Strolling, swimming and sunning

From the hectic activity of the Côte d'Azur to the gentle pace of holiday life deep in the Ardèche mountains. Via a narrow, hairpin road, we finally reached the Mas de l'Elze late on Saturday afternoon. We took canapés and a glass of rosé wine on the terrace, gazing out as the sun shone down on an idyllic scene, bathing the old stone buildings and rolling, wooded mountains in soft light. Then we moved indoors for a rather tasty table d'hôte dinner, albeit without les hôtes. An auspicious start to a lovely relaxing week.


The days that followed melded into one, following much the same pattern. Rise late, light breakfast, gentle morning/early afternoon amble along one of the multitude of footpaths that criss-cross the area, late lunch back at the mas, afternoon spent lazing and reading by the pool, interrupted only for a quick dip and cool-down, and a display by dog-fighting jets overhead. Finally, dinner on the terrace, sipping wine and gazing at the view. Only minor black mark - a failed barbecue on Wednesday evening. I blame the equipment. Still, the beef and lamb kebabs tasted just as good grilled in the oven.

Deviations from the norm - a trip into l'Argentière on Tuesday to re-provision at the market - a 15km drive, which took more than half an hour due to being forced to follow a small herd of cattle at a safe distance down the single track road as they moved pastures, and a tour bus trying to squeeze along a hairpin road with parked cars on one side and an aged driver who refused to back up behind us: the joys of driving in deepest France; a short driving tour on Thursday, visiting la Tour de Brison for a panoramic view and a winding drive through the gorges de la Beaume; and a few gentle thundery showers today preventing the swimming and sunbathing.

And so a lazy week ends, and it's back to Lyon tomorrow and work next week. We may be back...