Day 1 Saturday September 10, 2011

Kitchen area at La Forge (our little country cottage)

Sitting area at La Forge

Courtyard area outside our front door

It was a long trip.  Just getting to the airport was an experience!  On our way to Boston, heading into Randolph, MA on 24N the highway was shutdown due to a truckfire and all traffic was being rerouted onto 139.  Fortunately, Tami knew the area.  We decided to change to Plan B and have Tami's Mom and Dad meet us at the Airport express in Braintree w/ the GPS and then take the bus to the airport.

After a long qnd uncomfortable flight we arrived 1/2 hour early in Paris.  Customs in Paris is virtually non-existant.  We changed to our connecting flight to Bordeaux.  On the plane we met a very nice off-duty stewardess who sat next to us.  She had been visiting NY and was intrigued by the grocery shopping in NYC.

"Cheese" the cat

After getting to our charmingly beautiful cottage and freshening up, we sat and chatted with our hostess, Carol, and met Patouche the dog, and Cheese the cat.  Then we went out into town to do a little exploring.  We went to the local "8 à huit" store and picked up some provisions ie: milk, eggs, cheese, olives, coffee, orqnge juice; and wine, and then went to the patisserie for a nice warm baguette, and some croissants for breakfast.

At night we dined at Baron du Garamond, a very nice local restaurant.  I had poisson du mer and creme brulè with a nice local wine, Haut de Lechey (Bordeaux).

Finally around midnight (local time) we went back to the cottage, and discussed the next day's plans.  btw...  I'm sleeping in the loft, and Tami is sleeping in the "motion" bed under the skylight down below;

My garden paradise outside La Forge at sunset on Day 1

Bed time...  Bon Nuit!