Another wonderful day!

Pont du Hoc, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetary

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Bonjour!

Up and out by 8 this morning, as we’ve got a long way to go and wanted to get started. Grabbed croissants and pain au chocolat at a nearby boulangerie, and we were on our way! (I just can’t help it – last hotel was charging 13 Euros each for breakfast, Dinan was charging 14 E each and the Chateau where we’re spending our last night is charging 15 Euros each! That’s INSANE when we can get wonderful croissants and pastries for 3 or 4 Euros TOTAL! Granted it’s not a “buffet” – but neither of us are even breakfast people! Good grief!)

Headed past Mont St. Michel, looking gray and mysterious on the coast, and headed toward the WWII landing beaches. We’d been there years ago (probably at least 15 or 16…where does the time go??) and BOY, have things changed! We’re thinking that in preparation for either the 50th or 60th anniversary of D-Day, and all the special celebrations that were held, that things were spruced up quite a bit. We found Pont du Hoc TOTALLY changed – very attractive, still, but not nearly as wild as it was the first time! The same was true with Omaha Beach, where a huge sculpture had been erected actually on the beach. It was a VERY breezy and cool day, overcast at this time, which was good for us, as I’m not sure I’d want to see the beaches with crowds of people on them – considering how costly they were to liberate. As it was, the weather provided a perfect somber kind of background for us. Our last WWII stop was the American cemetery, where General Patton is buried. A truly amazing place; thousands upon thousands of plain crosses or stars of David with service names, rank, home state and date of death carved on them. Very, very moving, and we were not alone in being moved to tears.

Stopped close to the cemetery at a very nice little hotel for lunch. Place is decorated everywhere with red poppies – my favorite flower! Even the hotel’s resident cocker spaniel had poppies on his collar! It was great! We both had the same thing for lunch – quiche Lorraine (and yes, I know we’re not in Lorraine) and salad – very good, and just what we needed!

From there it was peddle to the metal to get across the top of France to the other side of Paris and our hotel in Ermenonville. Long, very tiring drive, (with only one stop, but it included a Magnum Classic!!) but have to admit – it was through some beautiful countryside!

Oh!! Forgot something! Right around 10:30 a.m., which was our first opportunity to check in on our Air Canada flight tomorrow, R got the brilliant idea of trying a McDonald’s! And, as there just happened to be one near Caen, in we went – free and very strong WIFI for all! It was GREAT! Logged in, checked in and changed our seating assignments – YEA!

Arrived just a bit after 6 at the Chateau d’Ermenonville, which is about 10 km from the back side of Charles de Gaulle airport! We’ve stayed here many times before, but not for the past few years. Still absolutely beautiful; very nice people, and we have an amazing second-floor room overlooking the moat and river. True, the hotel is beginning to show its age a little – but then, SO ARE WE! (R says: Speak for yourself!) Have brought everything in from the car and will repack tonight…but first, we’re heading out to look for dinner. Someplace close would be nice (closer than Senlis or Chantilly, I’m hoping!) but we’ll take what we can get at this point!!

More later!
Much love,
m

Dinner – INCREDIBLE! Actually ended up at the hotel restaurant across the street from the Chateau – and what a find! We were the only people dining in a beautiful room – crystal, china and beamed ceiling. Meal started out with a kir royale for me and a coupe de champagne for R. This came with some home-made cheese straws and little pastries. From there, we ordered dinner, both off the set menu. Before anything else, we were given an amuse-bouche – a fresh pea flan, which was light as a feather, and just great! We both ordered the same starter – tartine of aubergine (eggplant) with goat cheese, served with a bit of salad. WOW! And it only got better from there! R had the Dos de Cabaillaud (fish) which came on a bed of couscous with a parsley and oil sauce. I had CHICKEN – in an incredible Roquefort sauce with what can only be described as perfectly cooked asparagus in a light tempura batter! Following that came a green salad with an oil/moutarde dressing…and THEN came dessert! R had the most magnificent crème brulee. I had a dark chocolate “something” – not sure what exactly – but it came with a bit of Chantilly crème, a scoop of real vanilla bean ice cream, and both desserts had a spun sugar star toppings! We had a bottle of Pouilly Fume 2007 – and it was a great thing that we only had to meander back across the street, otherwise neither of us would have made it! Are now safely back in our room, re-packed (except for the liquids) and ready to go in the morning!!
Love,
m