Un grand message....

"Aux armes, citoyennes..."

Zizou, before the incident...

Dinner while we waited...

Random but beautiful field of wild flowers...

"Our" chateau...that's me on the balcony.

Relaxing at the pool, looking up (past my toes) to the chateau.

Bonjour!

First, a small report on the world cup...it was crazy, to say the least, and at times a bit overwhelming for these two Americans...we were told by the folks at the chateau where we were staying that the nearest big city, Tours, would have a big-screen showing, so we headed out there about an hour before the game. The crowd was gathered already and got bigger and bigger....lots of air horns, French flags painted on faces, and of course real flags on cars and being carried and waved in the air. I took a movie of the singing of the national anthem, complete with fists jammed in the air at the call to arms part (aux armes, citoyennes, formez vos battaillons...) Yikes!

The roar was deafening whenever Zidane did anything, (including shots of him just standing), and his goal sent the place over the top. Interestingly, though there was booing and bird-flipping at the Italians, it wasn't too out of control. One brave sould in the crowd was even waving an Italian flag. Then, when the infamous head-butting happened, the crowd applauded, though a bit subdued. The penalty kicks were agonizing....cheering, then hands on heads, then cheering, then...silence. Tears. Drooping flags. Then, at the very end, when the team was shown for nearly the last time, big applause. The French press is saying that while Zidane should never have done that, it was because Materazzi called him a terrorist and accused his Algerian father of collaborating with the French, using the term "harki". In any case, a very dramatic evening.

In non-sports news....we stayed at a lovely old chateau for just one night. It had suits of armor, tennis court, pool, library, and a lovely garden. We could barely afford to stay there, and thus couldn't eat dinner or the full breakfast available (just eggs and toast for us, please!), but it was a nice treat nonetheless.

We're now in a lovely little place with bungalows and a pool just above the very quaint town of Sarlat...dinner and breakfast are included in the price of the room, so last night we had white asparagus, roasted lamb, cheese course, and pear clafoutis. A great meal by our standards, but it seems to everyone else there to be tres normale. We seem to be the only Americans, which is strange for a Rick Steves recommended place.

Tomorrow we are on a quest to see the Cro-Magnon cave paintings...until then,
E

ps - finally, pictures!