Fran on Holidays last year

Fran on Holidays last year
Vino at Mercatello

Friday, July 11, 2014

Last day in France


Another late start with bird calls and rain softly pattering on the roof. Breakfast with Zepher - our new best friend. Will have to check out his book. Freedom' s Way by Zepher Bloch.  Sounds very interesting.

We packed up and chat to Lionel about our plans. He was sorry we couldn't stay on in Paris. He was born there and loves it. He spoke so fondly about the areas he lived in. Both Montmartre and Bastille.  He is very dreamy in a nice way and has a lovely son who prepares breakfast for us. His wife Marie Louise runs the office in the main town place. He said when he bought the castle it was very run down but he had time and enough money to do it up and now rents the rooms to visitors. We were lucky it wasn't very full so it was quiet, but with the rain we couldn't sit in the lovely courtyard and enjoy breakfast.

Check out the village we stayed in Noyers in Burgundy. They made a little u tube to promote their music festival coming up soon. You tube - Noyers happy place!


We set off for the car after double cheeked kisses and loaded up and brrrrr nothing. Flat battery! So back to Lional who called the local garage man who arrived very quickly and had us moving along quite quickly.

It rained most of the way to Troyes, a very old town which is home to Pope Urban in the 12 th c. It's churches are big and old and we saw an old lady at the small office inside the church who had the most amazing old face. Very lined and full of character. I would loved to have taken  her photo but couldn't be so rude as to ask!

We called into their outlet centre and i can't get too enthusiastic in places like that ( except when I went to Cabazon in Palm Springs last year. It was amazing, ) but this was not too good and very spread out. I showed Steve into the Hugo Boss store and he managed to find some red ( dull not  too bright) pants, a checked shirt and a lovely blue jumper. Mr fashion statement. I just got to pay for it!

Now in the Qantas lounge waiting for our flight to Brisbane. Feeling vey tired. But home in the morning so i'll be fine.

So until the next time.  
IN SEPTEMBER!

Photos

More photos of the castle. Note the huge rooms! 


Long corridors of rooms!



Photos of the castle for sale

Entry to the castle. Brigette the Estate agent talking to Zepher




Chablis and Auxuerre

We stumbled out of bed to the sound of bird calls. Not too early as the day was grey and a little rainy. We met Zepher for breakfast and planned the day. He was going to see the house again and invited us to go with him. What a treat. I really want to see the place and he was very keen to have us along for another opinion.
So after breakfast we went to the small village markets, bought some soap and a beautiful orange angora neck muff ( like a collar)   
We set off towards Chablis which is a small town almost all rebuilt after the war. Thee are lots of Chablis wine caves and we went to the one recommended by Lionel our host at the castle we are staying in. Lionel appears each morning and chats to the guests about their plans for the day and gives advice and suggestions. 

We stopped in Chablis and planned on seeing some of the Chablis wine houses and get a taste for it. 
I tasted a few  but at 11 am with no food they all tend to taste the same! 
We continued on towards Auxuerre where we were going to spend our last night until we changed our plans and decided to stay in Noyers. I do like the small villages best. 
We walked around, checked out the rather grand gothic style church, a few shops,  walked along the river and had lunch. I had a beautiful Niçoise salad and Steve and a lovely local salad with warm potatoes, bacon and a soft boiled ago. Somewhat like a Caesar salad. 
We had to hurry back to the Noyers to meet Zepher and make our way to the castle he was looking to buy. 

It's so much fun when there is no pressure! 
What a castle. In a small non de script village but so romantic. Big rooms. Lots of rooms, and lots of work to do to get it to a good standard for rental. The bones are great but the layout of rooms to bathrooms need organization and the pool need a complete refurb.

We did enjoy meeting Brigette the agent who had travelled from Paris to conduct the inspection. We walked all over the castle. Three floors of big spaces. Some made sense  some didn't.
Anyway Zeph was all carried away and was discussing all aspectsof the castle. Men arrived to assess the pool and the bad news was that it needed heaps of work. Around $20,000.

It was drizzling so after a cup of tea, lots of chat and some photos we left to drive back to Noyers for a drink. We had Brigitte with us and really enjoyed her company. 

Fontenay Abbey

Fontenay Abbey

Fontenay Abbey

Fontenay Abbey
The cloisters 

Photos

Vezerlay 




Vezerlay

Bike rider riding the Main Street in Vezerlay. 
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Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Noyers to Vezerlay

Woke to the sound of birds and had breakfast in the downstairs salon of the castle. Our new friend Zeph joined us before he set off to look at the small castle he is thinking of buying.

We did a little tour exploring  the village of Noyers. It's  beautiful but not quite Cotignac, where our friends the Brannocks have a house. Saying that,  it is very nice.  A number of businesses - pottery, bags, brocante, arts and paintings along with restaurants and cafes. All rather lovely.

