SUNDAY 15th AT THE ABBAYE DE FLARAN

     

This is the 12th century Cistercian Abbaye de Flaran where a hunting festival 

and mass is held once a year.

Everyone who is anyone in this part of southwest France goes to be seen - and so did we.

So many different breeds of dogs we lost count.

                                     

When we're good we're really, really good. 

Here we all are at the mass in the abbey - with the hunters and one of their hunting dogs - and their trumpets which they played deafeningly loudly.

But when we're bad, we're really, really bad. 

Here we are at the Chateau Monluc at St Puy the next day.

We're on an EARLY MORNING sparkling wine tasting jaunt. While we were there, we used the occasion to also try several other tasty things: dry white wine and sweeter white wine, and the special Pousse Rapiere spirit and sparkling pink wine cocktail that the Chateau is famous for.

Here we are with the guide - an earful of history and culture is compulsory

before they let you loose on the wine.

                                     

Here we are in the cellar, desperate to get on to the tasting.

                                    

On our way out of the cellars, looking forward to you know what.

                                    

Good grief - a holdup. 

Damn, we've been stopped on the way for another team photo.

At last the tasting has started. (It's 11.00am, remember)

A few drinks and we're anybody's.

But there's also some hard yakka involved. Here we are toiling away with our watercolour paintings

of a nearby pigeonnier.

More pics soon... come back for another look.