May 5th
I woke up for the first time in darkness. The urgency to use the restroom forced me outside, where amidst an otherwise quiet soundscape, I heard the solitary hoot of an owl (I believe it was a tawny owl). I returned to my sleeping position, waking up quite conveniently around ten o’clock. Sometimes you just need to sleep! Properly!
The hosts had been busy for a while already, preparing everything. After breakfast, we discussed our options for traveling to Antibes to see Rasmus. This unexpected repair job on Tellu brought some unwelcome complications and additional expenses. Installing a new charger and battery here also costs quite a bit. We found a reasonably priced rental car and an Airbnb apartment in Antibes as well. So, tomorrow, off to the car rental agency.
Around noon, we prepared lunch together. I got a pleasant task: frying some trout we bought yesterday from a local shop. It was good quality fish – not quite like wild-caught, but excellent for farmed fish. They were just the right size for a serving. Salt and lemon for seasoning, and butter in the pan under the fish. The diners had no complaints.
In the afternoon, the hosts went cycling, and so did we. We drove to a neighboring village to see the medieval town with its fountains. At the same time, we took a closer look at the surroundings. The cost of services and food here is clearly higher than in Spain. Portugal has been the cheapest country to travel in so far. Here, as in Spain, siesta is siesta for everyone except supermarket staff. Shops close at 12 and reopen at 14. There’s plenty of time in the two-hour lunch break for eating and a little nap. A glass or two of wine with food nicely aids in a small snooze.
So, we drove to the village of Pernes-les-Fontaines to see the Sunday afternoon in the medieval town. True to its name, there were numerous fountains and very narrow streets perfect for cycling. The open restaurants were few and far between. So, we headed back to Velleron to a restaurant recommended on the internet, which, according to our information, should have been open. There was a rather large group of locals enjoying drinks. When we asked about their kitchen offerings, we found out that the kitchen was already closed. So, no solid food available. Across the street was a small Vietnamese take-away restaurant decorated with a few tables and chairs. At around six o’clock, hunger led us to choose something to eat from their menu. We were greatly pleased to receive delicious dishes. First-class food at half the price compared to other restaurants. We could go there again for a meal!
With full stomachs, we cycled back to Auli’s home. We packed our stuff for tomorrow’s departure, did some more research on driving routes to both Antibes and Switzerland. This week’s delay shortens our trip by one Northern Italy and Croatia. By the beginning of June, when we should be in Britain, the days on the calendar are running out, and we want to avoid rushing!