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- It is easier to find a good access point for the internet around here than actually writing anything intelligent after some 115 km on the bike. We finally made it to St. Emilion. You may know that this is one of the finest places on earth to make wine (they say) and this medieval beauty, fully packed with one wine shop after the other sits on top of a little hill. When we arrived, after 115 km on the bike in something like 30°C, we were desperately looking for water… which wasn’t easy. It turned out that St. Emilion is somewhat wine oriented and leaves the water business to the hotels. Here, we bought our 2 liters for 4 $US….each.
- But it is great to be here. France turned out to be exactly what I expected it to be: With lots of French people speaking French and and living a decent life in lovely houses or chateaux… and believe me: There are a lot of these chateaux around here. A roof over the walls, more than two windows, some wineyards close by: Et voila….you call it Chateaux de je ne sais pas quoi… But then: Wine is THE product of this region and so far we were not disappointed.
- Yesterday, we drove from Bordeaux to the Atlantik coast, 80 km, through a scented scenery that I would like to describe here. It is truly magic and was the sensual highlight so far. We drove for some 50 kms through pine forrests that smelled in the noon sun like… a true perfume. I was associating and came up with something like a hint cardamon for this spicy touch, lots of cistus and ambrein, ambergris maybe (I was constantly looking for the Cistus ladaniferus bush, but never saw one)….the air was really loaded with the scent of cistus, and then of course a warm, woody pine scent,dry and wet at the same time,wonderful! In the back I think one could use some Tolu balm to bring in the sweetness, and rounded softness of this scent. I loved it so much and it was like biking through a perfumer’s dream landscape.
- Finally arrived close to the Atlantik sea, we move on to do a little swimming. The sea was beautiful, lots of almost white sand, and great waves. I love the sea, its smell, its wildness. Yesterday, however, this love was somewhat challenged. I always imagined what it must be like to be safed by a Baywatch guy; yesterday I had the pleasure and must tell you…it is just pathetic. Everybody is staring at you when you finally have sand under your feet again and your lungs fill with what they are supposed to get. Well, somehow… I do not know how, I just couldn’t get back to the sand on my own, and although I was not far away, I realized that there is no reason to worry about my liver in the coming days but rather my survival the next five minutes.
- Of course, the very moment in the Atlantik, trying desperately to get some air, the thinking is not that structured… more like… help, please. Anyone. Now.
Well, Mr. unknown and later Mr Baywatch safed me and Mr. beautiful asked me nice questions like how much water I have drunk (a lot), how much water I have aspirated (not that much , but still… sufficient to make me cough for a while) and so on…. he was nice enough not to tell me that with 80 km in your legs you shouldn’t engage in too much Atlantik activities.
- Thus, I am happy that the sea is not my grave and look forward to this evening’s St. Emilion, not worrying about my liver anymore… life is just too much build on random issues that happen truly by chance…why bother?… hehehe… and I am still considering asking for a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon… but I am not sure the French would appreciate this funny line.
Greetings from St. Emilion.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 24th, 2006 at 6:49 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. Your comment is highly welcome, please join the discussion!