Le Pique-nique chez les Vignerons Indépendants...a good, if rather hot, day out.

Yesterday we spent the day over in Chançay in the heart of the Vouvray wine making country at the 'Domain Paris Père et fils' for a picnic hosted by the family - an event organised by our friend Gail. The concept is simple enough, you bring your own picnic and the winegrowers warmly open the doors of their estates to welcome you and provide the wines to accompany your meal in a very convivial atmosphere.

The day started with a greeting from Guillaume Paris (the 'fils') plus a coffee & cake! Once all the participants had assembled he led us up into his family's vineyards.

The idea is to give you some history of the family and introduce you to the many aspects of 'viniculture', or winegrowing. We have done these walks now many time so the walk, interesting as it was, proved a wee bit uncomfortable in the 30+ degree heat. Made bearable by the company of friends old and new.

Don't mind admitting that after around 4km in that heat the venue for lunch was on the horizon was a most welcome sight!

Our hosts were very generous with their wine and aperos and the groups picnic contributions were of the usual high quality. Unlike some years their stock was depleted somewhat by purchases from our group to remind us of another successful 'Pique-nique chez les Vignerons'.

One day, two fetes...

Yesterday we headed over with friends to the premier  'V'Art Festival in the lovely house and gardens of 'Les Viollieres' just outside Bossay-sur-Claise. On display were paintings by Charlotte, the owner of the house plus art in the form metal sculptures, glasswork, silks and specialist photo exhibits by local artists. The visit ended with music from 'Mistiti' who gave us a rendition of classic Edith Piaf songs.

You can check out the artists' work here.

After our visit we headed over to La Roche-Posay to their  Festival of Folk Arts and Traditions where everyone hid in the shade away from the sun 30+ degree temperatures - except for the dancers who were dressed in traditional costumes from their particular region who must have been sweltering.

The big surprise for us was a group of Scottish pipers and drummer.

For us it highlights how this part of France has so much to offer.

Awaiting dinner guests...

We had our first alfresco dinner last night with the arrival of the current high temperature making for a very pleasant evening with friends well into the night. This could be your experience.

Hard labour!

This image came up as a memory on Facebook from 2014 - a project I did for Miki the owner of 'Le Bourg', the property we managed for her in Barrou.

From this (above) I built the two terrace walls and made a set of safe steps down to the bottom garden.

I can't remember how many buckets of concrete I had to carry to create those steps but I remember feeling delighted when I finished!

 I certainly would not be able for it now!

Get out and smell the roses!...

 You could visit the rose garden in the public gardens in Descartes which looked and smelt beautiful this morning. 

Back to Blue...

 A photo of our neighbour today under a clear blue sky here in La Guerche.

Back to April Paris visit day 2, part III - a visit to the enchanting Musée des Arts Forains.

On our visit to Paris we decided to check out a museum that had been on my radar for a while now - Musée des Arts Forains. So after a coffee break and short walk around Bercy Village we stepped into a whimsical, glittering world where time literally seems to spin backwards.

As soon as we walked under the arched entrance and into the courtyard, the outdoor 'Théâtre de Verdure' between the rows of pavilions, where we met up with our guide (*French), we knew we were going to enjoy the experience.

The museum is housed within beautifully restored former19th-century wine warehouses of Bercy.

After a brief introduction we were led into the museum proper.

This magical place brings back to life the golden age of fairs, carnivals, and Belle Époque entertainment. Here, antique carousels, mechanical barrel organs, mirrored halls, painted backdrops, and vintage fairground attractions create an immersive experience that feels more like stepping onto an enchanted film set than visiting a traditional museum.

Instead of silent displays behind glass, visitors wander freely among the treasures. The knowledgeable guide brought the collection to life with lively demonstrations - cranking up the organs, spinning the carousels, and sharing fascinating stories behind these beautifully preserved pieces of popular entertainment from the late 1800s and early 1900s.

It’s pure joy for both adults and children alike, a joyful, nostalgic escape into a bygone era of wonder and spectacle.

The numbers are restricted so as to allow everyone to join in with the accessible rides and games. You had the chance to play the classic derby horse racing game (we lost) and to ride the beautifully restored carousels.

 When we entered the large ballroom (?), where Hooghuys' (Belgian) street organ sits, as soon as the music started up our fellow French visitors all started to dance and we joined in - now I wonder had it been the English tour would this have happened? Lovely moment!

Then it was into the 'Salons Vénitiens' where mechanical puppets (automatons) dressed in Venetian costume gave an opera performances from balconies high above us.

The final ride of the tour was on an original velocipede carousel dating from 1897 (one of the oldest in the world) where the riders propel themselves around by pedal-power. We left that to the young'uns as it went really fast with even some of the youngsters having to lift their feet of the pedals! 

We left with big smiles on our faces and the fact that we had a French *guide did not take anything away from the experience,we would highly recommend a visit here. Book a morning visit followed by lunch in Bercy village and then take a walk through the Parc de Bercy,the makings of a lovely day out!

Les Pavillons de Bercy - Musée des Arts Forains