I’ve had a very nice week, despite the heat, which basically prohibits any serious outdoor activity between 11am-8pm. I even sent a Postcard, which always feels good!

• Cheered on a stage of the Tour de France in Foix. I had a big swag haul from the caravans, thanks to strategic positioning from a friend in the know. Lots of hats and not one but two LeClerc t-shirts, which shall be my pajamas for the next few years. I look forward to catching the final stage in Paris in a few weeks, too.

• Enjoyed a few lunches and dinners with a neighbor, who cooked civet de singulier (wild boar stew) and braised trout, hunted and fished by his friends in the area. Super delicious.

• Visited the Cave of Niaux, where you can go deep into the cave to see prehistoric signs and drawings of animals before the Ice Age. Our guide sang a song in the pitch black so we could experience the reverberations, which is likely the reason so much of the art is here. Some of the drawings incorporated rock formations into their shape, so it looks like the animals are moving as the fire flickers (or flashlight, in our case). It’s quite extraordinary. And cold, too, at 12 degrees. I had to borrow a jacket!

• Went on bicycle rides almost every day, each about 2hrs in the early morning or late evenings, on roads that are known to me from previous trips. Choosing consistency and pleasure over bigger adventures…