Today we travelled south to Santenay in the Côte de Beaune, a beautiful and prolific wine producing part of a Burgundy, just southwest of Dijon.
About half way into our journey, my Google Maps stalled - not good news when you don't have an actual map with you (who does any more?), but luckily, the road signs took us in the right direction until we picked up a signal again.
Arriving at our new site, we were received by a note on the reception door informing us that service would recommence at 2pm.
No problem. We drove into the local village and had a cold beer while we waited, not a massive inconvenience.
Later, once we had pitched the tent and set up camp, we headed down to the shop to pick up some essentials, only to find that it is only open 10-12 and then 5-7.30pm.
The shop in the village had also been shut for 'siesta time', earlier.
This is becoming a recurring theme in Burgundy, where time seems to have stood still; we have yet to pass through a small village, either walking or cycling, where there is even a village shop - and if you pass through between 12 and 3pm, that will be shut. Many villages don't have a shop, and it is miles between villages!
Now I live in a village, and I like village life; indeed we have to drive 3 miles to a supermarket, only having a small shop, post office and pubin the village, but here it is much more rural and much less 21st century.
This is fine most if the time. We are, after all on holiday, and it is good to switch off from devices: read a book, go for a walk, have a conversation.
But no Internet at all?
Actually I lie. For €6 per day you can buy access to WiFi. They've not missed that trick have they!
Comments