Friday, October 16, 2015

Palais Royal French Show and Dinner

For those of you who did not know, I used to live in Las Vegas!  I worked for a bank, !  as an officer, we got tickets to many of the shows in the Casinos....very fun!  So, I must say, even though
we heard from several French friends, that the dinner and show were terrific...I was skeptical in my heart.  But, I have learned to trust our friend Louie when he says something is good!  We wanted to thanks Louis and his wife Lilli Anne, for all their kindness.  So, we made a reservation for the dinner and show in the Palais Royal,  in a small French town, north of Strasbourg.  And, I must say, it was superb!

Louis never met a French person that he did love...so when he chatted with the person making the reservations, he told them he was bringing two American friends with him!...and we had the best table in the house.  The other tables were all long, with about 20 people each...ours was a table for 4 in the middle of the room.

The lunch, was a fabulous French lunch, which began with a glass of Crémant ( sparkling white wine) and after two delightfully small palate teasers of a warm soup and a toast of smoked salmon, we had a serving of Fois Gras.  This was followed by a two course meal.  The first was lobster on a bed of roe, with a creamy sauce with hints of coco and curry, and the second was filet of veal, with a lovely
 demi-glace, and small roasted vegetables.  We had two wines, a Puilley Fuisse with the lobster, and a Chateau neuf du pape with the veal.  Outstanding!  We had coffee after the meal, and went off to see the show, knowing that dessert would follow.

The show was fantastic!  It included gorgeous topless girls (tastefully done) and a variety show of dancers, acrobats, strong men, and team of basketball wizards, and a dog show act that had everyone laughing and amazed!  We all loved it!

After the show, we were handed a glass of champagne as we entered a large club lounge.  There was a full band playing, and a lead singer in a bright red sequined long dress was serenading us!  Dessert was served, and we got to dance for about an hour!  What a GREAT show!  Just a great experience, that lasted about 5 hours!   We are so glad Louie and Lilli Anne wanted to go!  We had a ball!

Here a a few pictures!









Sunday, October 4, 2015

We found IT!!! Lake Como, 2015

Well, we found IT!!!  IT is the most gorgeous place ever!  Lake Como has been on my list for a long time, so, Bruce and I left Alsace, and drove about 5 to 6 hours, thru Switzerland to the lake district in Northern Italy.  We booked a room on the lake, across from the town of Bellagio.  It is one of the most beautiful places we have ever been!  We went after about 5 or 6 days of rain; the lake was serene, the clouds were still big puffy white marshmallows, the sky was New England Blue, and the light was so brilliantly strong, it turned the leaves transparent and the shadows dark purple!
We must share the photos with you!  First, the drive thru Switzerland....then, the lake...
Driving thru Switzerland...AND can you believe a TEN Mile long tunnel!  Incredible!

The approach to Bellagio by Ferry!





A windy day....awaiting the ferry!
Bruce in Bellagio - an iItalian food lunch!


Suzan's Alsacian Visit

Many of you know our friend Suzan...if not, you should!  She is a fun loving, crazy Hungarian!...not really...fun loving is true, but more than crazy, she is a sophisticated, kind and sweet person who can light a room on fire!

Suzan came to see us in Alsace.  We picked her up in Strasbourg at the Gare...what a long trip from LA to Paris, then a train to Strasbourg!  Bless her heart, to be sure she, and everyone around her,  has fun!  During her visit, we took a boat tour in Strasbourg, went to see the Cathedral and the Rohan museum,  the Monastery at St. Odile, the town of Obernai, got a tour of a fabulous winery along the Alsacian Wine Road, went to the Frenchman's ball (more on this later!)..went to Baden Baden Germany, saw a fabulous Faberge museum there, and visited the the quaint Alsacian town of Requhire!  WOW!  She kept up with it all, and we had a wonderful time!...and then, she was off to see her family in Budapest!

