Hill Top Farm

Earlier this week we visited Hill Top Farm, the summer home and working studio of Beatrix Potter. From the sale of her little books, Beatrix bought and donated a lot of land to the National Trust here in England. She also donated this property to the Trust with the instructions to leave it furnished as is and allow the people to visit.

If you've read any of her little books, you might recognize some of the scenery in my pictures. I felt like I was entering Peter Rabbit's garden as I stepped through the gate into the garden in this picture.

The things I am going to miss about France

Now that I've posted the things I'm not going to miss, I have a much longer list of things I will miss.

1. French wine - even the 3 euro priced bottles are good
2. French bread
3. French cheese - it's all stinky but ooohhh so good
4. French cities - one of our French friends calls it "le rythme de la vie" - the rhythm of life. There is always something going on in the city
5. The weather in the south of France - oh so mild and subzero free
6. The way the french dine - a social event that can include up to 5 courses and is not to be rushed (2 hours average)
7. The French language
8. The markets - everything here is fresh
9. Conservation measures - check out an earlier post
10. Red tile roofs
11. The proximity to the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and the Pyrenees
12. Les places - the city squares with green spaces and open air restaurants
13. Dining outside most of the year - in the city, no smog or loud traffic
14. Paris
15. French restaurants - Restaurants are small, cozy, and the food is delicious. And, there are many, many choices
16. The ability to be car free - I've driven very little this year - it's great to walk around town.
17. The sunsets from our 4th floor terrace
18. Being so close to such amazing places - the history here is incredible
19. Pastries - do I really need to say more?
20. Chocolate
21. Their love for dogs. Lady has gone with us just about everywhere
22. The carousels in every town
23. The rolling hills of vineyards, lavender or sunflowers
24. Canard - duck here is very tasty
25. The architecture

. . . and of course all my new friends

The things I won't miss about France

Our stay in France is almost over and I've compiled this list of things I'm not going to miss about the French way of doing things.

1. Public restrooms - most of them are without toilet paper. Many of them are without seats (I'm told those are Turkish toilets, supposedly more hygienic) and some are just holes in the ground
2. French motorcycle drivers - I swear they have a death wish. French laws don't prohibit them from passing cars in the same lane or on either side.
3. French drivers - they are never in a hurry unless you are in front of them
4. The conversion rate between euros and dollars
5. European Air traffic control - British Airways, volcanoes, and snow (they don't know what to do with even 1/2 inch)
6. Crowded, aromatic subways - I don't think they use deodorant
7. Small cars and small, bumpy roads
8. Apartment living - miss my home
9. Toll roads - you can't get anywhere without them and they cost more than gas
10. Having to watch where you walk - they don't clean up after their dogs
11. The cost of energy = no clothes dryer or air conditioner!

The Basque Region

When Nick and Katie were here last month we traveled to the "Pay Basque" which is an area in the southwest region of France and the northwest region of Spain along the Atlantic coast. The weather didn't cooperate, it was unusually cold for late April. So we didn't get to experience the "fun and sun play land" aspect of the region.

In France, the town we stopped in was St. Jean de Luz. It's a quieter little town compared to San Sebastian, but it's claim to fame is that the church where Louis the XIV (of France) and Maria Theresa (of Spain) were married. Supposedly, this town was chosen because it's halfway between Madrid and Paris. It was a lovely church.

Also, there was a delicious tarterie there (thanks Dinsmore's for the tip). We tasted several different pies before heading on to San Sebastian.

In San Sebastian, Spain,we enjoyed tapas. The four of us spent one night hopping from one tapas bar to another. The food was quite different from traditional French fare and very delicious.
The Santa Maria church in San Sebastian was interesting. Saint Sebastian was martyred and his statues usually have him depicted filled with arrows in his side. This church is no exception.
Nick and Katie spent a couple of hours climbing the hill to get a closer look of the statue of Christ.
We had a delightful lunch along the harbor. Katie had her first experience with fresh crab - delicious.

Energy in France

Here in Europe, electricity is not taken for granted. I think we Americans could learn something from the Europeans about this. As we've traveled throughout France (and a little in Spain, Greece, Italy and Britain) their common spaces are lit only "on-demand." Hotel hallways, public restrooms and other public spaces have timed switches or motion sensors to control the lighting. The hallways in our apartment building have motion sensors to trigger the lights.

When I think of just the hotels across America that have lights on 24/7, I know we could do better. There are things we can learn from the Europeans. Another, people here use reusable shopping bags (reinforced plastic, it reminds me of the reinforcing of strapping tape) almost exclusively, and if you don't remember to bring your bag along with you, you can buy one of the "Cub type" bags for $0.03 a piece. I know we've started using reusable bags in America but. . . When I come home later this month, I'm bringing my reinforced bags to Cub and saving some energy.

Carousels

Every French town has it's own carousel and usually it reflects the city or is unique. For example, the carousel in Arles, a provencal town, one of it's animals is a bull. Arles has a Roman arena where they hold a type of bull fight (the bull's don't die) during summer evenings. The picture below is in Collioure.


Toulouse's carousel (below) is in Place Wilson, my favorite park. Toulouse's carousel is a double-decker. Even our little neighborhood of Borderouge has a little (as in for toddler's) carousel.

Bourgogne and Bordelais

Last week we spent several days showing Nick and Katie wine regions here. After picking them up on the outskirts of Paris, we drove to Bourgogne, better known to Americans as Burgundy. We visited the town of Beaune and toured a Chateau (and bought some mighty fine wine as well). Beaune had a nice little wine museum that was interesting. Those are antique wine bottles in the picture below.

After two nights in that region, we drove to St. Emilion, which is in the Bordeaux region. Larry and I returned with Nick and Katie to the campground we had stayed at last fall. We rented a two bedroom mobile home and the deck had a great view of the neighboring vineyard. It was a great place to "set up camp."

I have to say that my son, the wine enthusiast, was "in heaven." I had fun just watching him enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the wine regions. La Dominique is Nick's favorite wine from the St. Emilion region (the vineyard is right next to one of the most expensive Chateaux in the world, but La Dominique wine is still rather affordable). That's a hallway filled from top to bottom with stacked wine bottles, aging (bottom picture).