We had time to kill before our ferry departed, so we headed to Dover Castle...that's right...English Heritage!
Edgar next to the castle catapult.
Inside the walled fortress area, this is where the people lived.
Would you believe they had a Henry VIII exhibit?!?
This was his throne in his royal chamber.
On the very top of the building.
It had great views from up there.
Now we're headed up the ferry...
...finally about to cross the channel!
Lined up for our parking spot.
Enjoying window views from the ferry.
Edgar is all smiles!
WE ARE IN FRANCE!!!!!!! (leaving the ferry terminal)
We arrived to a music festival in Reims, Champage.
In the crowd at Reims.
Winged Victory statue...remember her from the Louvre? Only this time she has a head and arms.
There were D.J.'s (and drunk locals),
Fun first night!
This band was our favorite...looks like they reunited from the college days. I love how the lead singer looks like such a family man now.
At the Notre Dame...in Reims, not Paris. There are lots of cathedrals named Notre Dame.
Getting ready to leave the Hotel Villa St. Pierre and begin the...
...Cotes des Blancs Champagne tour!
Sweet little church on the tour.
We loved these small villages.
Vonda at the church from the previous photo.
Edgar in all the grapes!
Rose bushes will catch any diseases a few weeks before the vines, that's why you see them planted in vineyards.
More little villages along the way.
And they all have a church with a tall steeple.
What? Rain on an EdVon trip?
Fortunately, it was the only rainy day! I think we left is all back in England, and even sent some to Texas...maybe the curse is broken!
Ruffin & Fils Champagne house where we did our one and only tasting.
Edgar on his way...
...down into the cave...
Inside the 300 year old chalk cellar.
We finally learn how Champagne is made.
And see all the wonderful bottles.
YUMMY!
Then it's back up to the top...
...after a little photo op...
...to see the labeling and boxing in action.
Finally we get to taste.
All gone!
We liked it!
Then on to Burgundy, the Cote d'Or and some of the best wines in the world!
We stayed in Beaune.
It is a medeival town contained within a stone wall, much like Cartagena, Colombia.
Having some wine at our first night's dinner.
Vonda really liked it!
Now how do I get rid of these hiccups?
At the Beaune Saturday morning market.
They have everything you could want...
...cheese, flowers...
...and even nuns!
The dried meat is very good and a picnic staple.
The French love their baguettes.
I just loved this little old lady who made these precious bouquets with flowers from her garden. I have never seen one so lovingly made.
Now we have our picnic supplies and bikes, so we are off on a wine-tasting adventure.
The tractors are tall enough to go directly over the vines and spray them.
Our first stop.
Nice spot for a tasting!
We saw the cellar with all the barrels.
These must have the reds.
And all the bottles.
First Cru...almost the best, but not quite the "Grand Cru", which is the ultimate.
Headed back upstairs.
We had not yet learned that you shouldn't drink the entire tasting they give you....especially when it's six different wines.
We needed a little bread and cheese before we headed back out ;)
On to the next village.
Statue of the monks who started the vineyards.
This was a beautiful chateau along the way, but they charged for the tastings...AS IF!
Behind the chateau was kind of like an old army aiplane burial ground...strange.
We liked the look of this building...saw several with this same style and coloring.
Our last and favorite stop was at the l'Ange Gardien winery. Nicole and Pierre were fabulous hosts.
Pierre was a real gentleman.
Stacking the bottles is an artform. There is no shelving, just masterful stacking...and unstacking.
The Kir Royal...cremant and cassis.
I had a few...it was the last stop!
Edgar loved the red!
They will open the Chateau in the background hopefully next year!
A little coffee before the bike ride home.
Cheers!
The Guardian Angel in the sky at l'Ange Gardien.
We had dinner with some friends we met on the bike circuit...l-r: Dennis (San Francisco), Amy (Chicago), Paul (Australia), and EdVon (Cloud 9).
Now we are headed for Languedoc and pass this castle built into the hillside.
Going to La Dordine in Pezenas for our first night.
The place was awesome. This is one shot of our room.
We were on the third floor, so had a great view of the old city.
The staircase was steep and winding in the 13th century house.
Pezenas.
First crepe of the trip. Edgar has nutella.
Exploring Pezenas.
Getting lunch from some nice French ladies. We didn't speak the same language, but you learn that a smile and a "Bon Jour" can go a long way!
We decided to dip our toes in the Mediterranean near Sete.
The water was a little chilly and the skin was out in full force...it is France ya know!
We have this same picture from Laguna Beach when we travelled to California 7 years ago. Only my "C" was still a "W".
Little crabs walked the beach.
Beautiful tree-lined road to...
...Roujan...
