California Girl in Oz

What a wonderful day.  Started off with family breakfast using the last of our delicious Sunday market finds, necessitating a trip to the supermarket.  But first, an excursion to St. Antoine l'Abbaye, 8 km from Montmiral. This door has pointed studs projecting from it's front...looks like Ross wasn't enjoying brushing against it.  A lovely St. Francis of Assisi statue in a beautiful niche.  Curved lanes lead off the main road, leading you astray.  Lichens and Kenilworth Ivy were so lovely on these old stone walls.  Incredible stained glass inside the Abbey.  This looks like a gatehouse, adjacent to the Abbey's home.  The Abbey is so huge, it's hard to get a photo that shows the scale.  After lunch, a stroll back to the car.  Ross and Greg in deep conversation...  Lucious stone walls all along the way to delight us.  Hearing the cooing of a dove, I looked up to see this fellow high above.  Great zoom on my Lumix camera.  Back

Off to the Sunday market in Romans-sur-Isere, where it was very hot and very popular.  Great fruit, veg, cheese, wine -- everything one could need.  The market runs up a couple of small streets right off the River Isere.  This ancient church was first built in the 800s, and has been extended and remodeled many times over the centuries.  Returning to Montmiral, we were invited to the property of friends of the owners of our villa to use their gorgeous swimming pool.  Grandson Thomas and his girlfriend Natalie prepare to plunge in...such bright sunshine they could hardly face the camera!  Now that's what I call an infinity pool!  Fun in the sun...

Arrived yesterday afternoon at La Chapoutiere in the tiny village of Montmiral, France.  Such a lovely, green area, though very hot on arrival yesterday.  Last night here was a huge thunderstorm with a lot of rain, which really cooled things down...we'll see what the day brings today! Here's La Chapotiere... This is a lovely outdoor room, open to the air but covered from sun and rain. Went for an early morning stroll in the village of Montmiral this morning...so beautiful and quiet.  No one was out and about yet... Lovely views abound from the one street of the tiny village. This is the church, L'eglise Saint-Christophe, first mentioned 1068 in the historical writings about the area  .  More lovely views of the local nut farms, a big cash crop for the area. And the village again.

Arrived in Geneva yesterday after leaving peaceful, picturesque Weggis.  So hot!  And so many people!  We were surprised by the fact that there are so few places to sit outside in the shade, near Lake Geneva, in comfort.  The sunshine was dazzling and boiling hot.  Eventually we found a shady parklike place for a cool drink and some sorbet, which helped.  Short visit today, then off to Montmiral. Ross looks pensive, as we prepare to take the ferry from Weggis back to Lucerne, and then the train to Geneva.  As we waited for our ferry, this seaplane landed...what a surprise!  It taxied over and parked right by our hotel.  This old paddleboat ferry is the like the one we rode on the other day.  Fun to have one last glimpse as we were about to leave Weggis.  And then...another seaplane landed.  Finally on our ferry for Lucerne, beautiful scenery was everywhere as we journeyed along. Lovely chateau on the hillside, with vineyards all around.  Here's the spot we fi