We have had a busy and fun week! On Monday evening, we went to Lundi Nuit. We had neighbors Claudie and Lionel for dinner on Tuesday. I walked with Annie on Wednesday morning in La Romieu, through fields of sunflowers. We met friends Christine and Maurice for lunch on Wednesday at Chez Vous in Saint-Puy. On Thursday, we went with friends Kate and Olivier to L’Auberge du Prieure (our favorite restaurant!) for lunch in Moirax. In the evening, we went to a Spanish and Argentinian guitar and voice concert at Chateau de Lavardens. I am going to Lectoure’s Friday market this morning. Life is good!
We went to Lundi Nuit and saw friends Deirdre and Abby at Chez Yann’s. They saved chairs for us while we picked up sandwiches for supper. We ate on the street with glasses of wine, while hundreds, maybe thousands of people roamed Rue Nationale. We saw several friends, had ice cream, and enjoyed the drum corp in two different places along the Rue. Lundi Nuit is always special!
We rode with Deirdre and Abby, in Deirdre’s convertible through the countryside, stopping amidst fields of cut wheat, to an oasis of cut grass and Vladimir’s table, for a picnic. Vladimir loved picnics and Deirdre bought and erected the table in his memory. Each of us brought food and drinks to share and we lingered in the beauty and calm of the place, missing Vladimir, and grateful for the moment.
I saw this on TheDiscoverer.com. We think Tucson is pretty special too! We like it for different reasons than those cited in the article… it’s multicultural population; myriad restaurant choices; views of mountains in every direction; incredibly sunny and perfect days in late fall, winter, and early spring; the 130+ mile dedicated bike and walking path with no cars; it’s early history with Native Americans living along the river 3000-4000 years ago and forward and the Spaniards, and other Europeans that came in the 1500’s and 1600’s; University of Arizona’s events and museums; the choice to keep natural vegetation in so much of the city and surrounding area - saguaros, barrel cactus, palo verde trees…; fresh fruits and vegetables coming from California and Mexico - we eat fresh and well! There is so much more! We are grateful to have chosen Tucson as home.
TIME magazine recently listed Tucson on its World’s Greatest Places 2023 ranking, calling it the “Soul of the Sonoran Desert.” While it was once a rough Wild West down, only drawing visitors for its proximity to Saguaro National Park, an increasing number of people have been discovering the delights of this great city.
Located a little over 110 miles southeast of Phoenix, Tucson offers everything from colorful adobe neighborhoods and hip boutique hotels to innovative eateries, a co-op that’s crunchier than any Whole Foods, and even a local bike shop that becomes a space for hosting Women, Transgender, and Femme workshops on Mondays. It’s easy to find sustainably grown, locally sourced seasonal food all year round, with farmers’ markets and farm stands throughout the area.
If it is Monday night in July and August, it is Lundi Nuit in Lectoure. Papa and I had a light supper of crepe for Papa and galette for me in Bastion Park under the trees. We walked down Rue Nationale and I got a cup of citron glace. Los Pagayos bandas played all evening, up and down the street. It was a festive evening!
On Sunday evening, we went to the annual Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse performance. This was our fourth year attending, and the concert was sold out. The conductor, Elias Grandy, was animated through the whole concert and working from memory, without musical scores. It was the best concert we have been to in the Cathédrale! Très excellente !
Last evening, we went to the Terropera production of Une Nuit à Broadway, performed in the courtyard of Chateau de Terraube. Led by David Levi on piano, four singers performed a dozen and a half songs from Broadway shows, with French translation in the program. It was a delightful evening in an ancient setting. Chateau de Terraube was built in the 1200’s for the Galard family and they continue to maintain ownership.
Stage 12 of 2025 Tour de France started in Auch yesterday, 17 July. The race continued from Auch south to the Pyrenees. Papa and I decided to watch from the village of Mirande. We arrived early and walked about the village, then found a spot I liked for taking photos. From 3 hours prior to the bikers arriving in Mirande, about 25 minutes by bike south of Auch, the roads were closed and there was a constant stream of officials and sponsor vehicles. At noon, there was a parade of sponsor vehicles, similar to floats, with sponsors throwing hats and food and other things from their vehicles. A young boy was on the street below us with a big box and the sponsors were throwing things directly into the box. They filled it up! By 1:15, helicopters appeared and then cars with bikes on top started streaming past, until 1:45 when gendarmes on motorcycles led the Tour de France peloton. It passed in seconds and there was a second peloton, and finally a lone rider, with official vehicles and motorcycles all around. The riders all passed within 2 minutes! Very exciting!
We drove home from Mirande on country roads. It was beautiful! We had a good day!
