It is Sunday and I have been to the town market this morning. A lot of the market was cheap foreign tat. I looked for some presents for the kids but couldn’t find much. Plenty of ladies clothes and just about any sort of food but no real good French souvenirs.
The town is called Vinon sur Verdon. Of course, Vinon on the Verdon river. The weather has been pretty hot which can sometimes lead to very strong thunderstorms in the evening. Luckily it isn’t like Australia and the nights are cool.
As there wasn’t a huge lot of interest in the Market I walked up to the old part of the village. There is a very summery feel and I have a very strong impression of the place being like Quorn. I know that sounds a bit weird, but the older part of town has no cars (the streets are too small) and all the buildings are stone but haven’t been looked after for a few years. I even found a window which had been closed up with flattened oil drums. But everything is expensive. I was looking at a real estate office and the cheapest place I found was 140 000 Euros. It was a combined lounge/kitchen, a bedroom and a small garage. No mention of a bathroom and I suspect it might not have had one in the flat itself. Normal small houses are 300 000 E.
Showing posts with label Vinon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vinon. Show all posts
Monday, July 24, 2006
Saturday, July 22, 2006
21/7/2006 - A bit more Vinon
It is quite hot here. Mid 30's today and forecast high 30's tomorrow. But it cools down at night so it is not too bad.
It doesn't get dark till about 9:30 at night so it is not like when I was in France last year. This area is also very dry.
I went for a fly yesterday near the mountains and saw the Grand Canyon of the Verdon. It flows into Lake Sainte Croix. There are lots of small villages built on the cliffs in the area. The Verdon river runs down a valley to where the aerodrome is. There are lots of normal (newish) towns in the valley. The village near the airfield is almost all new houses built for tourists but Mandy and Peter are staying in a bed and breakfast which is converted old stone farm buildings. Their place is called le Clappe.
It doesn't get dark till about 9:30 at night so it is not like when I was in France last year. This area is also very dry.
I went for a fly yesterday near the mountains and saw the Grand Canyon of the Verdon. It flows into Lake Sainte Croix. There are lots of small villages built on the cliffs in the area. The Verdon river runs down a valley to where the aerodrome is. There are lots of normal (newish) towns in the valley. The village near the airfield is almost all new houses built for tourists but Mandy and Peter are staying in a bed and breakfast which is converted old stone farm buildings. Their place is called le Clappe.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
18/7/2006 - Where I have been lately
I spent some interesting time in Freiburg including a trip to the hills where I went on the Sielbahn. When I got to the top of the hills there was a long walk to an observation tower. I also went into some old mine tunnels. When I came out of the tunnels it was raining and the rain and thunderstorms seemed to follow me always.
On Sunday, I took the train from Freiburg to Vinon. I actually had to get 6 trains (one by accident!). On the very first train to Basel I got off at the train station Basel BBF which is the German Basel, Not the Swiss Basel which was 5 km away where I should have been!!! Luckily I approached the train driver of my last train who had just got off. He arranged to put me on another (empty) train which was just leaving for the next station so I did not miss out after all. I then caught another 3 trains to Marseilles which was hot, dry and crowded.
It seemed to be full of people just waiting and so I became one of them. I was then able to ring up the Australians at Vinon and got directions to the nearby town of Manosque. Another train to catch so I rejoined the waiting people. Eventually after that last ride I got to Vinon at 18:45. I had left Freiburg at 05:15.
Yesterday (Monday) was a public holiday in France. I went to the supermarket with some of the other Australians. After we got back the gliders were finishing, in the middle of one of the worst thunderstorms I have seen for a long time. Peter Temple (one of the two Australian Pilots here) landed on the airfield in a place where wheat had recently been grown. He could not see anything at all and with 65 knots indicated on his airspeed nearly stalled onto the ground as he was so wet! No one saw him land as it was raining so hard. Other gliders landed later in big pools of water which sprayed up so much it was not possible to see the rear of the glider.
Water flooded out many tents. So my first impressions of France are somewhat mixed. When it is not a thunderstorm it is quite warm and dry, much like Australia. The competition has been cancelled for today as more (and worse, how could it be?) thunderstorms are expected. It was very lucky yesterday no gliders were damaged or pilots hurt. One pilot has been hurt in the competition so far. The New Zealand pilot has gone to hospital for surgery today. He outlanded on Sunday and when he saw his crew he was so happy he ran towards them, slipped and burst his Achilles tendon. Very dangerous gliding competition! I do not know what the the other Australians will do today, I will join them probably.
I also have arranged for a flight with the tow pilots here.
On Sunday, I took the train from Freiburg to Vinon. I actually had to get 6 trains (one by accident!). On the very first train to Basel I got off at the train station Basel BBF which is the German Basel, Not the Swiss Basel which was 5 km away where I should have been!!! Luckily I approached the train driver of my last train who had just got off. He arranged to put me on another (empty) train which was just leaving for the next station so I did not miss out after all. I then caught another 3 trains to Marseilles which was hot, dry and crowded.
It seemed to be full of people just waiting and so I became one of them. I was then able to ring up the Australians at Vinon and got directions to the nearby town of Manosque. Another train to catch so I rejoined the waiting people. Eventually after that last ride I got to Vinon at 18:45. I had left Freiburg at 05:15.
Yesterday (Monday) was a public holiday in France. I went to the supermarket with some of the other Australians. After we got back the gliders were finishing, in the middle of one of the worst thunderstorms I have seen for a long time. Peter Temple (one of the two Australian Pilots here) landed on the airfield in a place where wheat had recently been grown. He could not see anything at all and with 65 knots indicated on his airspeed nearly stalled onto the ground as he was so wet! No one saw him land as it was raining so hard. Other gliders landed later in big pools of water which sprayed up so much it was not possible to see the rear of the glider.
Water flooded out many tents. So my first impressions of France are somewhat mixed. When it is not a thunderstorm it is quite warm and dry, much like Australia. The competition has been cancelled for today as more (and worse, how could it be?) thunderstorms are expected. It was very lucky yesterday no gliders were damaged or pilots hurt. One pilot has been hurt in the competition so far. The New Zealand pilot has gone to hospital for surgery today. He outlanded on Sunday and when he saw his crew he was so happy he ran towards them, slipped and burst his Achilles tendon. Very dangerous gliding competition! I do not know what the the other Australians will do today, I will join them probably.
I also have arranged for a flight with the tow pilots here.
Monday, July 17, 2006
16/7/2006 - Arrive in Vinon
I am in France today, this is the first morning. I am sitting in front of a hangar in the sun eating a chocolate croisson and drinking hot chocolate and orange juice. I arrived yesterday evening after traveling 9.5 hours on 5 trains from Germany (Freiburg), Basel (Switzerland), Lyons, Marseilles, Aix-en-Provence and now here. Vonon sur Verdon
Had tea in a french seafood restaurant last night with 8 other Aussies. Two of us had Salat Paysanne, 6 had salat kebab and one lady ordered what turned out to be octopus and she nearly screamed when it arrived in front of her. Luckily one of the blokes was willing to swap his kebab salat with her.
Had tea in a french seafood restaurant last night with 8 other Aussies. Two of us had Salat Paysanne, 6 had salat kebab and one lady ordered what turned out to be octopus and she nearly screamed when it arrived in front of her. Luckily one of the blokes was willing to swap his kebab salat with her.
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