Going to Class

Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: Tuesday, May 17, 2016

It was a laid-back kind of day, with not much going on. Desmond had to work, but I had made plans to meet him at the university where I would be able to observe one of his classes. It was a lovely, sunny morning. I nibbled a cupcake for breakfast instead of going out to the boulangerie. They looked so good, I just couldn't resist! Des had baked the dark chocolate cupcakes late the night before as a birthday surprise for his friend and colleague, Jeffrey, whom I looked forward to meeting. I was to locate Desmond at one of the university tram stops around 11:00. 

Looking out onto the square

I spent the morning hours writing emails home and playing with Azur. He loves hide-and-seek, but one must always be cautious with him, as he may pop out and unintentionally scratch! He always makes me laugh. I also straightened the house a bit before packing up the cupcakes and setting out for the university. 

I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in on the conversation class which Des taught. There were quite a few students there and it was a pleasure to meet them all. One young woman gave a presentation about her home country, Vietnam. She had brought along many visual aids with beautiful pictures. We were all allowed to ask questions after her speech, which she answered in English to the best of her ability.

We didn't have time to linger after the lesson. We were to meet Jeffrey for lunch at a restaurant several blocks away. We made good time and were there before Jeff arrived. It was an enjoyable lunch at le Bunny's. Des and Jeffrey recommended the fried chicken, which is difficult to find in France, but I chose a croque monsieur instead. I did try a bite of the chicken and found that it would have been too spicy for me.

Desmond and Jeff seem to have an easy, comfortable friendship. They had some catching up to do, as they hadn't seen each other for a while. His friend told stories of the recent flooding around the area where he lives. Jeffrey was touched that Des had brought cupcakes for his birthday. The dark chocolate cake and the rich cream cheese icing were a big hit! After we rose to leave, we all had a nice conversation with the owner of the restaurant. Des and Jeff often eat there and have become very friendly with him. I wish I would have caught his name, because he offered me a job! No, seriously, when he learned I was from America, he asked about the political situation there and I jokingly told him that if my candidate didn't win, I was planning to move to France. His eyes sparkled as he laughed and said I was welcome to work in his cafe. 

Desmond and his friend had to return to work, so I rode the tram to the stop near Halles Chatelet and then met up with Arno. We had a lovely time chatting and drinking peach-vanilla tea. That evening, Des made a wonderful pasta dish with duck mousse, truffle oil, cream, Parmesan, ham and bacon. And for dessert? Cupcakes, of course!    

Blossoms and Butterflies

Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: Monday, May 16, 2016

A Monday holiday is such a treat! Desmond was off work that day. It was sunny and gorgeous so we decided that a picnic at Parc Floral would be a great way to enjoy that extra day off. After coffee and a delightful lemon tart, we packed a lunch and were soon on our way to one of my favorite places in Orléans. 

It was the perfect time of year for a walk through the lovely botanical garden. We walked slowly, admiring the gorgeous blossoms, lush ferns, and flowering trees. We were serenaded with cheerful birdsong as we strolled the grounds. It was almost as if we had the place to ourselves. Parc Floral is quite large and even on busy days there are many times when no other people are in sight.

Beautiful flowers at Parc Floral in Orleans, France.

We saw many varieties of trees, some of which were the weeping type, whose branches form private, shaded bowers and little nooks where it would be pleasant to spread a blanket and read. The iris garden was beautiful, though it would be another week or so before the flowers would all be in full bloom. I was already planning to return with Craig after he arrived in France.

More gorgeous iris at Parc Floral.

We visited the butterfly house and walked slowly through it, hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the rarest and most flamboyant butterflies in residence. There was one large one with exquisite iridescent blue wings trimmed in black. I tried to photograph it, but it simply wouldn't hold still!

A butterfly luncheon party.

