New Car

Our rental car has had an engine malfunction indicator light on for a few days. Richard was finally able to get in touch with the car rental company at Lyon airport where we rented it. They told us to go to their kiosk at Dijon train station today and they would replace it. So, as we wanted to see Dijon anyway, it was a good time to do both. They didn't have the car for us when we first got there so we were able to walk into the city centre of Dijon for a walk about for a few hours. Some interesting architecture. There is a university there so lots of students about. We came upon an outdoor market as well. We stopped for a coffee at a little cafe and they were playing Keisza's "Hideaway" over the loud speaker. This is a pop singer originally from Calgary who has hit it very big (Kenneth was the first to photograph her in Calgary before her fame!!) -- so fun to hear her singing in English in a French cafe. Our new car is a little red Fiat. So cute and seems to run better than the other one (and it doesn't have any engine lights on either !!). Richard is quite happy with it. On the way home we saw a Chateau from the highway so turned off to investigate. What we found (Chateau Clos de Vougeot)was originally a wine farm from the 12th century established by the monks from the nearby Abbey of Citeaux. A Renaissance chateau was added in the 18th century. It doesn't produce wine any longer but its medieval vat house, presses and Cistercian cellars as well as the original kitchens make it quite a tourist draw. It is very imposing from the roadway sitting out among the vineyards. We stopped in Nuits Saint Georges on the way home for a late lunch but all of the cafes were no longer serving lunch(! it was 3:30) so home it was to cook!! On the drive from there to our village we saw the vineyards close by were also in full"harvest" mode and we also realized how easy it would be to walk there for lunch some day (long but a nice walk). Tomorrow is scheduled for another cycling trip.