One of the very fun things we did was what I am calling the Frenchmen's Ball!  The second day Suzan was here Bruce went to play in a Petanque (French Bacci ball) tournament, with our friend, Louie!  Meanwhile, Suzan and I went to Strasbourg for the day.  To the French, Petanque is a social event.  Everyone, from little kids to old men and women play.  After the tournament, there was a dinner and dance....now, every town has a Sports facility, with a soccer filed and a Petanque court, and every sports facility has little buildings around it where you can gather and have a meal!  (But of Course!!!)  After the tournament, the men all went home to pick up their wives if the wives hadn't played that day.  We joined the boys at 7:00 for a dinner of Wild Boar roasted over a wood fire, and white beans flavored with herbs de Provence and little bits of lardon (like Canadian Bacon).  Good wine, very inexpensive...and lovely people....Long tables of couples, all chatting and laughing!  After dinner, a guy came in with a keyboard, sang, and played great dance music!  All in French...dancing like we don't do...some dances, almost like a polka, and every other style you can imagine!  Very French! s Very fun!  Always, sports, food and wine!  A lovely way to live!  Suzan fit right in...(ate the food), and talked/flirted with our friends, and even danced!

Here are some pictures from Suzan's visit.











Tuesday, September 15, 2015

A gorgeous dinner with Louis & Lillians' family

Our friends, Louis and Lillian have a wonderful family.  We had met their daughter, Clarisse, and son-in-law, Gilbert,  3 years ago at Louis and Lillian's birthday party.  Clarisse and Gilbert have raised two wonderful boys.  When we met them the boys were teenagers, one mid-teens, and one, late-teens.  Now, three years later, Louis' older grandson, Nichola,  has gone into the Gendarmarie, a branch of service in France, that is a cross between NCIS and the national police.  His corps has maritime-related duties, and he is a medic.    The younger grandson, Benjamin, is in high school, and is just learning how to fly.  If you have read the previous blog about Louis' family, Benjamin is the one who made the entire family Tarte Flambe when we first got here.

Yesterday we were invited to a family dinner, because Nichola, is home from duty in the Gendarms.  We assembled for lunch (which went on for 4 hours)...then, the boys went to see motorcycle races.  Afterwards we got together for a glass of crémant, snacks, and to see Nichola's collection of military caps....extensive and impressive, to say the least!

The mid-day dinner was delicious!  Two long grills were laid on the table, with a fabulous German potato salad an assortment of raw sliced meats and different veggies to grill.  It was fun because it was active, with everyone grilling their own dinners, and because the boys interacted beautifully with their parents, grandparents, and us!  Just a treasure to see such a nice family, and to be invited to participate in their joy!  We hope they come to visit us in the US!

Check out the wonderful family, including the handsome Gendarme in his uniform, (He wore it just for us!).......then, the dinner picture, and a picture from the motor cycle side car races!





Sunday, September 13, 2015

Our new walking path! September, 2015

The weather has turned, and we are now experiencing days, generally in the 70's...and nights in the 40's!  I am still healing from my rib and subsequent leg problem, but continue to gain strength.  I have begun to walk for exercise again, and we found the most bucolic walking path! It is along a canal of a small river that flows into the Rhine.  I managed to walk a full 3 miles the other day, and although my leg gave me some pain, I felt accomplished!  The path is amidst farms and corn fields.  The canal has swans, ducks and swallows and an occasional giant egret to keep you entertained.  To my surprise, and pleasure, I found a boat house.  Quite infrequently we see rowers on the canal, but they are there!





Our 1st Petanque Tournment, and a surprise dinner!

Our friend, Louis, and his friend, Francois, entered us into a pétanque tournament!  It was held in a small village, about 15 minutes from here.  We knew Francoise and his wife, Bette 3 years ago at Louis' birthday party.  We joined a group of people, men, women, and children in a day-long series of games.  It was just wonderful.  Of course, we were the only unknowns in the tournament, in that these people were all from the village of Matzenheim, and surrounding villages.  The town people had put up 4 tents and set out about 25 picnic tables and a few benches.  The day started out cool, but was slated to be a hot one, with sunny skies and the temperatures rising into the 90's!  

