bit of Sauvignon Blanc. These wines both have some time to further improve. They export to NZ, so you wine-lovers there ....... try to find it somewhere!

After all this excitement I travelled through to Draguignan for a filling lunch before heading back to my 'base' for a swim and relaxing time.

Love,
Anita