Loire – Beauperi Investments

Posted on June 29, 2015June 29, 2015 by beauperi · 2 Comments

Leaving France or did we?

Sunday, 21 June, 2015

Loyal readers – you probably have been wondering what has happened to this Blog since it has been stuck for the last 9 days. A combination of circumstances, including the one in this Post, and absence of Internet in places had slowed the Blog down to next to nothing. I am hoping to pick up the pace but, as always, circumstances are hard to control.

It is the last morning of the Tour da France. All of the group pack up and head off to various destinations – I did not say goodbye to most of the group because I was busy elsewhere – sorry TdF groupies!

I took a couple more photos of the Chateau before we left.

As indicated, we were the last to leave and Charles-Henri graciously drove us to the train station. At this stage it is important for me to mention our hosts for the last 6 days. The owners, Ségolène and Charles-Henry de Valbray, were brilliant, friendly and ran a great place. Highly recommended.

http://www.chateau-saintpaterne.com/uk/

There was virtually nothing at the train station so we had a (soft) drink in the pub across the street. The overall plan was to take this local train to Le Mans and then, after a 90 minute stopover, catch a TGV to Charles de Gaulle airport. And it all went very smoothly. We had time in Le Mans for class lunch.

Actually, the Burger was quite a lot better than Maccers. We then board our TGV to Paris. It is a smooth ride and everything is going swimmingly. We arrive at CDG, Terminal 2 and then take the Shuttle to Terminal 1 – there are 4 stops to get there and it takes around 20 minutes. We arrive at Terminal 2 and go to the Turkish Air check-in, we already had boarding passes so just needed to check the bags. There was a bit of a queue and when we got to the front, the Vigoro really hit the Mix Master.

We had arrived at Terminal 2 with 70 minutes to spare, but with the Shuttle and the queue it was approximately 50 minutes until boarding. Turkish has a hard and fast rule that all luggage must be checked-in at least 60 minutes before the flight. Hence, we were not allowed to fly! Mama mia! Among the consequences was that we would miss the first day of the Georgia tour; we had to pay, through the nose, extra to catch a flight the next day, that would not land in Tbilisi until 10:00 PM; and we needed to check-in to a CDG Hotel, also extra cost. Argh!

The good thing was that unlike the past, I did not crack the sh**ts. We took the Shuttle back to Terminal 3 and checked-in to the Ibis located there. Ibis Hotels are known throughout the world as rooms that you “cannot swing a cat” and this room was no exception – small, but functional. We really had no complaints about it.

We went to the Hotel’s restaurant. Other than a decent sized queue to get in, it was OK. I had a Duck confit and I cannot recall what Julie had. No photos.

Thus ended our day of heartache but it really did not end that badly. At least we were not landing in Georgia at 3:30 AM. Off to Georgia (again) tomorrow, we hope.

Posted on June 20, 2015 by beauperi · 1 Comment

A Day Off

Friday, 19/6/2015

Today there are no scheduled activities, we are ll pretty much left to our own. Julie Simone walk into the town again. Having said that are no activities there is a BBQ lunch on.

There were three kinds of sausages: Pork, Pork and Chilli (not much) and Toulouse. There were a lot of them but the hungry hordes devoured them all.

Later in the afternoon, Julie and a few others go into the kitchen with a cooking class by Charles-Henri and Douglas.

Famous Cookbook co-authored by Charles-Henry

After the class, Julie heads back into town for an advertised special market. It was supposedly not very special at all.

When JV returns from town she indicates that everyone else had made separate plans. We have a drink on our lovely balcony. We then decide to go to a local restaurant in close walking distance.

Special starter - cold mushroom soup — Special starter – cold mushroom soup

There was not much English spoken there. We eventually got some help from two tables over who had a most interesting main course – shown below.

Coquille St Jacques for JV. Presentation good, the scallops were a bit tough

Turkey Leg - the special that was on the other table. The Frites were a bit soggy. — Turkey Leg – the special that was on the other table. The Frites were a bit soggy.

The wine, a Bordeaux Left Bank, was very good

The Three Water Towers that mark roughly where we live

Back at the Chateau, we join Michael and Di for a drink, at first outside and then later inside.

Eventually, the others wandered in to tell their tales of the evening. Michael and Di had been to a Greek Kebab stand and had Kebab and Frites and Beer.

Posted on June 19, 2015June 20, 2015 by beauperi · 16 Comments

To Market for a “Fish Fry”

Thursday, 18 June, 2015

The original plan was for the group to ride bikes into the town for the market. However, several of us are not keen to cycle. Therefore, 5 of the group walk in; 4 decide to stay back at the Chateau and the rest of us pile into the van, one from yesterday. We make our way into town and find the main provenders for tonight’s “fish fry” – Doug and French translator Mouse. We also find JV.

We did not take many photos of the market but it was quite nice. We stopped at a bar for a coffee and were joined by others. A local started talking with us and eventually pointed Michael and Di to a liquor shop that had a large collection of Scotches.