We found a shaded bench surrounded by climbing roses and sat down to enjoy our lunch. We had a pretty view of the pond, and behind it was the lovely stone chateau that, until recently, housed the administrative offices of the University. There were flowers everywhere, and a chorus of frogs calling from the banks of the pond. I ate a sandwich of ham, butter, pickles, and cassis-flavored mustard on a crusty baguette. Everything tastes so much better when eaten in such beautiful surroundings. We finished off with juicy nectarines before gathering up our things and heading toward the miniature golf course.

This was our lovely view during lunch.

The mini golf course is such fun, with some challenging holes that had us laughing as one or the other of us tried repeatedly to sink a shot! As we walked the course or paused to make a putt, we were often showered with tiny pink flowers that rained down on us from the trees above. In some places, the ground itself resembled a pink carpet.

Desmond attempts the maze at mini-golf.

When we left the park and drove home, the weather was still so beautiful that we were reluctant to be indoors. We walked over to a bar across the Loire and found a vacant table outside. I sipped a sweet cherry beer while enjoying the view. After that relaxing interval, we returned home to begin preparations for the evening meal.

We started our meal with tasty onion blossoms and fries, which we dipped into a wonderful sauce The Des had whipped up. Then, I helped prepare Brazilian beans and rice. It was made in a rice cooker and was a delicious combination of smoked sausage, chick peas, rice, chicken broth, bay leaf, and lots of garlic. Ice cream rounded off the meal. It was a fabulous day!

Another glimpse of Parc Floral

Sunny Sunday

Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: Sunday, May 15 2016

We awoke to a sunny Sunday morning, free of grey skies and rain for a while. After a cup of coffee, Desmond and I walked down to our favorite bakery where I chose a delightful salted caramel eclair. After breakfast, we checked the strawberry plants that Des was growing in the courtyard, expecting to find several more ripe berries. We were disappointed to see just empty stems. Something had been nibbling those sweet, ripe berries! 

A salted caramel eclair - perfection!

Our plan for the rest of the day was to join Matt for a drive out to his parents home to celebrate his brothers birthday. We planned just to have cake with them, so we wouldn't tire Muriel, who was recovering from a recent surgery. The drive was lovely on such a sunny day. We stopped in Gien to have lunch, and chose a little Italian restaurant called La Bella Vita. I ordered a pizza of lardons, potatoes, and onions, which was wonderful! Des had chosen a spicy pasta dish. He was warned that it was very spicy, but wanted to try it  - and it truly was VERY spicy! He enjoyed it anyway, though he said he may never order it again. The large salad that Mathieu ordered looked fantastic. I shared some of my pizza with him and Desmond, because I can never eat a whole one.

This pizza at La Bella Vita in Gien, France was fabulous!

We arrived in Bitry around 4 PM and were pleased to see that Remy had driven in from Dijon for the party. Gregoire, the birthday boy, had gotten stuck in the mud on a country road and Thierry had gone to his rescue. While the rest of us awaited their return, we visited with Muriel and Remy, as we nibbled on some delicious crisp cookies called "croquets" and some soft, tasty guimauves - those delightful French marshmallows. At last, the guys returned and we wished Gregoire a happy birthday as he opened his gifts. We enjoyed the birthday gateau and glasses of cider as we celebrated. It was fun, but we could see that Muriel was very tired and needed to rest, so we said our farewells and headed home.

A Busy Saturday

Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: Saturday, May 14 2016

What a busy day! After our morning coffee, Desmond's friend Matt picked us up for an excursion to the vegetable farm on the outskirts of Orleans. We stopped first at Pat-a-Pain for breakfast. They had a wonderful selection of pastries, cakes, and other delights. I chose a delicious Tropezienne and a cup of hot chocolate. We then drove over to the farm to see what was available for picking. Since it was still a bit early in the growing season, we could harvest only parsley, lettuce, and carrots. There were rows and rows of strawberry plants in bloom, though they would not be ready for a while. There was a chill breeze blowing and we were very glad to have brought along some warm jackets. We dug carrots and picked parsley and also chose a bottle of locally made apple juice from the little farm store. 

