ok. so we decided to put our bravery to the test. what test you ask. driving in france off course. a country known for one ways and round abouts. mad men behind steering wheels and ladies living on the hooters. but our courage go the better of us and we set off for the rhone valley. three hundred odd kilometers north east of montpellier. not long down the road we hit our first hick up. pile up on the auto route and we travel ten kilometers in two hours. i thought that was the first and last time i drive in france. then struggled for another two hour to get a hotel. eventually at eleven friday night we land a winner and stumble into bed. not a good start at all. and the expectation in me starts to fade slowly. but also knowing that two days of intense wine tasting awaits us. that by the way takes serious courage. in a country like france especially. but obviously this was going to be a weekend of pushing ourselves to the limit. against the french beast of gastronomy. saturday morning we started with a song of joy in our hearts. taste some magnificent wines and i thought i could die right there and go to heaven. but unfortunately my travel partner decided to park infront of someones garage. so we got parked in. blocked. no way out. i thought. great. here ends our weekend. our bravery caught up with us sooner than we thought. but. now ways. we were not gonna give up that easily. so after pleading with the owner in our best french. he smiled. said something under his breath and allowed us out. we were back in the game. tasted more wines. more pleasure. drove up the steap slopes of the valley face and waited patiently as my travel pratner took picture of dead people at the local semitary. rest in peace. hehehe. headed down the river to find more delicate pleasures of the vine. and gold we found indeed at the end of the rainbow. this time to the delight of better value for money. cooperative wine at high quality and low prices. we just had to buy some. had to wait for a while here though. the staff was on siesta and we decided to pose in the vineyards for some pics. ate there grapes too. beautiful. anyways. thanks to good french service. we hit the road. winding down the river seeking lodging for the night. having learnt from the night before and being in high spirits we hit another wall. first five hotels all chock a block. this called for plan b. and we allowed the river to direct us. some miles down the road we found a bed for the night. only to find out that there is a wine festival in town. what. no. your are joking. nope. our spirits jumped. to the festival at once. and off we went. a night on the streets between the crazy french. street music and road shows. does life get better than this. the answer unfortunately for your reading this is a big fat yes. we are informed. there will be a wine market in the morning they tell us. no. your joking right. no. i am not. without knowing what the market will entail. we hit the sack early bells in hope of striking it lucky once more. and luck it was indeed. the morning we sleep through breakfast and hit the road two hours later than planned. we get to the wine market holding our breath. dont want to be disappointed. no chance. the top producers of the whole rhone under one roof. i am lost for words. my travel partner swallows a bag full of giggles and does not stop for the entire time we are there. we taste. we spit. we spit. we spit. we spit. we speak french. we ask in french. we laugh in french. we love the french. what amazing people. we leave the market in a state of euphoria. and no. not because of the wine. but the intense feeling of contentment. we pack the fiest with the winnings of our expedition and it the road down the river once more. the weekend will not be comlete without french cuisine and we settled for a little cafe on the river between the sunday locals. we sit there reflecting on a weekend well spent. good times. laughing about the courage displayed and what a good battle we have had with the french. victorious indeed. having time in the bank before having to return the little fiesta we decide on a victory lap around the country side instead of the boring auto route. and a victory lap it was indeed. the two hour return became a four hour one as we carved our names across the south of france. seeing little towns and vilages that would otherwise have been lost to us. as we sing and laugh with the french caberet music on the dial we are absorbed within a world of it own. the south of france. a world magical in its own. wine. food. people. friendly faces. old and young. a garden for all who are willing to let down their guard and play. come and see for yourself. experience the garden. come and play. and a footnote to my partner in crime. good job johny. till next time.
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