After returning to the farm, we headed out the full group to a pretty little town Saint Ceneri le Gerei, the sign said the prettiest town in all of France. On the way, we stopped at a deli to pick up a range of baguettes, I selected a hot piece of pizza instead.

We go to a church at the top of the town

It is raining a bit so we head down into the village to a pub there.

The Bridge and River with some troops on it

Half of the group head off early with Charles Henri to go to a local Stud Farm. We make our way back to the Chateau with significant driving around in circles before we find it, for the second time today.

Later we meet for drinks before dinner on the patio.

We had a Sauvingnon Blanc that was way too fruity so we only went through one bottle. Then it was time for the seafood dinner.

There is a much nicer white served with the first two courses.

Scallop with White Asparagus and Black Pudding

An unusual wine that was a straight Cabernet Franc.

Colin said it was his favourite wine on the trip. I could not go that far but it was pretty good.

Confit of Salmon. Ah, Douglas - you have done it again! — Confit of Salmon. Ah, Douglas – you have done it again!

Cheese - a delightful Camembert — Cheese – a delightful Camembert

A delightful meal from Douglas and a good day.

Posted on June 19, 2015June 19, 2015 by beauperi · 1 Comment

Normandie

Wednesday, 17 June, 2015

It is our “longest day” to day so we are on the road relatively early this morning. We are off to Normandie the site of the D-Day landing in 2004. In specific, we head to Omaha Beach and the American Cemetary there.

A Memorial. Names of many persons from the landing on this memorial

A Map of the Landing - Part 1 — A Map of the Landing – Part 1

A Map of the Landing - Part 2 — A Map of the Landing – Part 2

Just one of the graveyards with head posts as far as one can see

This si the only grave stone I took a photo of because his death occurred during the landing

We meet back at the vans, some are 15 minutes late, and drive along the coast past some of the landing beaches. We then head to a location where they have created a re-enactment of the Omaha Beach landing but there is no place to park and we are late for our lunch booking so we continue onto our next restaurant.

Along the way we passed a number of abandoned German tanks

Chateau de Sully is a two Michelin Star restaurant.

Julie indicated to the waiter that I did not et Egg. So he took it away and brought one back with mushrooms instead

Magnificent Mashed Potatoes - the highlight of the meal (for me) — Magnificent Mashed Potatoes – the highlight of the meal (for me)

Julie asked the waiter for a copy of the menu. He went to his computer and printed it out and got the Chef to autograph it. Others followed suit in the request.

We then proceed to Bayeux to view the famous tapestry. One of the well known aspects of it is the long queus to see it. No difference for us, they halted our entry and let a group of 100 enter ahead of us.

We finally get through the queue and view the famous Bayeux Tapestry. Yes, Peter, another museum visit for Patrick. For those who know nothing about it, The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth nearly 70 metres long and 50 centimetres tall, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy, who defeated and killed his former ally Harold of Essexin the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Thus Bill the Bastard became William the Conqueror.

https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Bayeux_Tapestry

We get into the vans and drive back to our Chateaux. It was a long day but there still was time for snacks and wine. Leftover Saltbush lamb was a delight.

Posted on June 16, 2015June 18, 2015 by beauperi · 1 Comment

Leaving Bordeaux

Monday, 15 June, 2015

So, it is goodbye to Bordeaux. We pack our bags, have breakfast and then board the bus to our next destination in the Loire. It is a long 5+ hours ride and around half way we stop at a roadhouse for a bite. I think many of us were looking for a burger and chips but this was too upmarket for that. Instead, I had a chicken baguette which was OK and Julie a croissant. Then we continue on our way.

Trying to show turn off to Le Mans. The big race was yesterday.

It really was not too bad of a trip given how long it was. The weather was rainy all the way but at our Chateau it was nice and sunny and apparently would be the whole week. Whoopee.

The owners and staff ran out to meet us and told us to leave the bags and they would bring them in. Not everyone obeyed.

We are requested to go outside on the terrace while Colin sorts out the rooms.

We are then shown to our rooms. We have been assigned the room where King Henry IV would consort with his Mistress.

The Colourful Ceiling from centuries past

From our balcony the Boys in the distance and JV entering the foreground

We notice that there are several of our group having drinks on the terrace so we decide to join them with a bottle of Rose. Then, after a couple of hours it is formal happy hour time.

The meal tonight is prepared by our Host Charles Henri with assistance from Douglas.

On the plate. Michael got lumbered with a massive serve by the waitress

Cheese. Alencon is famous for its cheeses

So, we are in Alencon at this old Chateau for the rest of the tour – 6 nights. BTW: the Nazis had taken over this chateau for one of their headquarters during World War II.

Beauperi Investments – Wine Consulting

Tag: Loire

Leaving France or did we?

A Day Off

To Market for a “Fish Fry”

Normandie

Leaving Bordeaux