Back home again

In the 17 days we were away from home one new resident managed to move in. We are leaving her alone for now but she will have to go when we trim the azaleas.

Paris to Atlanta

Sitting up front on Delta the service begins before the plane takes off.

THANKS MERRILL!!!!!!!!

A travelling companion.

It's okay if you get the crumbs from your croissant on your linen table cloth.

We are leaving by way of the Normandy coast.

You can always check your flight progress.

Chosing the dessert from 4 selections is difficult but we managed to live with it.

Be careful. There is another meal yet to come before we get to Atlanta.

Pavillion en Le Vesinet

Yes. There really are houses behind those 3 meter high security fences.

Getting over that security fence will only bring you face-to-face with the next level of security. His name is Twingo. He is named after the Renault Twingo because they are about the same size.

Once you get by this it is easy living.

Open air market in Le Vesinet

Cousin Agnes is a very discriminating shopper.

Oodles to pick from

"I only want the freshest ones."

"We can't eat yesterday's bread. It must be purchased fresh every day."

Oct 12 Near Charlie DeGaulle's Airport

Plane tomorrow - no internet connection since Rouen.
Highlights of visit in Le Vesinet, western suburb of Paris.: .
Beautiful lunch with FOUR French cousins -day of our arrival.

Unbelievable traffic jam, due to FLOODING in this area of France.
Pictures of Le Vesinet we’ll post later, because of the special architecture .
France’s love for the aesthetics is, I believe,so intrinsic to their culture. We’ve learned so much; enjoyed discussions during long family dinners; my head is spinning with all this language; happy to come home.

And finally a touch of the spiritual, taken from a little parish church near the house

(Translation of prayer)

To You Who Enter into This Place
You have entered this house
The house of “God-Love”
Whoever you are, He welcomes you
with your joys and your pains
with your hopes and your deceptions
Be welcome
If you are believing pray to God

If you are searching, are in doubt or troubled, ask for light.
If you suffer, if you have pain, ask for strength.
If you are joyful, spread the grace.
May your visit in this church warm your heart.
Whoever you are, know that you are loved by Jesus Christ the Resurrected.
In Him, evil does not have the last word.
May peace be with you.

Wednesday in ROUEN – wow

This rain has been very lovely, as it’s in and out, and not at all cold. Yesterday we met up with Francois & Anita’s friends, Patrique and Anny. After ANOTHER delicious lunch we strolled along the historic district to their antique shop. By chance I asked if they lived upstairs and when she showed us their residence, we were just stunned. Some photos of this 16th Century (renovated, of course) home and store – including Eddie’s little girlfriend, “Loo,” their little 4 year old granddaughter. I also walked with them to her close by school and saw the other cuties. She gave me my “bisous” (kisses on both cheeks, when we met.

Later,Francois wanted us to ride the little tourist train which meanders around the scenic lanes of the city (of Flaubert –Madame Bovary?) but the train – that day at least – was just for certain groups. Well, Francois nearly raised the roof. He returned to the tourist office and talked to no fewer than three officials. We were prepared for the second “French Revolution”, but in spite of it all, the tourist bureau won and now it’s all a bit of joke. (He’s constantly plagued by how “money rules” and that’s the same in our country.)

Monday, Oct 5. Raining

Today it’s raining and the pasture is foggy, but we played with the dogs and took some pictures from the window of our above-garage guest room. The fresh country smell is wonderful. Anita has brought in some wood for a fire, and Eddie is watching the French Vanna White in the living room.

This home is typical of historic homes of the region, with the timbered walls inside and out. Each section is a bit lower than another, so if you dropped a ball it would bounce down hill. It’s very comfortable and has all the modern stuff of life. Francois is an electrical engineer with an eye for all the newest technology. Above the fridge sits a television monitor for the gate of the premises, which opens with a “clique”! Much of what they eat is very fresh and the great bread comes daily from the” boulangerie” in the nearby village.

Wish we could share these wonderful meals and French way of life with you. Today I’m showing Francois pictures of his grandfather years ago, with my family. He was a truly kind and generous man, and Francois looks a good bit like him now.

Scenes of farm critters:

One of these was lunch today…..

Sunday, Oct.4 EN ROUTE NORTH

After 300+ miles of perfect directions and “care free driving”, and after a lovely lunch and view of the exquisite town and cathedral of CHARTRES (picture), we got oh so lost in the suburbs of Rouen where we needed to meet cousin, Francois at 5. So, we drove into a car wash where these guys were hanging out and – they led us (nearly a half hour) to our rendezvous point at the Avis place in the regional airport.

