Typically French

Warning: French keyboards are set out differently; I am struggling with my typing so pleqse excuse typos.

As anticipated, Saturday involved a visit to the Museum of the Middle Ages (j'adore! So much geeky Naomi stuff!), followed by a trip to a chateau for a picnic. We WERE aiming for Chateau Chantilly, but it was very complicated, so we gave up... Ended up at Chateau Vincennes, not so far away, and probably not so beautiful, but enor,ous. I found it interesting as it gave me an idea of how castles would actually have housed villages. This is how villages originally were in England, and why you occassionally co,e across castles in the middle of towns... sorry, nerding out, I think.

Somehow, the suggestions arose that it was good petanque weather, and so a game was arranged for Sunday... I was now heading to Bordeaux in the afternoon! Apparently petanque is VERY French. I had no idea what it was, but hey, when in Rome... er, Paris... Lise and I went home to make beef bourgignon for pre-petanque feasting, and then had our very yummy crepe dinner. Mmmm

Well, petanque, the game; sort of like lawn bowls, you are aiming to get your ball closest to the cournichon (?). And the verdict; SO MUCH FUN! We played with Jacques' friend Antoine, and Lisa and I sort of got the hang of it... or we fluked our way through.Either possible. Anyway, Jacques and Lisa took the first tournament, and midway through the revenge round we realised I had to run for my train! So Lisa advises that Jacques is very keen for a rematch on my return to Paris! Lisa and I are considering getting a petanque set...

Now I'm in Bordeaux. Spent last night talking to an Aussie girl who insists I am the first person she's met in France who speaks English. Spent today sitting in the public gardens chilling out, mostly; my week in the provences will be much slower paced than Paris, as less sights and demands on my time. Tomorrow I am doing a walking tour and visiting the museum of Aquitaine; the next day a tour to a winery and a medieval village- I just can't seem to get enough of them!

Keep emailing and commenting- it's so good to hear from you all!