Fabulous Friday!  We decided this was the day we were going on a bike ride.  We can't resist being outdoors on days like this!  We knew we couldn't ride the bikes in our little town because the roads are too steep, too narrow, and the cobblestones are slippery from years and years of being smoothed by traffic.  So, we decided to walk our bikes a little way out of town to a road we could ride on; this was not far, maybe one-eighth of a mile.  Our destination was the zoo -- yes, there is a world-class zoo here named ZooParc de Beauval. We're told they have two Pandas there and we can't wait to see them!  But we weren't planning to visit the zoo on Friday, we just wanted someplace to ride to.  I think it was about 3.5 miles to the zoo and I swear it was uphill both ways!  Seriously, I was thankful for the low gears on the uphill portions and really enjoyed the downhill sections!!!  

We stopped there for a few minutes to rest our old, tired legs.  We had noticed two wineries on the ride to the zoo.  One said ferme (closed) but the other one didn't have a sign out.  It was about halfway from our house to the zoo.

We rode onto the property and looked around but we didn't see anyone to ask questions of nor did we see a sign regarding tasting or purchasing.  We'll have to read some of the hundreds of brochures here to find out dates/times of tastings and tours.

We also discovered another Super U grocery store not too far from the one we go to often. This is a much larger store, tho, and it reminded me of a small Wal-Mart.  They sell TVs, refrigerators, etc., some clothes and shoes, and lots and lots of groceries.  We remembered after seeing it that Nathalie had mentioned another Super U when she told us where to buy groceries but we had forgotten about it.  We weren't equipped to carry groceries home but I did check and they had limes so I bought two for cocktail hour tomorrow on Saturday night.

We hadn't eaten breakfast so by the time we got home we were starving.  David had picked up some snacks the day before at the store so we decided to break them out.  They are called Gaudettes du Fromage and they are delicious and addicting!!!  (And cute!).

The square outside our house was closed to car traffic when we returned home.  We had seen a billboard advertising a jazz concert so we figured they were setting up for that. There was a small stage set up and some additional lighting.  We were looking forward to a free concert!

The wine cave, Aux Cepages, was calling our name so we headed over there to have a glass of wine and sit outside and people watch.  I had a light rose wine and David had Platine which seems to be very popular there.  David asked the French owner what the name Cepages means and he couldn't really define it for him.  A little while later a few people entered the bar and the owner came running out to where we were sitting dragging along a man who speaks English.  He asked the man, whose name is Ted Scheips, to define it for David.  He told us it is a variety of grape.  He also explained that when the vines are old, they are used for making a barbecue fire.  I found that interesting because when I tasted the Platine, I thought I tasted a hint of smokiness.  

Because I am nosey, I asked Ted a few questions and it turned out he was part of the jazz group playing on the square that evening.  Ted said the group "warms up" at the wine cave! He was drinking Platine too.  He told us he is from Hartford but he has lived here (around an hour's drive from Saint Aignan) for 21 years.  He has a 13 year old son.  I asked him what bought him here and he said a French woman!  Of course!  I didn't get too many details (sigh) but he did say they met in Maine and he followed her back here and they got married.  He likes it here very much.  

Ted is the guitarist and in the band there is also a trumpet player, a clarinet player, and a man who plays a sousaphone.  I am so sorry I did not get the name of the group!!!  He told us that it was a dinner concert.  Two of the restaurants on the square set up tables outside for dinner.  One was Italian, L'Amerena, and one was French, Le Bacchus.  I'm sorry the pictures of the band aren't better but, obviously, Ted is the man playing the guitar!

  

It was a beautiful evening although it was a little cool.  The dinner concert was a big success with maybe a hundred or so people attending and we were lucky enough to enjoy it from the comfort of our house . . . and the comfort of our bed!  The group played three sets and we fell asleep listening to them.