I am eating lunch on a bench on the tree lined bank of the wide and gentle River Yonne, looking across at the town of Joigny. The view has all you could wish for: a back drop of hills, two spired churches, a row of shop fronts that look so French including the 'Au Duc de Bourgogne' restaurant, a boulangerie and a flower shop, all in the higgledy-piggledy buildings that stretch up the hill side. Boats are at their moorings and the obligatory stone arched bridge is covered in colourful flowers.
And I forgot to mention the wonderful lady at the Tourist Information Office, whom I am sure in a previous life was the teapot in Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast'. She had an Angela Lansbury sort of warmth. Plus she gave me lots of information about local cycle paths and camping further down the river. Yes, life is good.
By the way, add Friand Viand to the local specialities worth tasting. It's a sort of slightly spicy pork in flaky pastry. They also come in Fromage or Saussison varieties. The fromage is a bit too squishy for my liking. I am sure that the saussison is also good, but take my advice and go for Viand, the real thing.
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