After explaining about our disappointing wines from yesterday to the The Ballon Rouge manager, she suggested we tried two vineyards this morning before we left Franschhoek, Grande Provence and La Motte. With clear skies and sunshine we drove out of town and found Grande Provence easily enough. As we parked up in the car park we noticed the Helipad next to restaurant. Hmm, wonder who flies in here then?!
The grounds were styled typically French with rows of immaculately trimmed Cypress trees and Lavender bushes with various water features around. The small tasting room had the log fire burning and we hopped on the barstools made from old tractor seats right by it, being the only two in here and anticipated being delighted by at least one wine, please. Luckily for us, we enjoyed every one of the tastings here, Yvonne even liking the Chardonnay, which usually she turns her nose up at. We each left with purchases in our hands, feeling pleased with ourselves that we finally liked these famous wines.
With a bounce in our stride we crossed the road to visit La Motte. The tasting room was a grand affair and with lunch time not far away there were several people inside. The fireplace was very large here and the log fire was wafting heat towards the three chesterfields in front of it. We took up one, adjacent to a young couple on another who were just starting their wine tastings. We nodded and asked the famous travellers question, “where are you from”? We then spent a couple of hours in conversation with Rachel and Brian, both Americans living in Virginia and both very well travelled. It was great to meet them and for us all to share our travel experiences and, on exchanging emails addresses, their business website, Evergib, and their travel blog, exquisitely named TangoandTukTuks. We really have every opportunity to keep in contact with them and meet up again one day. As they left they recommended a great Saturday market in Cape Town and we wished them safe journeys. We purchased a few more bottles and left Franschhoek with a beaming smile and a slight wobble in our step. What a pleasurable day so far.
A quick car picnic lunch then we headed towards Cape Town much later than we had planned. Inevitably we hit a little Friday afternoon rush hour, nothing compared to home, and saw the iconic Table Mountain in front of us in clear skies and sunshine. After Harriet (the GPS) gave us a wrong turning, we took the long coastal road around the waterfront to find our Airbnb home in Camp Bay and meet our hosts, David and Hannelie. We are staying in their lovely apartment which is elevated above the surrounding homes giving us great views of the ocean. A quick whistle stop shop for some groceries, as we really must stop going out to eat so much of the gorgeous food here, and we googled and planned tomorrow’s trip to the Saturday market noticing it’s very well known for the great…..food and restaurants.
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| The long, manicured driveway of Grand Provence... |
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| ...and the equally grand entrance. |
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| Yvonne sits on a tractor seat stool and chats to the very helpful sommelier. |
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| The equally lovely entrance to La Motte |
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| Are these all for us? |
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| After two days of gloom the sun breaks out on the Franschhoek valley |
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