Our next errand was grocery shopping. We went to Le Clerc, which was very busy with other Saturday shoppers. We weren't able to find everything we needed, so we drove a short distance to Auchan. They were also crowded, but we managed to locate what we had come for. We also checked out the huge new aisle full of bulk items and were very pleased at the variety. I even found some wonderful, soft, pastel marshmallows that are available in flavors like cassis and violet. 

We were soon ready for lunch at Mont Fuji. I'm not a fan of sushi, but the restaurant offers a wide selection of other dishes that are wonderful. I am especially fond of the fish that is sautéed without breading; it's mild and has a delicate flavor.  The cheese maki is something I also like, as well as the fried noodles. 

Upon returning home, we had a nice visit with Craig. We told him that we'll have to take him to Mont Fuji soon! And then, we straightened the house and began to make preparations for dinner that evening. We had invited Arno over for a barbecue, but the weather was still cold and blustery, so we decided to eat indoors. Our friend arrived with the ingredients for margaritas and soon we were all relaxing with a tasty drink as we nibbled on cheese, chips, and some yummy bacon-wrapped prunes that Desmond had quickly made. I helped Des prepare the caprese salads, which were lovely with green, red, orange, and yellow heirloom tomatoes layered with buffalo mozzarella and drizzled with basil-infused olive oil. Our main course was tasty grilled Toulouse sausages and butter-thyme potatoes. By the time we finished all of that, there was no room for dessert! But we certainly had a fun evening talking and laughing and telling funny family stories, which led to looking at old photos. It was a good night.

Oh, That Salad!

Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: Friday, May 13 2016

Where did Thursday go? Oh, yes, I have skipped it because I was not feeling well. I didn't leave the apartment all day, except for a trip to the pharmacy. There was one highlight to the day, though, that I must mention. For supper that night, Desmond made a wonderful meal of crispy braised duck in an orange-ginger sauce. It was served with peas and fried purple potatoes. It was an extraordinary dish! I am going to try making it at home.

On Friday, I was feeling a bit better. I even went over to the nearby boulangerie where I purchased a lovely little raspberry tart to enjoy with my morning coffee. I then mostly lazed around the house until Des arrived home around 12:30. We walked over the bridge (580 steps, in case you were wondering!) and bought some little broccoli quiches and Orangina for our lunch. We found a shaded bench on the Place and thoroughly enjoyed our surroundings as we ate. I never seem to get enough of the lovely architecture. At this time of year, there were flowers brightening the scene everywhere. Large tubs of flowering plants were placed around every square and at both ends of the bridges. Every apartment building had window boxes and planters filled with bright blossoms of geraniums and other colorful plants. 

A lovely little raspberry tart.

Desmond took me to the Memphis Diner for dessert. It's a cute restaurant that's styled after a 1950s American diner. Even the food is imported from the states! I had a slice of oreo pie, which came with a large dollop of whipped cream and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. It was way more than I could eat! We then shopped for a while, popping into and out of many clothing stores, looking for a jacket for Desmond. It seems we were just a bit too late in the season for that sort of thing; our trip was unsuccessful. We took the tram home and then relaxed until dinner time, when Des concocted the most amazing salad. It was made with crispy pressed chicken, tiny potatoes and bits the duck that was left from the night before. He also made a delicious homemade dressing.

This incredible salad was quite a treat!

Before the meal, we had apero. Des served me a cocktail that he had invented. It was made with peach liqueur, lemon juice, amaretto, and a hint of maple syrup. It was delicious! We nibbled on little cubes of cheese with our drinks, and we played a silly game using our phones. And then we sat down to those amazing salads! Fresh greens, pear tomatoes, roasted potatoes, crispy chicken and duck, everything drizzled with that fresh French dressing - it was truly the best salad I have ever eaten! We had a poppyseed baguette to go with it, and afterward, no room for dessert!

