Author Archives

Bill Pearse publishes memoir, travel journals, poetry and prose, and lives in the Pacific Northwest.

  • Winzerfest, Day 1

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    We got through our first day of this four-day festival, and the only thing that woke me was the sound of the truck cleaning the streets, this morning. There was a reggae band down the street that started at midnight… Read More ›

  • Besigheimer Winzerfest 2009

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    Winzerfest starts tonight, at 7 p.m. It will go on for four nights, and segments will be televised on German TV. This is a wine festival that occurs every two years, just here in Besigheim. They’ve been primping up the… Read More ›

  • Fall Status Report

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    We made it back in one piece from France last night, and we’re enjoying doing nothing today. We have black-eyed peas with kale planned as a late lunch, and then fish with roasted potatoes, for dinner. It’s cool and cloudy… Read More ›

  • Road Fatigue

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    We’re in Aix en Provence, staying in a renovated, 16th century Bastide I found on the internet. We have another two days of driving to get back to Besigheim, and decided to dwell here in Aix en Provence for a… Read More ›

  • Le Relais des 3 Mas

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    For our second visit to Collioure, Dawn and I did not make hotel reservations in advance. All week, we’ve been without internet or phone. While that may sound relaxing it’s really not. We got into Collioure around 3:30, and I… Read More ›

  • Collioure

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    We did get to Collioure twice this week: once, with the whole caravan (two moms, two daughters, husband/wife), and twice, with just husband/wife. On the first trip we had a two-hour lunch in Port-Vendres at a sidewalk café: most everyone… Read More ›

  • Saint Pierre des-Champs

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    We knew this was a small village before we got here, but assumed there would be more to do. You know it’s small when everyone looks surprised to see you, when you drive into town. They all kind of look… Read More ›

  • Meltdown at Peyrepertuse

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    We’ve pulled some rookie moves as parents, with the kids. For starters, this is not what you would call a kid-friendly destination. The other day, we drove to the nearest supermarket and it took half an hour to get there…. Read More ›

  • Gas Cap

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    I don’t know how to say this word in any other language, but yesterday the gas cap on our rental car nearly brought me to my knees. It must sound like I am making this up, but the first two… Read More ›

  • Déviation

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    The French have a way of taking English words and making them sound French: they pronounce “Wi-Fi” like “we-fee,” for example. Americans have a way of doing the same with French words, too. This is the end of a very… Read More ›