More of Burgundy,

To say that wine is important in Burgundy is a gross understatement: In Burgundy wine is a religion.

Here is the chateau of Meursault where we visited the cave and sampled some great wines.

The chateau of Meursault is built on top of an 11th century monastery of which only the magnificent vaulted cellars are left.

This is the vineyard of Meursault, right next to the castle.

Vineyards are everywhere scaling up the hills, as far as the eye can see. It is interesting to see the names on each vineyard, legendary names like Pommard, Meursault, Gevrey-Chambertin, Puligny-Montrachet, and to see that their vineyards are relatively modest in size, (I sort of expected immense, impressive fields matching the world famous reputations.)

TTFN

More of Beaune ...To market, to market

Yes the weather was pouting a little that day, but I really enjoyed the Beaune market. It is so colorful and lively with gorgeous displays, friendly people, merchants that offer to let you taste their products (I stilll dream about that "pate en croute" that I tasted ... and bought, the "charcutier" was truly the Da Vinci of pork products )

I found this plaque that says that Arthur and Gaston Chevrolet (Yep, the car and truck guys) lived there at the end of the 19th century, before going on to bigger things I guess.

I like the old fashioned french boutiques, so quaint ! and most aren't especially high-end,

they can be bakeries, and delis and real-estate offices, nothing fancy, just charming.

I took a pic of this building and forgot what it was (I'm hoping Sis can tell me soon)

Well that's enough for today.

Tooddles.

Trip To Beaune (The Hospice)

Beaune is reknown for its ancient hospital ( Hospice) build in the 15th century. It is truly magnificent, both inside and out, It was built at the time by a local nobleman and his wife to atone for their sins, and provided free health care for the poor. It was a working hospital as late as the mid 20th century.

Below is the room for the poor people, quite lovely accomodations, I think.

Alright now for an anecdote. In one of these huge rooms, there is a grate in the floor (a beautifully ornate one, of course) and through that grate, you can see a river running beneath the building. That room was where surgery was done, and whatever was.. removed was tossed into the riverbelow. As the legend goes, the trouts downstream of the hospice were the fattest and the sweetest tasting in all of Burgundy...omg, I cannot believe I told that story!

The kitchen was renovated in the 19th century (I want that stove!)

The Hospice is especially famous for the stunning roof of glazed, multicolored tiles.

More to come later, I have hundreds of photos.

TTFN

Trip to France (visiting BEAUNE)

I have been absent for a long time, I know. I went to visit my sister in Beaune, in the heart of Burgundy country. It is a gorgeous little town which blends the charm and laid back life style of the country with the sophisticated elegance of far larger cities. Castles and mansions are everywhere, beautiful shops, a killer outdoors market on saturdays, magnificent, ancient architecture ... I was impressed!