After a very good French breakfast, with huge cups of good coffee, made by Claudy, our landlady
we set off into the countryside
to a small distillery, P.Boussuet, who make good Pineau de Charentes and a cognac
We were preceded by a large group of French farmers, who were tasting and buying
attended by the Bossuet family, headed by Grandpère
The rules for membership of the Charentes Producers' Association
Delphine, who attended to us and spoke good English
A good selections of their products including the renowned local salts
On our way out, having bought an aged Pineau, we met a local farmer and his dog
Stainless steel tanks outdoors, much like many of our co-ops
French shutters are painted in beautiful pastels, walls are usually unpainted
Then off to Cognac, where we visited an outdoor market
Everything is fresh and very well displayed. These eggs were delicious
Unusual fish, so fresh you expect it to flap about
Tomatoes, as we never see them, and in perfect, unflawed condition, with an aroma that hits you from metres away
and beautiful cherries
Local farming folk - we see very few smokers on this visit
Wonderful cheeses
Cockles
langoustines
and beautiful fresh strawberries 
We drove into the centre of Cognac
where we found an indoor market, open six days a week
with more wonderful fresh produce
Rabbits and ducks
Patés
and pies
and more wonderful vegetables
We bought this magnificent brie, it was delicious
A rather enviable house in central Cognac
and a rather awful lunch at Flunch - the ham was good, the chips too, but the fish uneatable
Amazing hams at Auchan hypermarket
and a good cheese display
Then the highlight of our day, a visit to Cognac producer Henri Mounier - more in the following blog
After which, on our way home, we passed this sign and
had to visit
They were closing, but we had a look at the products
including this extravagant bottle of Louis XIII XO
which was surpassed only by this Jeroboam - a snip at €30000
Then home to Chérac
where we shared a bottle of Life from Stone with our friends - it was cold and our French purchases luke warm, but it was excellent and they loved it
After which we ate our supper under the gazebo
and enjoyed the landscape
and watched the passing traffic
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