This used to be a blog about archaeology.

This used to be a blog about the dig where I work in Egypt but in recent times it's been much more about our summers in France. However, I am a very proud Auntie today as my godson and de facto nephew Dan has been awarded a place to study at Lampeter and being a sensible type he is going to study ARCHAEOLOGY! Hooray.

I thought I'd repossess the blog for archaeology just this one time and offer Dan and anyone else reading, a list of things which are very rarely found by archaeologists.

10-Dinosaur Bones

9-Mummies (errr actually as an Egyptologist...)

8-Precious Jewelry

7-Alien Artifacts

6-Treasure Chests

5-The Lost Tribes of Israel

4-Whole Pots (who wants whole ones?)

3-Secret Tunnels

2-Gold

1-A Steady Job!!!

Ha ha I've got a steady job although admittedly not as an archaeologist, however, I've always managed to keep involved and I'm really proud that Dan has chosen a similar path. Mind you he is interested in Romans and what have they ever done for us??

Things to be found in the country

Why is everywhere always up hill? At least it's picturesque.

A butterfly with amazing camouflage

Wild honeysuckle

I think these might be cherries but we didn't eat them just in case.

A stone water cistern with very interesting corbelling (honestly)

Wouldn't mind living here




This is a bit more in our price range however. A shepherds hut, look at that amazing drystone construction! No mortar in sight. (And no that isn't the drystone shepherd).

These little shelters are all over the place to shelter the men who had to be out on the hills in all weather. Some are even tucked into the construction of walls. I've seen stone age dwelling built exactly like this. Hey ethnoarchaeology...get a grip girl you're on holiday.

While the chutney bubbles, the cats zizz and John reads the local paper dictionary in hand I'm about to blog again, it must be a record, well I need something to distract me from the vinegar fumes and the fact that I have managed to choose the hottest day of the year so far to make my annual batch of chutney. It is 8pm and still too hot to open the windows. Good thing we joined the cats for a zizz earlier. I'm glad I decided to attack the wisteria whilst it was cool this morning.

I've mentioned our walks which take us all over the region and allow us to get up close and personal with the wildlife and the countryside. Well the most recent one took us the the valley of the river Lot and we had a truly beautiful walk during which we encountered all kinds of fascinating things including a very shy deer who bounded off before we could photograph it. This is really just to share some of the things we saw. Better go, I can hear the chutney making ominous noises!

Millau pictures for your delectation

I forgot to say that the height of the highest pylon makes the viaduct taller than the Eiffel Tower! There is a vid of the boat ride on my FB page too

Millau Viaduct

On Tuesday we had a marathon day out to go and see the viaduct at Millau. I've been wanting to do this for ages and at last we had the chance. This viaduct is a road bridge which forms part of the A 75 motorway but it is not just any old bridge oh dear me no. Designed by the French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster, it is the tallest bridge in the world, with one mast's summit at 343.0 metres (1,125 ft). It opened in December 2004 and you can see it by linking to the webcam http://www.leviaducdemillau.com/english/webcam.html

It costs €7.90 to cross and it is well known for being super busy during the holiday season. Last weekend was one of the busiest in the French calendar as everyone began to go home and they calculated that about 60,000 cars crossed it last Saturday alone.

I'm not big on numbers but here are some fairly staggering statistics:
2,460 m (8,071 ft): total length of the roadway.
7: number of piers
77 m (253 ft): height of Pier 7, the shortest
343 m (1,125 ft): height of Pier 2, the tallest (245 m/804 ft at the roadway's level)
87 m (285 ft): height of a mast
154: number of shrouds
270 m (886 ft): average height of the roadway
4.20 m (13 ft 9 in): thickness of the roadway
32.05 m (105 ft 2 in): width of the roadway
85,000 m3 (111,000 cu yd): total volume of concrete used
290,000 metric tons (320,000 short tons): total weight of the bridge
10,000–25,000 vehicles: estimated daily traffic
20 km (12 mi): horizontal radius of curvature of the road deck

It all makes for a huge impression on the viewer. We not only went over it but also under it by road and then, very excitingly by boat on the river Tarn thanks to Les Bateliers Du Viaduct. Add to that a picnic lunch under a convenient tree, with a good view of the viaduct and the presence of a friendly and hopeful local dog and you have the makings of a spiffing day out which is exactly what we had. I'm going to post pictures separately so please move onto the following post.

