Reporting from Bonnieux

     We spent the day in our village yesterday and wandered the steep hilly streets.  Around every corner was another beautiful view either near or far (or up or down).  Early in the day we had enormous omelettes on a lovely shaded terrace overlooking the valley.  Later in the afternoon I painted in our garden while Sandy  researched day trip destinations.  The light and colors, the perfect weather and the chirping birds created an atmosphere of enchantment and inspiration to take out my watercolors.  For sunset we had reservations at Cesar's overlooking the valley and the Luberon massif.  The young waiter gave us the best table and proudly interpreted the menu in his unique "American" English slang, randomly inserting the word "like" into his patter.  We knew we were in France when the waiter presented us with the appetizer, a tiny bowl of fluff delicately tasting of cucumber and garnished with sweet red pepper berries.  Next came our entree (in France, this is the first course), canard mi-cuit au fruits secs avec chutney du moment (duck pâté) followed by the two "plats" (main courses), filet de  taureau aux stokes de  feve de  tanka, roste  pommes de  terre et epinards Dante's a cru (bull steak with spinach), siuris agneau con fit sans son jus au thym et a la sarriette, legumes de  printemps (lamb shank and spring vegetables).  For the finale: creme brulee a l'absenthe, sorbet fraise rhubarb and declination de  fromage (cheese platter to die for).
     Tips for travelers to France : carry zip locks for do-it-yourself doggie bags.  Also note: 75cl = 1 bottle of wine!  Our divine meal was punctuated by delightful conversation with a German couple who retired in Bonnieux.  From them we received several tiny glasses of locally produced thyme liquer (which we are thinking of importing by the case) and their opinions of places to visit in the Luberon.  Surprisingly, we found our way home with ease and fell into bed for 10 hours of sleep, dreaming of another day in heaven...