They were so cute and happy to receive the Euros we offered. We exchanged e mail and voila…back on schedule!

Bye bye little Panda!

Sunday night a champagne toast to Francois and his new wife Anita at their lovely farm way in the countryside of Normandy. (Google Earth: Gaillefontaine – north east of Rouen.)

Saturday, October 3, 2009

The Chateau de Chenonceau was built during the Renaissance – a time which followed the horrible plague and the 100 Years War. But….four hours of touring the castle and grounds makes you feel as though you’ve BEEN in the 100 Years War!

No, it was very lovely. Kind of a must do…one big castle, but chosen because the site over the water is splendid and so we tried to catch the luminosity of the water on one side and brighter exterior on the other.





But it really should be left to the pros to catch the grandeur of the castle, acres of fir trees, flower & horticultural gardens, looong foot paths, the XVI Century barns and stable.











Tonight we chose strawberries, cheese and local champagne from the grocery store, making a picnic in our room. Restaurant prices are way too high.







We love driving the car through little villages, farm lands and forests. The round-a-bouts are fun, gearing in and out with the manual. So far only one car has beeped at me, and Eddie is a PRO. I think he’s dreaming of a Maserati on some of these bends.


Still enjoying super weather and friendly people. Today at the castle we heard so many languages one wondered what to say if you bumped into someone, and in the ladies’ room line I got “speaking” with a Russian woman. One thing we linked on right away was that Obama and Medyedev were friends, giving gestures and signs. It was really quite nice!





Tomorrow we’re off early to Normandy, with a stop perhaps in Chartres for lunch. We are so impressed with the modernity and safety of the roads, and took some pictures of the nuclear power stacks (no oil; no gas at all in France. AND, most impressive----the WINDMILLS!!!!!!!!!












Sending you “bisous” on both cheeks.

P.S. May all your artichokes be soft and pretty!!

October 2, Dijon to Amboise

Finally a moment to write!! Hello cyber amis. Trip is smooth and trouble-free. We love zipping through the gears in a little Fiat Panda- room for 4 (two people two bags). The weather is – sincerely – perfect.

Dijon Tues – Thursday, staying in the guest suite of the Maison de Retraite (retirement home) LOVINGLY run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. Several buildings, flower gardens, fruit trees

where they make their own jams; a chapel and an atmosphere as spiritual and joyful as one can find, given that many here are quite incapacitated by

age and infirmity. Michel’s countenance is rather
overcome by the many trials of his life. He’s not always “there” mentally. His pain grabs me so. We both cried when I arrived and left – he kept saying how “exquisite” my friendship, to which I’ve always said he’s given me more than he realizes.
Dijon – Anny and Bruno (friends of Michel) invited us for lunch at their charming house a little outside the city. Here’s a picture of their cute Spaniels eating raspberries from the vines in their garden. Their place is on the Roman Road” – literally the road taken by pilgrims in the Middle Ages, en route to Campostella. Their property was used as a hospital in that era, and I defy any designer from the most chic of magazines to do a better renovation.

Amboise – Thursday – Friday
Now we’re in the Vallee de la Loire, one of the first sites being a hot air balloon over the Loire River! Above the city lies the Chateau Amboise, home of France 1st – the friend of Leonardo De Vinci. THINK TIME OF COLUMBUS for a historical perspective.

First night we walked down by the wall of the castle and Eddie, in process of flipping a bug from his eye, knocked his dark glasses off his face and onto the drawbridge, beyond the locked gate. Sooooo I climbed a couple of gates and slipped over in hopes that that wood (with its 4 century history) would hold me – and it did – as I sleuthed back over the fence with only the eye of

the funky gargoyle watching my move.

Yesterday we toured the Clos Luce where De Vinci spent the last three years of his life and where are displayed his models and sketches, gardens and furnishings. From the courtyard one looks over toward the castle and can see the chapel where is buried. Everywhere we walk are roses still blooming, private homes, little pathways and flowers peeping out of everything.

Vouvrey wine tasting, and tasting. This is a little town and next to it Rochcorbon, where there are shops, hills, schools, vineyards and the trogolodyte homes – demeures inside the rocky terrain from which come the ingredients to make the good chenin blanc grapes. The homes themselves are partially inside the rocks with windows and terraces outside. Sometimes the owners (how do you buy a “piece of the rock?”) will build out with “normal” looking additions.

All for now …gotta run and see the Chateau Ch……something today! Love to everybody.