Wow - another amazing village.

Monday 2nd June

Our last day here in Pont de Beauvoisin and we aimed for a relaxing day. Monday was market day so we wandered down to the market. Very small market, a couple of fruit and veg stalls, couple of clothes stalls, one cheese place, and a place for eggs - and chooks if you wanted to grow your own. It surprises us that you can buy eggs at these stalls by the single egg - don't know if that is possible at home. 

Morning tea at the local bakery where the owner speaks quite good English and is keen for a chat with us. A few groceries for the next few days, then the plan was pizza at the place attached to the supermarket - but he must have slept in as he didn't open in time for us. Never mind! I have more front than Myers and went back to the place that wouldn't serve us one pizza to share the other day, and bought one to take away. Of course, when we came back past the other place, he was open. Murphy's law. 

A brief bit about our language skills. I seem to be managing to make conversation when needed. If I can't think of the words, then I think of another way to say what I want. We had what I thought of as a really funny word the other day. Rob was trying to tell someone that on a previous trip we had been to Annecy. So he used the word 'previousment' - I don't think so I said. I guess he had part of the word right eg lentement (slowly), rapidement (quickly), simplement (simply), doucement (softly), etc. I'm still laughing every time I hear another word ending -ment. BTW it is precedement. 

Tuesday 3rd June 

Time to move on - closer to the mountains. We had a full day to fill before we were due at our apartment in Grenoble so decided to go via the beautiful village of Saint-Antoine l'Abbaye. Well, first sight of this village was just WOW! We came around a corner, and there was the abbey in front of us. Finding our way in to the parking area was interesting - we figured if we followed that bus, he knew where he was going. Well, he probably did, but it wasn't where we wanted to go. So with a bit of help from Dora (who wasn't up on one way streets) we found the free car park. Picked up the village map at the office de tourisme and started to walk. This village and abbey was amazing. After a few ho hum villages, out faith in our books was restored. 

The beautiful tiled roof of the church.
This sort of roof tiling seems to be more popular in this part of France.

The old wooden gates in one of the original entrances to the village.
This was originally set up as a Benedictine abbey and is said to contain the purported relics of Anthony the Great from the 11th century.

Dog of the day.

There was some beautiful stained glass in the church.

Another magnificent church organ.

Have a look at this roof tiling - wonder if it leaks.

This was a small grouping of how they built their homes close together (15th century)
- separated by narrow pathways. 

The church is undergoing restoration - they have done most of the archway on the left,
but still have a huge job to do with the rest of the church.

Old wooden doorway at the top of flight of stairs leading into the abbey.

These are original frescoes in the church, from around 1200s.

One of the goulets (half covered narrow lanes) linking the houses.

This was the WOW view of the abbey as we came around a corner into the village.

The front door area has been mostly restored.

Onwards to Grenoble with a stop for a late, long, leisurely lunch about 1/2 hour from our accommodation. 

Lunch - boeuf bourguignon. Had to check it didn't have mushrooms -
I make mine at home with mushrooms.

Heading into the mountains - rocky, craggy peaks everywhere.
Some snow, but Grenoble is not at a great elevation.

This is the first accommodation that hasn't been as advertised - entire unit on ground floor and wheelchair accessible! Not so! We will manage but thankfully the bathroom is on the same level as the bedroom.