   Bruce and I were paired up and matched against older couples, young men in their late teens and little boys, none of whom speak English, but all of whom were rather interested in the people from California!  Fortunately, the game speaks for itself, but unfortunately, we are new to the game, and not very good players!  All of the players seemed pleased that we were interested in their favorite past-time, and, combined with the fact that we had the grace to loose, we felt welcomed as semi-special guests!  
   Lunch was prepared by the town butcher and several lovely young ladies.  (Ham or grilled sausages, German style potato salad, and sliced tomato salad).  Beer, wine, coffee and German pretzels were for sale the entire day.  Toddlers ran around the area, adding a lovely spectacle for all.  The day did get hot, with sun burns and sun tans appearing on every piece of exposed skin!  Hot! From 9:30 to 6:00, we played 5 games at a leisurely, French pace....a civilized break for beer or wine or water, in between games!  
  Trophies were presented and everyone celebrated the winners.  Nothing marred the day...not even a bee sting!  Everyone called our Auto Revoir to us when we left! ......So French...a day of inclusive sport, with babies, children, mamas, papas, and grandparents (into their 80's),  sunshine, food, and drink!  Humm....I think they are doing something RIGHT! 
    At the end of the day, as we sat down to have a glass of Rosé, Francois announced that he would like all of us, and Lillian,  Louis' wife, to join him and his wife, Bette, for a glass of Crémant (a fine,  Alsacian sparkling wine) at his home.  Of course, we said yes!  We thought it was only for a drink!   But no, we arrived to find that Bette must have been in on this wonderful surprise!  Their lovely apartment had a smell of fresh-baked something...Hum?   Well..... from the the Crémant we moved into a very special dinner of Raclette...a Swiss specially of cheese, sliced meats and sausages, shallots and lardon (little chunks of Canadian bacon), that you bake on the table, in individual little trays.  The melted cheese, shallots and lardon are poured over boiled potatoes.  Delicious!  More Alsacian white wine was served.  And just when you thought you were done...Bette brought out the lightest, most delicious cheesecake that we have ever tasted!  Licquors were introduced, but by that time no one was interested!  The night ended at about 11:00, with our new friends telling us that this lovely dinner in their home, came from their heart!  
The entire day was fun, and the dinner was really touching, and just plain delicious and special!  What a great experience!

Here are the trophies (that we didn't win!) .......the players.....Bruce staring down the cheese cake, and our friends, Francois and Bette, with the wonderful cheese cake!







Monday, August 24, 2015

The French as a People

Upon reflection, we came to France concerned about what we were told about the French being a bit snobbish or standoffish....and hoping that we could move past this.  We have found some interesting traits, and little snobbery or stand-offishness.

First, the French really DO believe in their motto..."Liberty, Equality and Fraternity."  This is the motto that emerged during the French Revolution, and we see actions that reflect this every day.  In the States, we believe that the INDIVIDUAL is inalienable...freedom of speech, and most actions can not be restrained.  Here, there seems to be a bit more tempered approach to speech and actions.  There is a very genuine sense of caring for others.  It is reflected in very gentile language, for example, whenever you enter a store, or greet someone at a cashier's station, they look you in the eye, and say Bon Jour!  And, when you leave, they always say Au Revoir...and often Bon Journee!  They seem like just niceties, but they are truly indicative of the culture.  If you do not respond, in kind, then you are perceived as a bit ignorant, or rude.

We have also noticed, that when we walk into a restaurant, while being seated by the hostess, we are often greeted by others sitting in the restaurant...people we have never seen before, and will never see again, and yet, they nod, or even say, Bon Jour!  Sometimes, after we are seated, when they get up to leave, they will turn to us and say: Au Revoir, or Bon Journee.  At first, we did not know what to think....but now, we just see that it is a way of acknowledging others.

French children are very well behaved...they learn, very early to always greet others with Bon Jour!...even 2 years olds....and to never be loud in a restaurant!  Restaurants in France are always a buzz with light volume levels of conversation.  We have never been in a restaurant in France where there is anyone who is loud or boisterous, and is French!  Americans, Germans, yes!..but not the French.  German children, and American children have been loud...but not the French....and if they begin to get loud, the French family will remove the child from the restaurant.  That simple!

There are many other indicators of concern or caring...not to mention the big burly truck driver who stopped his 18 wheeler on the road (perpendicular to the street where I was laying) when I broke my rib....or the car full of 4 young teenage boys who also stopped to help....or the person who lived in the house nearby who called for an ambulance, immediately!  The doctor who was in his office on a Saturday morning...

When our boulangerie closed for summer vacation for two weeks, they indicated when they would be back, and the next closest boulangerie that is still open for business!...Just so you shouldn't suffer the pains of the lack of fresh bread!

There is just a cultural attitude that says "we are all in this together, and we look out for each other!"

This is a demonstrably kind and civilized culture.

Saturday, August 22, 2015

The Furballs (Part 2)

This is Easy....I'll continue my tales of our trip in France....

