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Published: August 28th 2019
DIJON
Palace of Burgundy ballroom...stunning!Had an easy exit out of Lyon as it was Saturday morning...3hrs after stopping off in a small village for a quick bite....baguette of course...they are so yummy! That is something the French do very well...bread meaning baguettes or French sticks. Dijon very nice town and our Hotel Wilson was right on the perimeter of the old town....Hotel Wilson is a very old stone hotel...done up nicely...but no air con had to do with a fan...it has been so hot....in the 30s most of the time. Of course set off walking to see all the sites...there is a huge plaza in the middle of the old town.....one of several in Dijon....the plaza was a great spot for happy hour and people watching and watching kids play in the fountains as it was so hot! Our first night we booked into Parapluie, people saying its a Michelin restaurant in the making...the food was devine and very different....Eggplant mousse....sous vide egg in a classic white bean soup with grainy crackers.....fresh black code on polenta with a very tasty sauce...mark had beef....then a prosciutto wrapped loin pork as main that was sous vide as well...then a white plum dessert with a a lovely mousse
DIJON
One of many plazas with crunchy praline through it and it was pretty good value at 32 Euro a head...we had a lash out! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Sunday decided to visit mustard shop and then do a lunch. The mustard shop was amazing....no factory in Dijon its in nearby Beune but decided to visit shop in Dijon as they had all the tastings...have not seen so many different flavours of mustard anywhere. We had multiple tastins. After a few purchases set off to our lunch spot. We sat out front of restaurant in the cool shade....but halfway through out meal this area turned into a carpark....one of the people parking their car came over to talk to us...very nice guy called Alain and spoke very good English...he just lived a couple of doors down from our restaurant...over a long chat he said he and his partner were coming to Australia in the next year or so. He said he had to go as his mother in law was visiting....then half hour later he came back to invite us for a soiree at his home that night at 7pm...we said no food as we had a big lunch! So very excited to be invited into
DIJON
Different architecture wherever you go a French home....we had a wonderful time with this beautiful family...at such short notice they went to a lot of trouble.... gifts of mustard, local cheeses with baguetttes and bread, vege tart with a tomato chutney finished off with a lovely cherry almond tart for dessert washed down with some nice champagne and red from their private cave and I mean a cave.....France and her mummy and Alain were very excited to have us too...they said first time they had entertained Australians in their home. France is away with work a lot...she is a building project manager and is looking after the building for the Prince of Chad....she has been on this project two years and has nearly had enough...she goes from her compound to the job in a bullet proof vehicle esorted front and rear with military vehicles! She loves her job though!!!!! I couldn't do her job! Alain commutes to Paris about one and a half hours on the TGV to do his financial advisor business but can work from home a bit too! Took us 4hrs from Dijon to Paris by car. Anyway the invitation to a French home was one of the highlights of our trip
DIJON
Part of the cathedral with gargoyles and we look forward to hosting them in Melbourne in the not too distant future. Off to Paris on Monday morning through countryside and small villages arriving about 3pm...John dropped us at accom and took car to Airport...well we covered around 3,000 kilometres through France saw a vast area of changing countryside. We have a 2bedroom 2 bath apartment in the 11th arondissoment which is not touristy at all and a great restaurant right next door...had a fabulous risotto here! First full day in Paris walked 25 klms....our feet were burning in the hot weather after that.....this is our 3rd time in Paris but showing Mark all the sites was as much fun as it was before! Had an early happy hour at 3pm....needed a cold beer bad!!!! Just near the Eiffel Tower so a nice view! After recharging the batteries after our first 4hrs of walking set off to Eiffel Tower close up, St Germaine and then caught the metro home. Wednesday walked 15klms mainly up to Montmatre and Sacre Coeur and had lunch in a local restaurant....$100 for two burgers, pce of roast chicken and onion soup with 3 beers....basic meal and so expensive! We were shocked about
DIJON
Gargoyles close up the area around Montmatre....like a suburb in Africa...wall to wall....remembering when we stayed in Montmatre in 2009 for a few days and our niece Amber came to visit from London....nothing like that now!! Then went looking for Jim Morrison's grave which we found quite easy and its only about 700 metres from where we are staying....cannot believe he died in 1971....one of those musicians that all died around 27 years old! So then walked back to the supermarket to stock up and a rest before packing up again. Leaving here about 8.30a.m. tomorrow to get two trains to airport for a 12noon flight to London. Woohooo here we come Faversham...to El, Dean and Dyls for Dyls 3rd birthday!
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Rhonda
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Ho Glor and the boys
Wow Glor……….reading about the food at the restaurant was amazing enough!!!! But then to hear your story of being invited into the family French home was incredible...…..how fantastic for you all. I am sure we will get to meet them at your home one day!!! And great to hear how much fun you had in Paris showing Marky around. Love to you all xxxxxx