Memories

Just a mini blog before the marathon tale of going to Millau. We drove a long away all the way across the department of the Aveyron on Tuesday to go and see the spectacular Millau viaduct. On the way I saw something that I had not seen for years, probably not since I was a child visiting France with my mum and dad, and that thing was a poster for a wine called Vin Fou made by a winery called Henri Maire.

The posters were very distinctive with red and green lettering and they all said Vin Fou (meaning crazy wine). Some them then said Henri Maire the name of the winemaker (the Henri seems to vanished here, couldn't find a better pic sorry. Others said Oh je l'aime which means Oh I like it, the wine that is... When I was little these posters were everywhere and we used to play a car game guessing which one it would be. If you got it right you got points and you got more points for an Oh je l'aime because they were less common.

As far as I know my mum and dad had been spotting the posters since they first came to France on a tandem in 1948! I was really excited to see an extremely rare Vin Fou as we returned home on Tuesday and immediately reverted to being 5, screaming, "Vin Fou, Henri Maire" at the top of my lungs to the consternation of John Mike and Sue. Anyway once they understood, photos were taken for your delight and I was thrilled to find that Henri Maire is still going and still producing Vin Fou in the Jura region. http://www.henri-maire.fr/accueil/

So I think a little purchase might just be coming on in honour of two outstanding parents who gave me more than I could ever thank them for, without me even realising it.

Sir Lunchalot

We have just waved good bye to our last wave of guests the lovely Mike and Sue (sniff) and now we are peaceful and there is time to slob on the sofa and blog. We have had a lovely time going off here there and everywhere and eating lunch at every possible opportunity. We took Mike and Sue to lunch the moment their plane touched down, then had lunch in Albi, and Septfonds and two picnics one at Millau and the other near Rodez it's a tough life, no wonder John calls himself Sir Lunchalot.

After lunch in Salles La Source we decided to have a walk so off we went to look at the wonderful Mediaeval village (almost inevitably) at the top of the hill. It certainly helped the lunch to go down and there was a certain amount of horsing around involving John, that gentle, affable soul, trying to kick me on the bottom. This is not as bad as it sound as he has such long legs that he can do it quite easily whilst walking along side me just by bending his knee up and to the side. I thought his knees were supposed to be dodgy but he seems to manage. In order to retaliate which of course is de rigeur, I have to give a little jump which looks pretty stupid especially from behind. Anyway the resulting photos are amusing (thank you Sue), but, I realise, they do actually show yours truly (even if it is from the back) which is a rare occurrence and wonder of wonders I am not wearing black AT ALL! Mike and John also appear to be pulling some funny faces although we are not sure why. Sue was probably deciding to buy one of the many houses which she identified as having potential and Mike and John are being entertained by the potential cost, although probably for different reasons!

Random jottings from Verfeil

Hello out there I'm blogging a bit to record what has been happening although to be honest the answer is not a lot. On Wednesday we had a great walk in the department of the Lot. 5.5 km most of which seemed to be up hill! I can never understand why a walk that begins by going uphill can also manage to go up hill almost all the way and then end by yes, you've guessd it going uphill. Grrrr. We ended up by looking at the outside of the Chateau de Cenervieres which had a gratifying and requisite number of pepper pot towers making it look like a child's drawing of a castle.

On Thursday we headed for Rodez and collected our friends Sue and Mike who arrived just in time for lunch! We took the off to Salles La Source where the service was much faster and we ate a yummy lunch finishing off with a rare treat for me... milk and white chocolate mousse which was the best ever honestly. We've mostly done our fave touristy things like Cordes and the market, St Antonin and today we are going to Caussade then to Septfonds for lunch. They have this amazing lunchtime deal at Septfonds, three courses and wine included for €15. The cooking is thoughtful and a bit unusual with a strong Moroccan influence and we always love going there.

Aside from this there isn't much to report apart from having to post a recorded delivery letter to the UK which to our horror cost €44. We could have had lunch for that much!!! John is writing, Amelie's paws are on the mend and we think her allergy is to packet cat food so they are both back on tuna! I am covered in teeth marks from dosing her, and Spike thinks we are all a bit strange.