My Life in Languedoc, a Memoir in Chapters #9

My best memories of life in Languedoc are of the people I met. I arrived knowing only one person and I’ve left with my heart briming with the names and faces of people I’ll never forget...

In the early days I spread the word about my blossoming wine tour business by calling on hotel and B&B owners clutching a handful of leaflets in the hope that they’d encourage their clients to take a tour. As an incentive I offered a small commission which was enthusiastically accepted by business owners who hailed from the UK and other English speaking countries but not so much from the French owners. I think this is just one of the big differences in our cultures. Whereas Brits and the like are very open about business and making money the French are much more private. This was a gradual discovery for me but once I realised it, I worked hard to forge good working relationships with the people who were receptive many of whom became personal friends.

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