Lost immediately after exiting layby, but we
decide to stay on the road, even if it’s the wrong one, just because it’s so
beautiful. The views stretch for miles and as we descend to the valley floor we
stumble across the village of Marsonnay. A really pretty place and somewhere
that probably would have been somewhat safer to overnight than sketchy layby! Even
here, somewhere so small and frenchly delicate they are still totally set up
for camper vans, parking and services and everything. Nestled in amongst the
hills and vines as far as the eye can see, everything catered for, perfect. It
turns out that this mini paradise is part of the ‘Route des Grand Crus’, oh
life is so tough! We pootle along, slowly and happily, admiring the ancient
stone buildings around every corner and the chateaux on every hill. Our senses
are assaulted by the fertility of the land and the richness of the area. This
lusciousness is perfectly encapsulated by Beaune.
Beaune
We love Beaune! It’s beautiful, buzzy,
lively, fun, and dripping with wealth and opportunity. Despite all its bounties
it is down to earth and charming. Well… mostly charming, but more about that
later. We wander around and, as ever, are in search of wifi. Straight to the
tourist office where, rather surprisingly, we encounter a fine example of
Italian sign posting; upon exiting the tourist office we spy a signpost for
said tourist office pointing in totally the opposite direction! Our confusion
is eventually resolved by managing to learn that there are, in fact, two
tourist offices. Once again we curse poor signing, only to discover it is, as
always, down to our own ineptitude. Sigh. To console ourselves and to take
advantage of some free wifi, we head to the café Dix Carnot and order a
gloriously expensive of local white wine. When in Rome and all that! Very much
enjoyed both wine and café, despite some charmless man (charm fail 1) who
refused to budge an inch to let Noush sit down. We set Moo on him.(Stealthy dog
fart) Chair achieved.
An evening wander reveals that Beaune is just
as beautiful by night. Why do all French bars close so early?? Perhaps
everybody was at the rather peculiar Charlie Chaplin expo… a black and white
silent film screening in the town hall accompanied by your traditional mad
pianist with crazy hair. Love Beaune.
A perfect day in a perfect place, with a
shady and peaceful spot to sleep in. All is well in our world. Till bloody
Valentino Rossi decides to do a lap of town. Or 70. Beaune Moto GP has begun. The noisiest bike in Nato. Round
and round and round. Noise: 15 million decibels: maximum speed 35km/h. Perchance
to dream. Sigh.
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