At around 11.30 we set off for Vezerlay about 30 mins away. It reminded me of an italian hill town. We parked just outside the gates and wandered up through the Main Street. I found a lovely clothes shop and ended up buying 2 tops. Couldn't decide which one so bought both. One is black with little dots and a patterned sleeve. The other a soft mushroom  linen top with gathers. They are a little different. Hope I get to wear them!

Also bought macaroons,  a bell and a bracelet. Steve liked the pottery and we got a few pressies for the kids and a vase for the guest room. 

We enjoyed a  galette ( large crepe) for lunch with smoked salmon dressed with a dill cream. Delicious. No wine! 
Feeling full we headed off for a 30 min drive to Montbard and the Abbey. It was so peaceful and beautiful though would be so cold in winter. It's summer? here but still overcast with patches of rain. 

Got back to Noyers and bought a bottle of Chablis at the wine shop and went back to our lovely little castle and I'm sitting in the salon ( lounge ) with a glass whilst writing this! 

We are having dinner with Zeph again tonight and are  keen to hear of his adventures in buying a French property. Brannocks - I think he would like to talk to you! Dinner tonight at a different restaurant though I would have been happy with the same one blast night. 

Epernay to Noyers

Following our visit to Pol we headed along the Champagne trail towards Chateau Thierry, enjoying a really lovely salad for lunch at a very small village along the way. It rained, on and off as we wound our way along country roads towards Noyers.
Noyers is a very old village with ramparts and arched gates opening into a really lovely small village. W found the office to book outer room and made our way through the rain to the old castle where we are staying.  Our room is big with windows looking out to the courtyard below and the bathroom has glorious views across the surrounding river and pastures. 

We rested up then made our way to the local bar for a drink before dinner. No champagne here. It's Chablis territory as Chablis is about 20 km away. We booked at a lovely little restaurant run by a charming young couple who had their little baby in a high chair by the kitchen door, Laurent the host and his wife in the kitchen keeping an eye on her until it was bedtime. The food was delicious. They do 2 plates of the day both entree and main plate. I had smoked salmon and Steve had terrine then I had veal and he had beef. We met the man at the next table and he turned out to be from Bondi and was staying in the same little castle as us. In fact almost next door! A most interesting man. An ex lawyer,  who has written a book on wellness and started a business based on the idea. It must be lucrative as he is in Noyers looking at a property to buy. Very talkative nice guy. 

Walked aback to our  room by 10.30 and slept well in the bed with double sheets - no doona!    

Champagne

In the sitting room at Pol Roger
Hubert showing Steve the production records


We spent our first night in the Champagne area in Epernay. It's a small town with an Ave of famous Champagne Houses - Caves. Accommodation was hard to get and I had tried to get two nights at a charming B&B in nearby Hautvillers. But sadly they could only give us 1 night so we stayed at the the,  not so,  Best Western. Luckily we only arrived there at 8.30 off the flight from Sardinia. We went straight out for dinner to Le Banc. It was very good. Lovely old building , an old bank with wonderful wood work. 

After dinner we walked the Ave de Champagne and marveled at the size and grandeur of the Champagne Houses and thought how lucky we were to have access to Pol Roger. We decided not to go to other houses as we would have such a good private tour. We decided just to sample bubbles  in the restaurants at every opportunity. 

Fell into bed and slept badly in the dipping into the middle bed. I also had to remove the doona from its cover. The Europeans don't use a top sheet and I find it SO hot under the doona. It's supposed to be summer! It's not though........ with the weather a little overcast. 

We set off the next day on the flower route to see small villages of note. Went to Chalons-en-Chapagne,  a delightful small village. On from there we ended up at Verdan as Steve wanted to see the memorials and sites related to the war. We enjoyed lunch by the river- a rather nice baguette and for me the non driver a glass of rosé

We arrived in our village,  Hautvillers,  to stay in a lovely B&B hosted by Cecile. It was very welcoming with a lovely large room overlooking the vines towards Epernay. Sadly the very good restaurant in the village was not open Sunday for dinner so Cecile booked us a taxi to take us to bistrot  7 in Epernay, a bistrot  with a big reputation. It was really good and we shared a champagne and a lovely red with veal with capers, preserved tomatoes and lemons for Steve and Duck with cherries for me. Delicious. Steve followed with cheese and I had local strawberries. 

The next morning we had a light breakfast before heading into Epernay for our visit to the house of Pol Roger. Hubert de Billy a direct descendant of Pol Roger met us and took us in a very personalized way on a tour of the cave. He was so interesting and funny - not a stuffy rich French man! We finished with a bottle of 2004 Vintage. I learned a lot about the production of Champagne and a few little stories as well!  As the French say..... Magnifique. 


Ciao and Bonjour



Well we finished the swim trek and had a wonderful time. Steve was amazing the way he swam 14 km so soon after his knee replacement. I did a few swims but not as much as last year,  as the big swim was the focus. Our group was great, headed up by Francesco the guide, Yves ( from Vanuatu) and Vittoria from Milan. The group was Chris Masek  from London, his brother Ben from LA with a friend Dan also from LA, another Chris from London ( the " not so straight Chris" )  and Phoebe, who went to kindy with Pete and we have always kept in touch with. She was there for girl company for me , but ended up swimming with the boys! We had many laughs. 

