I needed a break after two days on a bike in the hot sun. So I did one of my favorite things today …. sleep.

It’s hard to justify sleeping when there’s so much to see and do. I have to remind myself that sleeping is OK. I have time. I’m playing like a local in Uzès.

Playing like a local in Uzès

After a well-deserved nap, the main events for my day in Uzès were 1) a walk around the back streets of Uzès to get away from the tourist area, 2) a visit to the plaza for a glace, then 3) shopping for something interesting to prepare for dinner. The temperature was in the 90s, so most people were trying to stay out of the sun. Like me, many stopped in shaded cafes and shops to cool off.

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After a relaxing day, preparing a special meal was fun … and delicious. With so many foods to choose from at the markets, it’s hard to fail!

The menu: Roasted chicken and moussaka (prepared at the meat market); asparagus with assorted tapas spreads (Saturday Market); salad with fresh vegetables, olives, spiced almonds, and my own vinaigrette concoction made from local mustard (Wednesday Market); and of course, more wine. Yum!!!

Travel isn’t complete without learning about totally unexpected things, like Qigong. Qigong is a Chinese alternative healthcare practice integrating physical postures, breathing techniques, and a focused mind. It’s kin to Tai Chi and Karate, but the body movements are gentler and much slower. I would never have thought I’d be exposed to Qigong while in France. However, a new friend, Bernard, spoke about it, then demonstrated it when we spent the morning at the public park near my neighborhood.