Wild mountain thyme

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Once again another MyLotter, this time @allknowing, has reminded me of something with her post https://www.mylot.com/post/3437803/thyme-laden-mountain-new-zealand. Many years ago now, I was on holiday in France with a few friends. We had a crazy idea to investigate the ‘mystery’ of Rennes-le-Chateau - that’s a whole other story! Anyway, we were staying in a little house in a little town in the Pyrenees, and driving around visiting various interesting and historic places. One day we had been out most of the day and thought we would get something to eat on the way back. But we had failed to take French closing times into account. I think it was a Sunday late afternoon and absolutely everything was closed - no restaurants or shops of any sort were open. We were beginning to despair when finally we found a petrol (gas) station with a few groceries and managed to buy some chicken breasts. Not all that exciting, but a lot better than nothing. But then, as we headed back through some rocky countryside, I realised that the whole mountainside was covered with a carpet of thyme, filling the air with its scent in the summer sun. We stopped the cars and gathered a small bunch. That simple touch transformed those ordinary chicken breasts into something really special. Dinner was rice (which we had in the cupboard) and a few vegetables, with pan-fried chicken with thyme. Everyone agreed it was delicious! Now every time I smell thyme on a sunny afternoon it takes me right back to the Pyrenees and that memorable holiday! All rights reserved. © Text copyright Fleur 2021. Image by Hans Braxmeier from Pixabay.