One More About France

I promise next week I'll be back to my norm of DIY, craigslist, and chatting about flip houses.  So if that's what you're here for and only that, come back Monday.  Hopefully I won't be too jet lagged to get a few projects started this weekend.  Until then, however.... France.

Yeah, it's apparently a pretty cool place, have you heard?  Before this week, I had literally been to France for a day and a half on our last river cruise.  This time it's all France, wine, chateaus and did I mention wine? I've still never been to Paris, but I've got the entire Bordeaux region pretty well covered.  Here's my summary: they grow lots and lots and lots of grapes here and make a surprising variety of wine... and most of it is pretty darn good.  Everywhere you turn there's another field covered in grape vines.  Chances are also good that beyond said field you can find an elaborate chateau or medieval castle.  No big.

We've been lucky enough to do some pretty cool excursions here too.  I have 2 words for you: truffle puppy.

Ok, so she's 4 so not technically a puppy but Farrah (must say with a French accent) is a rock star truffle hunter and pretty darn cute.  Apparently they no longer use pigs to hunt for truffles because the pigs just try and eat the product.  Dogs are the latest in truffle hunting technology and it only takes 4 weeks (!!) to train them when they're young.  It was totally cool to see her in action- sadly I didn't get a non-blurry shot of her showing us where the truffles were, though.  Hubby did snap a pic of me modeling Farrah's latest find.  That's a summer truffle.  Did you know there are summer and winter truffles?  Me neither.

I also went into a tour of the Camus Cognac distillery knowing pretty much zero about cognac and got a pretty good lesson.  I'm normally a wine gal, but I figured, when in Rome... or this case, when in Cognac...

Hubby and I even got to create our own blends, and let me tell you- with using the same 4 types of cognac, we created 2 very very different drinks.  Too bad we need to wait 3-6 months to really enjoy them.  I'm thinking cognac will be a great warm up during that first snow storm, don't you think?  Who want's to come over and be snowed in with us?

The architecture here ain't to shabby either.  Although I'll admit, I've almost reached overload on 17th and 18th century architecture.  Almost, but not quite.  I'm sure if I lived here, I wouldn't appreciate it on a day to day basis, but wow, just wow.

I really love the juxtaposition of the modern urban amenities and historic architecture that you get in cities like Bordeaux.

More rural towns around the region look straight out of a period movie.  If it wasn't for the modern cars parked out front, I'd be looking around for the film crews or the time machine that just transported me.  Picturesque to say the least.

This is the truffle plantation owner's house.  In 2014.  No, this isn't a Disney movie.

This is also someone's home in the present day.  I sh*t you not.  People. live. here.

Since there's really no way I can top living in a castle in this post, I'll call it a day.

Have a great weekend!

Les Antiquaires

Challenge accepted, Bordeaux, I hear you loud and clear.  Sadly we haven't had too much time to explore while the shops have been open, but we've scoped them out and know exactly where we want to head back to.  That's the benefit and downfall of a river cruise wrapped up in one.  We've been to busy blending our own cognac and truffle hunting to do too much shopping #firstworldproblems.

We were able to sneak into one shop right as the shop owner was turning on the lights and opening- we had a solid 10 minutes to shop and get back to the boat before they set sail and we cut it a bit too close for comfort.  BUT we hopped back onto the boat (literally) with a few fun trinkets.

A small wood & metal ship that seems to be a souvenier from la Rochelle more than a few years ago.

A small painted gold pot that's about 4" tall and its calling to have some succulents or other easy to maintain greenery planted in it.

And a pretty sweet clock.  It has a battery mechanism, so it's not some precious antique, but it makes it easier to fix up and I don't have to worry about winding or any annoying ticking.  The numbers and hands had me at hello.  I think I may try and freshen this one up a bit once we get home.

You know, port hole window sills actually work quite well for photography.  I may have had to stand on the bed to take the shots, but work with what ya got!

Who needs generic souvenirs when you can come home from trips with items like these??  Hubby and I are both itching to get out there and do a bit more shopping.  I'm craving something that just makes me giddy.  I don't know what is it, but I always have fun hunting!

Hope you're having a great week too!

Les Portes

I'm blaming Hubby for starting this tradition.  Several years ago, on a work trip to France, I sent him with our old point and shoot digital camera.  Instead of filling the camera with pics of skylines and fancy meals like I expected, he had more pictures of doors than anything.  Fascinating doors.  Bright doors, fancy doors, paneled doors, etc.  So now when we travel together, that's one thing that catches both of our eyes. So, today I bring you: Doors of Bordeaux

 

The hardware is pretty dreamy too.  I've fallen in love with over-sized centered knobs, quirky door knockers, and over-sized pulls.

Now we only need to find some fun antiques to bring home with us!