Blogs from Dijon, Burgundy, France, Europe - page 2

Spare of the moment canal boat cruise. My uncle and aunty from Australia were visiting and mentioned how fabulous their trip had been. We had a look and Le boat had a boat available from Tannay, 4 hours 40mins drive from Geneva. Tannay is near Dijon and we decided we would jump at it. The boat was comfortable, a 2 star so I'm told. 3 cabins with 2 beds in each, a large living space and smallish kitchen and 3 bathrooms. It is advertised as a 'no experience' necessary, and seeing as Murray has a lot of boating experience we thought we would be able to manage. Thankfully I didn't think about the trip too much, if I had I would have realised with Murray driving it meant I was walking around the boat and dealing ... read more

The morning service on Sunday at Notre Dame was warm and welcoming. Although completely in French, some could be understood well enough. During the service, a beautiful-hearted young novice spoke eloquently and passionately, encouraging hope and faith over fear in the light of the tragedies in France and other parts of Europe. Moving. A leisurely coffee was enjoyed quietly at a nearby café while we watched families pass by. Some had attended church, others looked as though they were heading out for lunch. The market hall (Les Halles) had been transformed into a vibrant Brunch area…bookings essential! Nevertheless, Villa Pernot’s Sunday’s lunch was of a rather good standard! But then there was our long French lunch on Monday (Lundi). We hosted Robert and Jenny, who are friends of Lyn and Neville. Aperitifs, which included Sablés au ... read more

A quieter day, which will end with attending a service at the local cathedral, St-Bénigne, at 8:00pm. This cathedral was named after the first apostle of Burgundy. Its spire of 91 metres is the tallest in Dijon. It also boasts the beautiful Burgundian glass tiled roof. But, the day started with a delightful outing…closer to home on the banks of Lac Kir. Another brocante! A leisurely stroll under the trees and through the pathways between the tables provided a pleasant start to our quiet day. Yes, a couple of purchases were made: a pot for Lyn, (oh, and a key for her new collection) and a small jug for Jan. And now, the pièce-de-résistance for the day: Madame Smith created lunch for us; her very first soufflé! A brilliant effort and worth sharing! Mabel helped whisk ... read more

A morning stroll to the market on Saturday in the gloriously warm sunshine, to shop especially for the most fragrant full-of-flavour strawberries, followed by a leisurely amble to the favourite café for our morning coffee. A perfect morning. Madeleines were baked in the kitchen of ‘Villa Pernot’, in preparation for our visit to Lyn and Neville’s friends, Robert and Jenny. They live in a very small village in Creancy, about a 30 minute drive from Dijon. The converted barn houses Jenny’s collectables from brocantes and grenieres. Lyn came back with a few purchases! The rolling green hills along our journey were dotted with huge hay bales; cattle and sheep grazed. Occasionally the canals could be seen. Travelling at 130kph made photography difficult! We head for Avignon today, Sunday, for a couple of days. Our accommodation will ... read more

Monday 4 July 2016 Another glorious day for us to enjoy! So blessed! Neville negotiates the narrow roads, roundabouts and, at times, crazy drivers with such skill. Remember, it’s all left hand drive in a manual car. Everything is opposite! A stunning drive through the Jura was quite breathtaking. The height of these mountains and the fir trees are astounding. The summer green simply glows. How were the enormous aquaducts built centuries ago? A morning tea stop at Les Rousses was welcome; unfortunately (or was it fortunately?) the ‘bear shop’, La Meubleurie du bois de L’Ours, wasn’t opening until 2pm. This shop is filled with the most fabulous carved wooden furniture, homewares and clothing for mountain living. It is Monday in France…most places close Saturday afternoon and reopen Monday at 2pm. Another visit is planned! A ... read more