The scariest thing that happened to us, was that one night, in San Quentin, brother Breezy decided to take a midnight walk!  Dad took the garbage out about ten o'clock pm, when he and Mom were preparing for the big party.  The best we can figure, Breezy must have been planning a break, and took his opportunity, when Dad came back in!

I enjoyed having Mom and Dad to myself all night, but when I got up the next day, I couldn't find my brother.  Mom and Dad called and called him, ....we all looked all through the house, but NO...brother Breezy was missing!  We continued to look for him, and Dad went out, and called for him through the village, to no avail!  Mom was still hurt with her rib, so she couldn't go out.....and, of course, I didn't want to!  It's too scary out there for me!

At dinner time, people began to arrive for the party...I hid under the bed.  That's when I missed brother most...he usually comforts me when scary guests arrive.

People began to leave around eleven at night, and by midnight, Mom was in bed.  One of the ladies from the party asked what Breezy looked like, just in case they saw him.  Dad went out, one more time, looking for brother....but no...Then, at about one in the morning, someone rang our doorbell!  Well....I ran under the bed again!  No one ever rings our bell at that time!  Next thing we know, heard Dad talking with someone at the door!  Dad came up the steps with Breezy!  Evidently, about six of the people from the party had walked up to their house through the narrow stone village street.  They only live about a block away.  When they got home, they sat in the garden and talked, and all of a sudden, a nice cat came strolling into the garden.  He climbed the stairs to the house...but then, rejoined the party in the garden.  One of Mom and Dad's friends said "I think that's Irene and Bruce's cat!"...much discussion ensued...no...couldn't be....well....he sure is friendly....let's give him some milk!...Nice cat.....if it's not their cat....let's keep him....NO....It can't be their cat....NO!  I'm SURE it's their cat...they described him.  Finally, Brian, a friend of Mom and Dad's from Ireland, picked him up and brought him to our house.  Brian had some trepidation about knocking on our door at one o'clock in the morning...but he did!  And, VOILA!!!!   Breezy was home!  Mom and Dad fussed over him.  I smelled him and licked him on the head.  Mom and Dad fed him.  All was well!  He never would tell me what all he did that night!  His only reply was "what happens when I go out catting, is only for me to know!"  He slept all night without moving!  I think he was really exhausted from his 24 hour adventure!

In the morning...he went into the bathtub for a drink!...HA!  Here's a picture I took!  He fell asleep in the TUB!




                                Breezy hasn't attempted another Cat's Night Out since!

Kimmy comes to France! (Mid-August)

Well...it's a long way from California, but my friend Kimberly had never been to France....SO...I met her in Paris, and we stayed there over night.  Then we traveled back to Alsace by train!

Her visit to Paris was short, so we decided to see the sights as opposed to doing the museums....And, we did!...We walked about 5 miles one day...(a big deal for me, in that I was still dealing with my rib problem, and pain in my leg)....but it was mostly to see some sights and go to the Batarama...Tour Boat.
We took the boat from the D'Orsay to Notre Dame, and up the river to the Eiffel Tower.  Kimberly was very generous!...Lunches, Cabs,....and lots of gifts for her family!  Here's my favorite picture from our trip...taken at the cafe at the Louve!....and an early morning picture of Sacre Cour, taken from our hotel room!









Our trip also included a tour of Note Dame, more shopping, and ice cream.





One the the very striking things we did was to go into the Four Seasons Hotel.  She knew of a famous floral designer who does the flowers there, and wanted to see his work!  Jeff Latham is his name, and he was there!  He was SO charming!,,,we could take his picture, only if we would be in the picture with him....he signed his fabulous book for Kimmy...just special.  And, the flowers were over the top...OMG....gorgeous!  Bruce and I will go back each month while we are in Paris to see his work!
When we got to Strasbourg, Bruce and our friend Louis took over as tour guides!  

This is a picture of the Atrium at the Four Seasons...the purple are huge Vanda orchids!  The curtain of orchids in the middle is about 40 feet high, and 20 feet wide at the top!  The entrance is lined with orchids, as well!  I can't wait till we get to Paris to see the next set of creations!


Kimmy was so kind as to take several pictures of us, since we have few pictures of Bruce and me .together!












