Buying Tea in Frejus

There is the most deilightful tea shop in Frejus, France. Just walk about three blocks downhill from the information center and there it will be between a cafe and a florist. There are two whole walls of tea, all carefully labeled with a description of the treasured leaves inside. C'est magnifique!

I found the smokiest Lapsang Souchong ever. I'm bringing it back to the tea room and will share it by the fire, if you should happen to come in on a rainy day. Then I moved onto the Petrouchka Russe' and finally to Royal Green Tea with flowers and fruit. It's aroma was so heavenly, people who wandered in, lined up to purchase some for themselves. What a discovery, and the owner was very kind and generous with his time.

Now, just down the block is Patisserie Marie'. She has devine quiche fromage and a beautiful pine nut tort. The only one I have found on this trip. We came back after lunch for a banana and chocolate tort and a prune and apricot creme de caramel. Ooh, la la!

Lunch today was at Herme's Restaurant, found in the square by the church. I had an eldorado fish in a white butter sauce with baby green beans prepared in a garlic and herb sauce. This was fine dining with a view of the marche. Wednesday's are market in Frejus. The town is absolutely transformed on market day. There are so many colors to be had with tablecloths, scarves and clothes. And in the square, there were vegetables and fruits. I chose a D'Angou Pear and it was huge and gloriously slurpy.

Well, back in the car to Aix en Provence for martket day. By the way, Aix only has a large market on Thursday and Saturday. The market on Tuesday is now tres petite.

Frejus

I stayed in the most beautiful hotel in Frejus. It is completely decorated in Provencal prints with a mellow green for most of the painted furniture and a yellow and burgundy print for fabric. While well appointed nothing is overdone. I was given a salon for writing all to myself. And, as it would happen, the night clerk provided me with a wonderful pot of Earl Grey while I wrote.

Strolling the village, we discovered the most incredible pattisseries. We began with an almond croissant that was filled with local honey. Then we tasted a mellow tart filled with wonderful cream. Around the next corner, we discovered another pattisserie. I tried the citreon tart. It really made me pucker but the merringue helped cut the citrus and it was a perfect compliment to my morning latte. Just across the road is a ChocolaThe shop which will have to wait for Wednesday. Up the hill is a tea purveyor that I can explore on Wednesday also.

The trouble is that most shops will not open on Sunday or Monday. This can be frustrating if you are only staying a few days, but luckily, we were able to book rooms by the sea for another three days.

Lunch was a beautiful light salmon quiche with another pot of Earl Grey. The quiche here is more cream than egg. It must be whipped for quite a while because it is much lighter than what you find in the States, except at the fairie building in San Francisco. The quiche there is about two inches tall.