From Roanne to Valence

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We got up very late because of the very extensive and late dinner we had the evening before at Troisgros. First stop is the Couvent de la Tourelle, a convent masterpiece by the architect Le Corbusier for the Dominican order. It is being restored right now, so we couldn't visit the complex itself. The setting on a hill is beautiful - the "rooms" for the monks very, very small and simple...
Via Vienne (with its great Roman Temple) and Lyon we rode along the Rhône to Valence were we stay at Michel Chabran. (a few stars less - but very nice as well we hope...)

Le Midi

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Le midi is the marker for the halfway point between the North Pole and the Equitar. It's on 45˚ at Pont De L'Isere.

Sweet! III

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Les Verites De La Palisse, Bonbons Fourres.

Through the Auvergne

16:56 mareku 0 Comments

An other beautiful day in the south of France. We rode through a hilly sunny landscape over the Route Bleu to Roanne. On our way we visited the Chateau of Palisse and Le Château de la Roche at St-Priest-la-Roche which due to a dam lies now in the middle of water.

At Troisgros in Roanne

16:55 mareku 0 Comments

How much food can you eat? How many dishes in one menu? It seems the more stars restaurants have - the more you have to get. Well at Troisgros they have 3 stars for more then 40 years now and the food is more then enough... :-) - they have about 20 chefs in the kitchen so staff to prepare it all.

Luckily it is immense tasteful and while we celebrated Eddie's birthday it was very suitable as well!

As usual whenever we riding our motorbikes we have plenty of people addressing us about the bikes - Michel Troisgros was no exception and he proved to be an passionate bike rider.

This is what we had (pardon my french ;-) ):

Menu de Printemps

Asperge landaise, ivre de vin
Gnochettis d'artichaut à la sadine fumée
Mezzalune de petits pois et amandes fraîches
Cuisses de grenouilles poêlées, un satay d'épices
Sole à la cioulette
Homard bleu rivière de janvier
Canette de Challans caramélisée aux cerises
La tradion de fromages fermiers, frais & affinés
Douceur de lait et caramel, gelée de casis
Tarte sublime au chocolat, à la poire
Rhubarbe et fraises des bois a l'estragon

Cute (gay) Mc Donald's ad in France: Venez comme vous êtes...

17:45 mareku 0 Comments

Sommerset Maughan revisited

16:53 mareku 0 Comments

Selina Hastings (who wrote earlier about Mitford and Waugh) wrote a new biography, “The Secret Lives of Somerset Maugham”which is available on the kindle (and so iPad). As I like reading books more in de kindle app then in de the iBooks app (better usability, better selection and... lower prices...). Strangely enough not many people read Maugham books or plays anymore and that while he was for much of his (very long) life “the most famous writer in the world.” - and one of the best selling.
So while I am am reading Selina's book I am planning to reread “Of Human Bondage," and “The Moon and Sixpence” both published in early part of the twentieth century. Let's see if Sommerset stands the attack of time.
PS If you were wondering what the secret life of Sommerset was all about: he was married but spend most of his time with young guys at his estate in the Provence ;-)

Moulins

08:32 mareku 0 Comments

Rain and Sunshine were alternating today - which gave strange and beautiful skies (and sometimes a wet suit). We had a very short ride to Moulins - but we absolutely wanted to see the triptych of the "Maitre de Moulins" in the Gothic Cathedral. You can only see it on request and it is a private showing in which the guard will open the triptych especially for you. It was stunning how well it is preserved with stunning colors and an immense detail.

South!

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Sweet! II

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Le Negus caramel toffees from Negus De Nevers.

Between the Loire and the Seine

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Slowly we are riding down the N7 south and we take ample of time to see the many things around us. As the 7 locks of the canal between the Loire and the Seine at Rogny Les Sept Ecluses and the Castle of Saint Fargeau.
We stayed at the Auberge Des Templiers in and had our first "proper" gourmand meal Foie Gras with rhubarbe. Yummy!

Sweet!

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Chocolate almonds (Praslines) from Mazet De Montargis.

We asked for a save trip... and we got it!

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At the Notre Dame De La Route - the special chapel for the N7 we asked for a guidance and as the sun broke through the clouds at that moment, I guess we got it :-)

The french like good clothes - also for their dogs...

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Fontainebleau - city of the emperors

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As we couldn't stay at the Chateau, we stayed in the next best thing across it: the Aigle Noir ;-) AS usual parking the motor bikes was easy - in front of the entrance...
Because it is still early in the holiday season, it was very quiet while visiting the Chateau, which was nice because we had a good chance to see everything at our own convenience. I liked especially the Diane Gallery with its library and globes. The garden park was immaculate and looked very fresh - the weather nice. So a perfect beginning our our trip in France.