La Nuit de Patrimonie

This weekend was the St Emilion fete.

Saint-Émilion's history goes back to prehistoric times and is a World Heritage site, with fascinating Romanesque churches and ruins stretching all along steep and narrow streets.

The Romans planted vineyards in what was to become Saint-Émilion as early as the 2nd century AD. In the 4th century, the Latin poet Ausonius lauded the fruit of the bountiful vine.

The town was named after the monk Émilion, a traveling confessor, who settled in a hermitage carved into the rock there in the 8th Century. It was the monks who followed him that started up the commercial wine production in the area.

Today was a celebration of its history.

There were midnight fireworks which we didnt stay for. The next day Prince Albert of Monaco was in town so it was a bit crazy.

There were Spanish dancers

Tatiana got her face painted, it was
not Disney caliber but it was free :)
I think its a butterfly on her face.
A storybook reading then some harp playing
crossing cows

crossing horses
Tatiana rode the clown car




a wine auction
marionette show
the band
huge inflatable TV screen, we didnt see what
they showed on it because we left early

Romantic dinner for two

Tidbits

We live in the Aquitaine area which is like saying Orange County
It was once ruled by Caesar, then the French, then for 300 years by the English then back to the French. There is a love hate between the English and French, much like brothers and sisters.

The average income here is $30,000 a year,
most of these work on the vineyards

There is a very small middle class

The French don't understand how anyone could leave their country and retire in another. The idea that you will die in a country that is not yours, they don't understand.