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Much cooler this morning, cloudy and the thunder still rumbles now and then.
We get out and fix the rear light but changing the brake light bulb entails removing and dismantling the entire light cluster. Not long after it's all back together the thunder gets louder, there are a few flashes of lightning and some big raindrops. Within ten minutes it's raining lightly but steadily.
Undeterred we put on waterproofs and go into the 'commercial centre', which consists of butcher, baker, bar and pizza takeaway, bar/tabac, driving school, a-shut-for-the-holidays minimarket and two hairdressers.
Ali visits the butcher and baker and drops her purchases back to the van 50 yards away. The rain intensifies as thunder and lightning continues to rumble and flash around, but after weeks of temperatures around 30C it's quite refreshing.
We explore the little town from every angle and spend a while studying the mural on the end wall of an artist's studio. It depicts the artist on a ladder painting a number of framed pictures; a girl at a wndow with flower-boxes, an old mill, an olden-times street scene and shadows of birds, plus two empty picture frames.
We return to the van and have the sandwiches Ali bought for lunch. Not long after we're inside the storm passes and the sun returns.
A quiet afternoon spent looking at photos of the trip so far and thinking of a route for the next few days and ultimately the ferry timetables for our return.
The evening brings clouds and mugginess, perhaps more storms to come. A cold beer is required.
Ali walks over to the bar and asks, in French, for bottles to take away. Non, NON! is the reply.
Pourquoi? asks Ali. The woman looks, disapprovingly and says - Allemande?
Non, Anglais, says Ali.
Smiles - Welcome. Our friends. Working men, who seconds ago were making spitting noises stand, wipe their hands and offer them to shake; Enchante.
Four cold bottles in a bag, pas de problem.
Who knows what hand the Germans may have had in the history of this little place, but clearly there is a raw dislike for their presence today.
European unity? Huh! The Brexit effect? Pah! Strange old world.
Anyway, the cold beer is a welcome apperitif in the humidity and keeps us occupied while Frau Kastell sizzles the steak she bought this morning when her disguise fooled the butcher.
To maintain entente cordial we accompany it with some of the red wine we bought on the hillside Passion.
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