...and our little slice of Languedoc heaven, Le Couvent.
It is a beautifully restored convent and school.
Built around 1650. We didn't get a photo of it, but it also has a great pool!
The gardens are beautiful and frangrant.
Lizzie and Ali are, hands down, the best hosts we have ever had. They have a genuine warmth about them and you immediatley feel as though you are old friends. This house is their life and we are so happy they share it with us!
Ali finds something amusing over our bottle of wine.
Did someone say figs?
Getting the dogs leashed for a fig picking adventure.
Kitty and Flyn are so adorable.
They keep everyone in line...or at least announce their arrival.
The fig tree is in the middle of a vineyard-as are most things in Languedoc, the largest wine producing region in France.
We saw olive trees.
And almond trees.
Lizzie broke some young almonds open for us to try.
They were sweet and yummy!
Edgar forges our way to the fig tree.
Working for his breakfast.
We enjoy the view along the way.
Edgar's first fig.
Lizzie and Ali fill their bags for the next morning's breakfast.
Edgar finds the best one...
Here it is!
I pick one I can reach.
Don't laugh at my small amount. I was taking the pictures, remember?
Lovely countryside.
Can you believe we're here?
We LOVE FRANCE!
Sunset over Languedoc.
Headed back to the car.
We had such great conversations while we were there.
Edgar with the ladies.
Berries used to make slow gin.
Chamomile.
Lizzie and Ali stopped at this very old chapel on the road home.
From the outside, you would never guess people still come here to pray.
Edgar with a guardian angel on his shoulder.
view from inside the chapel.
The whole building.
We decided to share a little cremant, and Ali introduced us to young goat cheese (chevre) topped with honey. It is soooo good!
We thought this light fixture in the local bar was cool.
We headed to the beach one day to soak up some sun.
Edgar gets a great tan, but forgets to wear his Speedo.
Vonda wears SPF 50.
We have lunch in the beach restaurant.
Very fresh fish.
Edgar orders a steak and frites...???
The water is so clear and aquamarine.
It doesn't have coral though, so it's a bit sandy.
Gas prices...in liters and euros...you do the math!
We loved Roujan.
The real estate is quite affordable...hmmmm...
beautiful flowers
winding streets
old doors
secret passageways
This is a church that is just down from Le Couvent.
It has a war memorial.
Back in Pezenas for some crepes.
I'm so happy!
Chocolate is my favorite!
Very sad to leave Roujan.
So we stopped for a little tasting to ease the pain.
They had just finished with a professional tasting-used to check the progress of the wine.
We went over the Millau Bridge...the highest in the world...on our way to the Loire Valley.
Driving past fields of sunflowers.
If anyone can tell me what these wind socks are for, please do so. They are all along the highways and are no where close to any landing spots for aircrafts.
I just loved this hay sitting in the greenest field I have every seen.
Les Moulins des Vontes
Our final B&B
How can I get a house like this?
With the biggest hydrangea bush I have ever seen?
These are the watermills...they don't turn anymore, though.
View from in front of the watermills.
Bridge linking the buildings.
This duck was very territorial. We don't know he was eating small bugs off our car or looking at his reflection.
Edgar makes us the afternoon coffee...only it's instant, not espresso.
But he makes the best instant coffee I've ever had!
We pick and eat the raspberries right off the vine.
Another gigantic hydrangea bush.
Dinner near the Esvres in the Loire Valley. French food is amazing.
Gazpacho, yummy!
Lovely town where we had a picnic.
Very old buildings in the town.
Market where we bought our picnic
Potatoes,
Rotisserie chicken,
Of course a baguette,
Topped with young chevre (goat's cheese) and fresh local honey (thanks for the tip, Ali!).
At Chenonceau Castle
It had a long tree lined entrance.
So we stopped for a photo
or two
almost there
We're here!
Overlooking a garden
King and Queen of the castle
Welcome!
Yes, I work very hard in the gardens.
It's actually built over the River Cher
one of the rooms
Staircase leading to the staff's quarters, including the kitchens.
View from inside the castle.
Another castle room
After the castle, we needed a little lunch and was joined by a new friend.
Sometimes you just want a Coke.
Leonardo da Vinci's final home.
He lived here his last three years.
It's a beautiful home given to him by Francis I.
Scale model of one of his inventions...precursor to the helicopter!
I finally got my picture in the sunflowers.
Our last French meal on our last night.
Edgar didn't shave for all 10 days.
Sad to be leaving.
Good bye, France. We'll miss you...and the wine, and the naps, and the great food, and the French music, and....
At the ferry in Calais
View of the White Cliffs of Dover as we exit the ferry and land on British soil again.
Au Revior, until next time!