Our friend Louis took over as tour guide when we got to Alsace!  The rest of the days in Alsace were filled with a trip to Baden Baden, Germany  (lovely town!) a visit to a castle ruins in Germany...a special and personal tour of a wonderful Alsacian winery, a trip to a reproduction of an historic Alsacian village, a trip to Obernai and an organ concert in Obernai (our favorite little Alsacian town nearby)  a trip to an Eagle preserve, and a trip to the Strasbourg cathedral and light show, and an unbelievably great fish dinner!  I was pooped...and so was Kimmy!  Here is a picture of the three of us in little Venice, Colmar.  A lovely town!





Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Meet the Furballs! (Part One)

Most of you know our two fur balls!  Easy and Breezy are amazing cats!  They have been traveling with us since they were about 12 weeks old.  The first time they traveled, I took them to the Cape, in a small travel size bag that was like a large purse.  They never made a sound!  We schooled them by taking them in the car...not their favorite thing, but they don't seem to mind traveling in our van, when we take them from Cape Cod to Philadelphia!

Breezy is a REAL character!  For those of you, who know my wonderful, BOLD, brother, Roger who is a character, we think he has Roger's spirit!  My friend, Regina calls him, Mr. Mustache!  He is such a character!  Breezy is very independent, but pretty obedient!  In California, when we let him out on a leash, I taught him to come in when I clap my hands....MOST time it works!  Breezy is a COOL Kat!



Easy is very much the little lady princess!  She is NO WHERE near as Bold as her brother, and seems to prefer staying inside, except for an occasional visit to the garden to eat salad (Grass).    Easy charms us, however, with her graceful style!  Here is picture of her, practicing her Hula, on a hot afternoon!






















                                AND NOW, A WORD FROM LA CHATS, Easy and Breezy !!!












Our trip to France was a bit odd!  First, Mom and Dad took us to the house at the Cape.  It was not the SAME!  Whenever we go to Cape Cod, it is weather kind of like California!  Sometimes it rains more, and sometimes it is cool, but we have NEVER been SO COLD!  My fur coat needed a fur coat!   And, our yard, usually filled with grass for me to eat, well.....it was coved with white stuff....it was the coldest thing I've ever stepped on!  Breezy went outside once, but not me!  Mama pushed me out the door, but I went out onto that white stuff, and ZIP, back into the house!  Not ten seconds! in the cold for these paws!
















Breezy is quite vain!  At the Cape, I caught him looking at himself in the mirror, upstairs, and snapped this picture!  Remember the Carol King song...."He walked into the party, like he was walking onto a YACHT!"...that kind of vain!  My brother: Mr. Mustach!  He knows he is handsome!



Breezy & I are pretty famous for our exploits!  Like the time that we broke out of the bag, moving TWO zippers apart, to get out on the Airplane!  I worked and worked at it, and finally, I pushed the zippers apart so far, that I could get my head out!  I was FREE!  You should have seen Mom and Dad's face when the nasty flight attendant, gave us up and announced:"Will the person with two cats, please come to the back of the plane!"  Were they surprised!  And, I had just found a nice lap of the man across the aisle to curl up in!  He was a very nice man!  Breezy didn't make it as far as I did!  Papa pinned him to the floor, after the flight attendant ratted on us!

Well Breezy, I did succeed in getting away from Dad, in the Cleveland airport!  You were tucked away in Mom's arms!  I called for you, but you didn't come!  Dad had me in his arms, so I just crawled up his chest, and jumped off his shoulder!  I ran under the Xray scanner, but, doggone it!  Dad had put my leash on me, and JUST as I made a break for it, the Security Lady stepped on my leash!  I could've been gone!  I could have flown to Guadaloup to see friends!  I could've gone to Florida to see Uncle Roger, but NO!  Thwarted again!  But that's not my BEST escapade!  First, me show you the house in the village of Saint Quentin la Poterie in Provence, and tell you of our journey!

The journey was long...from our house in Cape Cod to the Marsailles airport, and then to Saint Quentin, by car!  UUUFFFFFFF!  We are good travelers, but Mom and Dad knew we have our limits, and this was it!




















We got there, investigated every corner!...and now I can tell you about our new home......We liked our house in Saint Quentin!  There were two terraces with gardens!..we went out every day!....and we had a four story jungle-jim that was circular, and allowed us to move from floor to floor!  
Our Jungle-Jim!













When we first got here, we stuck pretty close together!...a bit unusual for us!....I like to keep my distance from my bother!

Mom and I need to nap, so, let me tell you more of my story later!...until then, keep your computer on!