This double-distilled grape juice is not my thing but it was highly praised by writer Victor Hugo who proclaimed it was “the liquor of the Gods.” We borrowed our friend’s car and drove the short distance between Angouleme and Cognac and managed a short visit through town, sans a cognac tasting, which we reserved for savoring privately later.
Continue reading “Exploring Cognac, the region and “The Liquor of the Gods””
What began in the 3rd century BC with the Romans planting 200 hectares of vines evolved into a vast 5,400 hectares and 800+ wineries producing delightfully smooth French wine. We made a quick stop to Chateau Cadet Bon, a small family-owned winery for a taste of Saint-Emilion wine, and the trip left us wanting for more.
Continue reading “A Quick Wine Tasting Trip to Saint-Émilion”
A trip to France wouldn’t be complete without exploring its many wine regions and options. Bordeaux is at the top of that list! Beyond its wines, the city offers ornate Baroque and Rococo 18th century buildings, Neoclassical and Gothic 19th century architecture, views of Garonne River which flows from Spain’s Pyrenees to the Gironde estuary in Bordeaux, botanical gardens, art museums, and of course many cafés.
Continue reading “It’s (Not) All About the Wine: Bordeaux, France”
During our month and a half trip, we visited with friends, made new ones, shopped fabulous fresh markets, picked mushrooms, indulged in way too much cheese, moules marinières, and wine, and explored the sunny Mediterranean coast.
Our journey started in Angoulême, then took us to Bordeaux, Royan, Talmont-sur-Gironde, Mortagne-sur-Gironde, Brantôme, Saint-Émillion, Cognac, Carcassonne, Montpellier, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Caumont-sur-Durance, Gordes, Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, Baux-de-Provence, Arles and Salin de Giraud, Lyon, Bedoin & Foret Domaniale de Vantouret, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, La Ciotat, Antibes, Eze, Monte Carlo – Monaco, Menton, Nice, Cassis, and Marseille.
Continue reading “The Joy of Discovering France Beyond Paris”
My hometown Brasov sits in the elbow of the Carpathian Mountains, providing year-round opportunities for nature exploration, while combining small medieval town charm and modern amenities. I attempt yearly visits, and last year I had the added bonus of visiting with my nephew who lives in Switzerland. We explored Tampa mountain and Postavaru peak, we had our fill of traditional Romanian food and wine, and spent time catching up with family.
Continue reading “At Home, in the Carpathian Mountains”
