Had more consistent internet connection in Nepal than I have here. Even if it was powered by a line of car batteries there! According to the tourist office in La Garde Freinet the closest internet is in Grimaud about 30 min. away and that isn't wireless. Cost 10c/min. and I couldn't get connected to our blog. If you are reading this it means we have indeed found some way to connect. Have not tried yet to drive around checking for hot spots but Sainte-Maxime is suppose to have wireless in their downtown area so I think we will check out Stainte-Maxime today. Our plan to go to Port Grimaud, catch a boat to St. Tropez in time for their weekly market got foiled by us sleeping in till 11!!  That's ok. It's a bit overcast today. Doubt we would have seen Jennifer Lopez who was reportedly hanging there. We could have gone to the 20th anniversary party of the English language radio station in Monaco yesterday. Heard the Prince made an appearance. I assume that is THE Prince and not Prince!? 

The cottage is all clean. At least to our satisfaction. The refrigerator is stocked with beer, cheese, juice, pate', sausage, olives. Had planned to have dinner in town last night but while watching the rain from under the awning of Le Petit Bar sipping beer and cafe au lait we decided to stay home. Lintels spiced with the local provence herbs over rice with salad and aioli mayo and a bit of bread and butter seemed to suffice just fine. Although cool and wet outside we were cozy surrounded by thick stone walls and the soft yellow glow of our kitchen light. The vase of sunflowers on the table like a scene from Van Gogh.

Now we sit on our little stone patio listening to the wind whisper through the chestnut trees and the occasional car accelerating up the highway in the valley.  Sarah starting a new knitting project and I'm doing, well, pretty much nothing but drink coffee. Should think about lunch at some point. Hum, what kind of cheese will we have with our bread today and should we have pate de carnard or maybe a bit of leftover pork sausage. Of course a glass of Domaine De La Giscle, a Cotes de Provence at 3 euro would go lovely with that. 

We drove to Grimaud and Cogolin on Thurs. Grimaud for internet connection, a bust, and Cogolin to hit the big supermarket, E. Leclerc. Like wal-mart for groceries it had EVERYTHING. Grocery carts are chained together requiring 1 euro to unlock but the plastic hand baskets also have wheels. I did find out an alarm sounds if you try to take these thru the checkout! No "paper or plastic" here. Most people have these huge tough plastic bags that can be purchased at the checkout or they simply take everything loose back to their car to load their own shopping baskets. And the food...isles of cheese, displays of pate' and terrenes, black as night blood sausage coiled in the meat counter; fish, big and small, squid, eel, snails; more cheese; milk unrefrigerated on shelves; an entire isle of chocolate; more 3 euro bottles of wine than expensive (altho they do have a walk in wine cellar I did not investigate). No extensive shelf space for chips or soda and little cheap candy. Little processed foods--no Spaghetti-Os. 

Starting to rain. Back inside to fix lunch then off to explore. Thank goodness for small cars. No huge SUVs here. Streets too narrow, parking to tight and roads too curvy.

So, obviously we hooked up. Took a drive to St. Maxime, (any excuse for a drive), a conversation with folks at tourist office, then harbor office until finding Internet Cafe. We drove all over several closer towns with the computer open trying to find hot spots to no avail. Folks are either more sophisticated in France or tighter with their wifi. So, obviously also, postings may be few and far between. Don't know how we are going to get our electronic fixes. (Sarah is worse than me!) 

Until our next connection.............