Autumn somewhere else perhaps?

Where would you really like to be right now?

If it was still possible to travel anywhere, would you return to a place

 you know, or throw caution to the wind and venture into the unknown?

At this time of year I love being in France but this of course is not

 going to happen.  But I can dream. . . . . . and hopefully next year will

 be better and Autumn travels will be underway - it's my favorite time of

 year to visit EUROPE.

Working with this old laptop I'm only able to open old photos - so, for a while,

anything I might post here will be about former adventures and travel.

In October 2015 - hard to imagine that's already 5 years ago - we had a

a great trip to France. It involved two segments of river boat sailing - with

always exciting Paris days first, then the Normandy Beaches, followed by 

 a long, very scenic sail along the Saone and Rhone rivers from Paris to

 Arles, Provence.

From there we took a train to my brother's village home in the Languedoc 

near Carcassonne in Southwest France and, following the usual sunny

 and golden harvest time in and around the vineyards, another train

 journey took us south to Barcelona, Spain.

Here's a link to my 2015 visit to my brother's village where I'm sure

 little has changed in five years.

https://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2015/10/living-french-village-life.html

Being a huge lover of Vincent Van Gogh, I was thrilled, at long last, 

to spend a day in Auvers-sur-Oise - a few photos above.

Link to a post made back then.

https://abreathoffreshair-mary.blogspot.com/2015/10/vincent-in-auvers-sur-oise.html

An Autumn day in Southwestern France - along the road and through the

 vineyards to the wonderful town of Mirapoix - complete with amazing

 13th century buildings.

Yes, Autumn memories of France are special.

I was just notified by Apple that my Mac is on its way home 

already and should be at my door by 8 PM TODAY!  

Wow, what great service.

The Honor System. . . . . . .

In a small French village such as Caunes-Minervois where my brother

lives, things stopped me in my tracks during walks along the narrow

 winding streets.

The 'honor system' is one which makes me smile.

I recalled this doorway from my former visits, always something on offer - veggies

 or fruits - sitting outside with the scale at the ready to weigh some freshly

 harvested bounty from a nearby garden or allotment. 

On this particular day in October there were apples and tomatoes. 

Weigh, put into your market basket, leave the money.

Honesty counts!

Many village houses sit right on the street such as this one. They may have some 

type of garden area in the back, if not they can rent an allotment space to grow

vegetables, fruits and flowers.

  A large allotment near the 9th Century abbey in Caunes - each day we saw people

 working in the October sunshine.

My brother's front door, original to the house I believe, opens onto a beautiful
 two level garden - quite unusual in a small village. It was the corn merchant's house
 and is 200 years old.

Mostly all vegetables for the family are grown on the lower level garden - these

 photos show what was still available (plus potatoes and salad greens) during

 our October visit. My brother has become quite the gardener.

All around the village are vineyards and rolling countryside. . . . . .and beyond,
 the Montagne Noire (Black Mountain), an area rich in Cathar history.

Buildings are old, both the country and village houses. Who knows what interesting

 homes and gardens are behind lovely old gates one passes on a walk.

Caune's river, the Argent Double, almost dry in October, did have some
 high water marks on the walls - I've never visited when it's been that wet
 or seen water gushing under the ancient bridge.

The village is quiet, peaceful and home to approximately 1500 people. 

I think the honor system works well in this setting.

Could I live in a small place such at this? 

I look at the thousands of cars now clogging the roads where I live, the

 constant movement of people relocating to the city and surrounding suburbs,

 the massive push for construction - more office buildings, shopping centers,

 apartments and houses.

Now, at this time of life, I'm pretty sure I could!

This will be my final post on our time in the village of Caunes-Minervois.

 I do still have lots to share from other beautiful places in France. . . . . .will

 be working those soon.