Special visitors in France

In October of last year my wonderful parents visited me in Paris. After an emotional reunion at the airport we had a few fun-filled weeks in Paris and Bourgogne (the wine region) to explore together.

It had been a big transition for me moving to Paris from Melbourne so it was great to see my folks to make me feel a bit of home.

It’s always interesting to hear the “outsider” perspective on Paris, because I seem to adopt the opinions of the Parisians and when friends and family visit me in Paris I realise how immersed I have become.

This florist is just wonderful, it is just near to my old uni Sciences Po, in Rue Bernard Palissy at Saint Germain Des Pres. My favourite things in this florist are the little flower pots covered in moss.

(Sorry for the photo overload I got a bit excited!)

After admiring the rose, I told this rather cheesy couple shot of my parents.

And another..

Cluny is a remarkable city, it is so old! Cluny is situated in the Saone et Loire departement in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France. It is 20 km northwest of Macon. The town grew up around the Benedictine Cluny Abbey, founded by the Duke Wiliam I of Aquitaine in 910. The height of Cluniac influence was from the second half of the 10th century through the early 12th.

This medieval city contains so much history, we were astonished!

The abbey in Cluney was sacked by the Huguenots in 1562 and many of the valuable manuscripts were destroyed or removed.

Looking pretty good for it’s age I say!

This place was just so romantic and the burnt colours of Autumn made me head-over-heels.

Dad couldn’t believe his eyes, he loves history!

Next stop was Puligny Montrachet.
In the middle of the Cote de Beaune, it is a well-known appellation of Burgundy wine, containing one of the most famous vineyards in the world, Montrachet.

Even though it was cold (should I say freezing?), we were lucky enough to have an array of pretty colours that are associated with Winter and it was worth battling the brisk Winter air to see it all!

Love the cobble stones!

Who wouldn’t love to have this outside their little window?

Fairy floss

Adorable little girl with her cigar smoking father

We went to a few local markets and the maternal instinct in me made me feel like buying a country home and cooking for 10 hungry children.

At our B&B

Cheese!

We stayed in a wonderful place in Puligny Montrachet called Domaine des Anges. It is run by an English couple and the service was just perfect. Lady Celine and Sir John are as close as it can get to the incarnation of perfect hosts on earth. They work together extremly well and organisation is certainly their strong point! The place is a typical Bourgogne countryside house, totally renovated with an amazingly well kept garden and courtyard. The beds are comfortable, and I even had a bath each night before bed which was such a luxury. The warm colors and choice of furniture inside make it irresistibly cozy and comfy.

So many pumpkins!

As you can see, these local markets are really doing what all big cities aren’t: eating local, fresh, seasonal food. It would be enough to make me move here (don’t tell J)

Snails on pizza… who would have thought?!

The view from my room at Domaine des Anges. Just perfect.
The best part: sharing breakfast with other guests with fine homemade marmalades, fresh generous croissants, eggs, cheese from the region, fresh baguette, plate of ham, and … a surprise delicacy every morning (first day was cooked apple and cinnamon, second day freshly cut pineapple, third day freshly cut pink grapefruit). Details were taken care of like fresh flowers every morning set on the dining table. I loved the way they set the table!

(Sorry for the photo overload I got a bit excited!)

Looking at these photos made me want to go back and do it all again!

Have you been to Bourgogne in France? What is your most loved wine? (French or other?)

xx