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Published: November 7th 2007
Alps
The fabulous viewFrench Immersion
November 7, 2007
We have just spent the most meaningful weekend of the last five months. We traveled to a little village just northeast of Gap in the French Alps called Serre Richard. This is where my paternal great-grandfather Victor Audeoud was born. We spent the weekend with the Audeoud family that still lives in Serre Richard. Around 10 years ago, my Uncle Bill, traveled to Serre Richard and located the remaining descendants of his grandfather, Victor. This lovely, energetic woman is Andree Goez, the grandmother of my much loved Parisian cousin Dorothee. Bill and Andree have maintained contact over the last 10 years and she and her husband Herve hosted us to the most fabulous weekend. No one in the US will EVER be able to convince me that the French are not anything but kind, hospitable, helpful and totally fun to be with!!!
We arrived Friday afternoon after our usual drive through Europe. (Getting lost, difficulty turning around, looking at maps with a dazed look, arguing, and finally getting there.) Gap is about two hours from Avignon through Aix-en-Provence. An absolutely scenic drive, the ascent into the mountains was gorgeous. It was a postcard autumn
Serre Richard
Justin plays ruby with Alps in background. day, the leaves every color of gold, red, and orange dotting the hills. The air was fresh and clean with castles in the distance along the route. The most dramatic site was the fortress at Sisteron just south of Gap. This menacing castle is perched on a hill over the river with a scenic limestone village at its feet. I had hoped to take a picture but speeding by at 130 kph didn’t a picture make!
We arrived just in time for a three course lunch. We had grilled steak, salad, a local delicacy called tourtons. These are an Atkins diet nightmare but oh so good, like deep fried ravioli stuffed with potatoes and cheese!!! This was followed by a cheese course (all local chesses) and dessert….another local treat called Les oeufs en la neige. (Eggs on snow) This was a wonderful custard pudding with puffs of egg white meringue floating on top. It tasted so light but deep down I know that somewhere it was laden with cream. You would think that this would do us for the day….no….they served dinner. We had homemade potato leek soup, fresh cold cuts, bread and more cheese. All this food was
Serre Richard
The chickens in the yard next to Andree and Herve run over for treats whenever anyone is near. served with fabulous French wine…and coffee. Andree knows I like to cook and she presented me at lunch with a series of recipe cards for local cuisine of the Alps. I fear my rendition of any of these treats will never be as good as hers.
Thankfully, after this huge lunch we took a long walk around the village. Andree took me to the house where my great grandfather was born. This house was really really old, built in the 1800’s. One side of the house was like a barn where livestock was housed. This house is still in the family. Andree keeps it available for when her many grandkids come for a stay. We then took a drive to higher altitude to see the ski areas. They were not open yet but it was interesting to see that they generally look like any ski town anywhere in the world…slightly cheaper lift tickets however to the overpriced US! On the way back to her house we drove through the village where Marie, Victor’s wife and my great-grandmother was born. Victor met her in the US and she was coincidentally from the next village. This was a fascinating afternoon.
Serre Richard
The house my great-grandfather was born in. The ramp to the left was for the livestock. The next day was just as exciting and full as the first. Herve took Scott and the boys to the local golf course to practicing putting and driving, while Andree took me to Saturday market at Gap. It was similar to the other French markets I have visited but the addition of local delicacies such as tourtons made it fun. Gap has tons of shopping so we started Christmas shopping in the many shops.
Once back at the house it was time to eat again….OMG…my diet is ruined. All that walking in Paris was negated in two days. Saturday for lunch we had another huge meal. Andree set up a grill in the middle of her table and we all grilled our own thin slices of veal, beef and lamb. She served it with salad and another local treat, les ravioles au preires…liked French fried mashed potatoes. Atkins is just turning in his grave!! We then had more local cheese and dessert of chocolate mousse and pound cake. Andree is the original source of the chocolate mousse that beat me out last year from dear Dorothee. Yes, in case you were wondering we did have dinner as well.
Serre Richard
The old baker's oven in the village. After lunch, Andree’s son and his family came over to meet their American cousins. Yaan is a doctor in Gap and he and his wife Corinne have three daughters, Lea, Helosie, and Garance. The girls are similar ages to my children 13, 11, and 8. The kids got on great considering that their English was not that good and Will and Justin’s French was equally not good. They did what all kids do….played!! They played a mean game of rugby. I swear the girls won….they then played soccer….in which Justin said to Will, “They are going to cream us because these girls really do play soccer.” He was right. After the sun went down (the weather was beautiful but after dark it was freezing) they headed in for some board games. These kids were so delighted to have cousins from America/France that it was really the pivotal part of coming to Europe for me. Scott and I equally felt a connection to Corinne and Yaan. They are the nicest people we have ever met and I wish they lived closer to be a regular part of our lives. We also met Andree’s brother Abel Audeoud this weekend. He is a
Alps
Amazing very suave, handsome French man….the kind your mother warned you about. My grandmother’s brother Uncle Ed was similar….THOSE family genes seemed to make it to America.
That evening, we were included in a dinner party Andree and Herve gave for their friends. They had recently traveled to China with a group from Gap. The whole group was coming over to view their travel DVDs’. We were part of a group 9 people all speaking French rapidly throughout the evening. It was a good lesson in focused listening. I think both Scott and I did OK. There was more great food but I took it easy as after lunch I could barely put one more thing in my mouth. I particularly enjoyed meeting and talking to Juliette. She was the daughter of one of the couples from the china trip. She came specifically to talk to Andree’s American relatives. Juliette has been studying English and wanted to practice. I was grateful for that at many points of the weekend.
Before heading home Sunday, Yaan and Corinne had invited us to their home for lunch. Sweet Herve escorted us to their house so we wouldn’t get lost. They have a
Gap
Golf is every where darling house….a great floor plan for a family. One I wish we had at home in Walnut Creek. The kids took up right where they left off, playing rugby…girl still kicking a**. Us adults sat outside and just talked, sometimes in French and sometimes in English. It was good practice for all of us. Neither of us was very good at each other’s language but it didn’t seem to matter. We still had a delightful time. We had a nice hike in the hills surrounding their home. The views of the mountains were gorgeous….just breath taking. I can imagine in the winter with fresh snow it must be amazing. We had another great lunch….I am on a diet this week. At the end of the afternoon we were so sad to part ways. I sure hope we can see each other again soon. It was so nice to spend time with family across the world. It was however very weird to sit across the table and see my grandmother Vicki’s face in so many people I was just meeting. The family resemblance is eerie. It was a perfect weekend, enjoying French hospitality and discovering my family roots.
Yesterday, after
Serre Richard
Grilling up lunch!! a day of rest we drove for an afternoon in Nimes. This ancient city of Roman ruins is very charming. We went into an ancient Roman temple and watched a 3-D gladiator show. It was cool. Nimes deserves some more exploration and in the next several weeks I hope to make it back. We are resting some more this week, until Saturday when Justin and I head back to Paris. Our friends Becky and Gus arrive from Walnut Creek on Saturday morning. We are spending a week in Paris before heading to Avignon for a week. Becky and Gus will be with us for Thanksgiving. We will probably not have turkey. While in Paris last week, I overheard an American woman ordering her Thanksgiving bird. The going price for turkey is 12.95 euros per kilo. That is at today’s dismal rate of exchange $8.73 per pound. Your typical 20 pound turkey will run you about $175.00. Aren’t they like $9.99 at Safeway??? No thanks…we will have chicken!! Those are plentiful and cheap!!! WE miss you and believe it or not we are due home in 8 weeks! Hard to believe!!!!
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