Jill,  I'll  look forward to swimming with you, as I was a little group all on my own! Phoebe our young friend  from London got straight back into her school days swimming and went with the big boys! She didn't do all the crossing but did around 8 km in total getting out then back in the water. Amazing effort for her with not too much training.  

So I was lonely! Steve swam with me one day when we did an small channel crossing from one island to another! That day I did 3 km. but it will be so good to have company. 
Yves the guide was such a nice guy - he has swum the English Channel and works for Swim Trek. He said we'll love Greece in Sept. 

Chris, the birthday boy who organized the whole trip was so generous to us all. He paid the total hotel bill! Then when he heard we were going off to the Champagne area immediately got on the phone and organized a private tour of Pol Roger, which is impossible to do unless you know someone! Turns out Chris grew up in the area and knows the owner very well. So 10am Monday the owner is taking us on a private tour and tasting! Lucky us! 

As I'm writing this we are driving from Orly airport having flown in from Sardinia this afternoon. As usual you can't depend on the weather and though its fine, it's quite cool. So I wish I had my jeans. We will arrive in Epernay around 8 pm in time to change and have a glass of champagne and dinner. 

We had a memorable last night in La Maddalena with Francesco and Yves - everyone else had left the afternoon before. Had drinks and watched the soccer , then had dinner and then back to watch soccer at the bar. Very italian crowd and atmosphere. 

Friday, July 4, 2014

Day 3 Photos

The guides: Vittoria, Francesco and Yves ( Rambo!)
The BOYS Dan, Chris and Ben



                                                           

Steve gets a new look!

Francesco giving Steve a make over! 





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Photos Swim trek

The boys dressed in team shorts ready for action!








Our guide Francesco explaining the days swim


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Day 1 Sardinia

We assembled for breakfast in the glitzy dining room and were a little disappointed to see the wind blowing so wildly.

The TEAM meeting was after breakfast and we got away to meet Marco in the marina all dressed in out matching gear.

I forgot to mention our team gifts which make up out team uniforms. Francesco had two T Shirts made for us - day and evening wear! All printed up with a great logo and our names on the back. Then Ben (Chris' brother from the USA ) handed out theft shirts he had made. Not to be outdone Steve produced the shorts in a wild red and yellow print that had been so popular last year.
So off we went all dressed matchy matchy!

We drove for about half an hour through the wind, north of the township of La Maddalena. Finally found a beautiful bay where we could start our swim. Just like last year I went in the rubber ducky with Francesco and he dropped me half way along the swim so I would have about a 2 km swim and the others a 3 and a half swim. Off I went On my OWN! No pals to swim with as Phoebe decided to swim with the boys! What a goer she is.

At the end of the first swim I was dropped off and a taxi was waiting to take me to La Maddalena to meet Berti, Fabio and their little girls Cleo and Demi. We had a lovely lunch together and happened to meet Chris from London walking along with his suitcase.

After lunch we went for a drive around the island, something I didn't get to do last year. It has the most spectacular views.

Back to the hotel we took the girls for a little swim in the hotel pool while waited for Steve to return. So much fun seeing them and the little girls are just gorgeous.

An hours rest then of to a little beach restaurant for dinner. Lots of laughs later we fell into bed at about 11.30. Phoebe was suffering a little with sunburn and had swallowed so much water in the
afternoon swim that she coughed and was just a little worried about dry drowning. Francesco is
keeping an eye in her. Not sure she paced herself for the first day. Fear she will suffer tomorrow.

Another big sleep in our very comfortable hotel room.







Hi from Sardinia

Ciao miei amici

Our return to Sardinia has been everything we hoped for and more!

We arrived soooooo tired after nearly 38 travel time with layovers in HK and Paris.
So getting to the Hotel Grand MaMa was exciting. We met Phoebe ( our young friend from when she was at Kindy with Pete) who had traveled from London with Chris and Yves and was well rested compared to us.
We had a big freshen up and headed to the hotel bar for my first Aperol Spritz. Oh they do taste different in Italy.

Dinner was in the hotel dining room a rather swish room with lots of sparkly lights. ( Not always in good taste but so very Italian!) We had lots of catch up with Francesco our guide from last year, Chris our very generous host and chief organizer for this year, Chris' brother Ben who arrived from
the US with his friend Dan ( a very funny guy who makes sets and toys in the US). Also Phoebe, Francesco the guide, Vittoria the assistant guide and Yves who is a swim trek guide and will swim the channel with them. He is the most experienced one, as he has swum the English Channel!

It's going to be a blast! The laughs are coming quick and fast and "not so straight Chris" has not arrived from London yet.

Off to bed for a well deserved rest!