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!

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.