Another Umbrella Day

Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: Wednesday, May 11 2016

I awoke at 7:15 to the sound of birds singing outside my window. The grey skies overhead did not deter them as they ushered in what would turn out to be another rainy day. I was not deterred, either. I was visiting my favorite place on earth and a little rain was not going to stop me! Desmond was still asleep, so I brewed a pot of coffee as quietly as possible, and took a steaming mug into my room. He awoke about an hour later, apologizing for having slept in. I was glad that he had gotten a little extra sleep; he had been working very hard.

We talked for quite a while. It was so nice to be able to do just that. A face-to-face chat with my youngest was a treat I don't often get to enjoy. FaceTime on the iPad is wonderful, but it can't beat that personal interaction! The hugs are nice, too. Desmond went over to the bakery and picked up a rustic almond croissant for me. I enjoyed it with another cup of coffee as we talked a while longer. 

An almond croissant from the bakery on the Place.

Later, we decided to go over to Halles Chatelet to have some keys made so that I would have my own set. We wandered around the stores for a bit and I enjoyed going in to Eureka, which always has such unique and interesting merchandise. After a while, we found a brasserie where we had lunch. We both chose the plat du jour of chicken in mustard sauce. It was served with a huge mound of mashed potatoes and the inevitable baguette. Des had to go to work after lunch, but I continued to wander around Orleans. A steady, light rain was falling, but as long as I had my umbrella, I didn't mind. Many stores had placed large buckets or tubs just inside the entrances, where shoppers could deposit their dripping umbrellas. I was pleased that I didn't once forget to pick up my own parapluie on the way out.

When I returned home, I was able to text with Craig for a while. Later, I realized that I had forgotten to pick up some coffee filters while I was shopping. The weather had cleared quite a bit and the sky was lighter than before, so I left my umbrella on its hook and began the walk to Carrefour. I had only gone a few blocks when the sky darkened and the rain began again! I put up the hood of my jacket and continued on to complete my errand.

Standing on the bridge, Pont George V, in Orleans Fr.

Desmond and I all arrived home within about 15 minutes of one another. We had planned to go to the library, where a book talk by an American author was to take place. The chilly rain had increased in intensity and we decided that we just weren't in the mood. Instead, we watched television for a while and then, armed with umbrellas, we walked over to the Rue de Borgogne for dinner at Chez Ming. The owner, Miranda, was very glad to see us and she even asked about Craig. We had a wonderful meal there, as always.

A New Do

Pages from Jan's Travel Journal: Tuesday, May 10 2016

Desmond left early for work. I slept late and awoke with a migraine, but one cup of coffee and some medication soon took care of that. Before pouring a second cup of coffee, I walked across the square to the local bakery where I selected an escargot for breakfast. No, I didn't eat snails for breakfast! The pastry was called an escargot because of the swirled shape it had. It contained lots of tasty bits of strawberry and pistachio and was covered with a buttery crumble. Not a bad way to start the day.

A nice view of Orléans from the bridge.

I didn't do much after breakfast. I caught up on email and lazed around reading for a while. I had eaten such a late breakfast that I didn't really want much for lunch. I nibbled a bit on some leftovers. Des arrived home in the early afternoon and we were soon on our way to his hairstylist where I was scheduled for a cut. When we arrived at the salon, the stylist greeted me, took my jacket, and asked if I would like a cup of coffee or tea. I sipped a refreshing peppermint tea while Desmond showed her some pictures of possible styles for me. An hour later, I emerged from the salon with a new look. My hair was shorter than I had ever known it, but I really liked the cute, asymmetrical style.

The new look

We ran a couple of errands, stopping at Carrefour to pick up a few things. When we arrived home, we sat down to drinks and appetizers of cheese, sausage, and chips. We had a great meal of stir-fried chicken and broccoli served over fragrant jasmine rice. We enjoyed chocolate lava cakes for dessert, garnished with slices of the one ripe strawberry from Desmond's garden.

We had a relaxing evening, playing a game of Racko and watching a couple episodes of a favorite sitcom. It had been another lovely day.