Sara and Robyn say “Bonjour”

June 28: Biot

Today started with the customary french breakfast, as well as some French lessons from Nicky.

(Sally, is there anything you recognise on the table? Funny, I used Nicky’s downstairs toilet yesterday, and lo and behold, the soap container was a little cat plate that you picked up for Nicky at that underground restaurant in Japan!).

It’s amazing that phrases like “quelle heure est-il”, “ouvre la Porte” “qu’est-ce que c’est”, ferme la fenetre” have all returned to my memory after high school french more than 50 years ago. But back then, I don’t recall us learning things like how to order a beer or coffee!

I had also forgotten that french words are male and female. Female words include strawberry, car, flower, table, chair . Male words are things like a fan, carpet, train, tree, truck. They now cater for transgender by using “iel” – a combination of “il” and “elle.”

Anyway Robyn has been trying to practise her french at every restaurant we visit. The waiters have been very patient because it takes many minutes to work out what words to use. At one restaurant, Robyn said to the waiter “YOU would like a croissant and coffee” rather than “ WE would like…..” . He thought it was very funny!

After breakfast, we visited the village of Biot which is about 10 minutes away from Nicky’s house. Set up on a hill (like so many of them are), we visited the church and the bell tower.

Now I know you’ve been missing the history stuff so here’s a little burst. The church was originally built in the 14th century, rebuilt in the 16th century and restored in 2013. During the 2013 restoration, fragments of frescos totally unknown until then were unearthed. The Chief architect at the time chose to leave the 16th century fragments as they were and not fill in the gaps because “one must consider that the restoration stops when the invention begins”!

Lots of cobblestoned streets and oleander in full bloom.

Had to stop for a coffee and beer (so Rob could practice her french)

Some interesting items lined the streets.

And I couldn’t resist taking a photo of this sign. It says “If your dog can’t do this, please pick it up!

And had to give the cats a chance to feature as well.

Home for lunch and a swim. And in the evening we returned to Biot for dinner at the Galerie des Arcades, which features in the french version of the Good Food Guide.
Delicious dinner – stuffed zucchini flowers, baby artichokes and eggplant done in rich tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese as entree, fish and lamb for main meal, and finished with citron tart and crème brûlée (Ang, you would have loved it…not).

The waiter wrote your order down the paper tablecloth!

Almost time to say au revoir😢