Snow Day!

Tuesday, 30 November 2010

This is what I woke up to this morning! (views from my bedroom window)

We rarely get snow in Lyon and certainly not this early in the year. It has been snowing now for 24 hours and is supposed to keep going to another 24. They say we'll get 40 centimeters, I'd say we've gotten 25 so far.

Having lived in Montana and New England, I must say I love living where it doesn't snow--had my fill. I don't have to drive anywhere today, just get to sit in my kitchen and watch the snow fall on the terrace while I write my novel, cozy as can be with a mug of Ear Grey. Perfect.

I'll try and get out and about on foot this afternoon and take some photos of gorgeous buildings covered in snow. Slip on my knee-high UGG boots and off I go!

Bon, gros bisous de neige--beaucoup de neige!--et a demain.

Love, Charley

P.S. Had the best two-hour walk! Oh, it was gorgeous out. Everyone had a big smile on their face, people were throwing snowballs and making snowmen. Malheuresement, no matter how great the camera, I couldn't capture the true beauty and ambiance. Lyon is beautiful under snow. 

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Le Musée du Louvre!

Monday, 29 November 2010

Whenever I go to Paris, I make a stop at Le Musée du Louvre. I love it. It is so vast, it merits several little visits, easier to digest. I am a great fan of Renaissance and Antiquity.

Le Louvre

The Louvre was built as a residential fortress by King Philip II in the 12th century. Throughout the ages, French kings lived in the Louvre, updated it, and added onto it. In 1546, Francis I renovated the Louvre into Renaissance style and acquired the Mona Lisa when he befriended Leonardo Da Vinci and offered him asylum and a place to live. During the French Revolution, the Louvre became a museum and then Napoleon lived in it during his reign.

Napoleon's Apartments in the Louvre

One of the world's biggest museums, it houses some of the world's greatest treasures: from Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, to Islamic art, to sculpture, to Painting. I go a little nuts on the paintings! Vermeer, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Delacroix, Michelangelo, Botticelli ....

Ah, makes me want to hop on the TGV ...!

Gros bisous de l'Art et a demain!

Love, Charley

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Killer Brownies!

Sunday, 28 November 2010

Thank you, France, for forcing me to learn to cook from scratch!

Killer Brownies

4oz. Unsweetened chocolate (Cote d'or 86% noir brut chocolat)

1 cup unsalted butter (225g buerre doux)

1/2 tsp salt (1/2 coffee spoon)

1 tsp vanilla (1 coffee spoon)

2 cups sugar (500ml)

4 eggs

3/4 cup flour (200ml)

Preheat oven to 325 (220)

Line bottom of a baking dish with parchment paper. Butter paper and sides of dish. Set aside. 

Melt chocolate and butter in microwave oven for 1 minute, stir, and repeat 1 minute. 

Add to melted chocolate and butter: salt, vanilla, and sugar and mix well with wooden spoon. Then add eggs, one at a time (still using spoon). Gently stir in flour until the mixture is smooth. Pour into prepared dish.

Bake approximately 40 minutes or until a knife comes out relatively smooth. It is super important not to over cook the brownies as they need to be a little gooey.

They are best eaten the next day, if you can manage to hold yourself back!! Enjoy!

Gros bisous de American Brownies et a demain.

Love, Charley

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La première lumière ...

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Il y a déjà trois ans que j'ai le bonheur d'illuminer mon blog durant la période magique de l'Avent ...

Quelques petits anges pour accompagner la première lumière ...

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Très beau Premier Dimanche de l'Avent à vous qui passez

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Juste pour le plaisir de l'écrire !!!

Saturday, 27 November 2010

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Il a neigé !

Oh juste quelques flocons, mais il a neigé !

...Alors j'ai enguirlandé mon jardin ...

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Au loin une fumée s'échappe d'une cheminée, l'hiver s'installe à pas feutrés ...
...Dans cette attente la maison se fait plus douce, plus tendre ...

...A l'heure de la pause gourmande, les délices du "Provençal"

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et le moëlleux au chocolat maison ont été dévorés par deux petits lutins, Zoé et Guillaume ...

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Comme il fait certainement plus froid à Paris, chère Lakévio je vais aller m'acheter un bonnet de laine ...

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TRES BEAU WEEK-END A VOUS QUI PASSEZ

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A Crying Shame

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Saint-Laurent-de-Mure is situated about 18 kilometers east of Lyon. There lies the  ruins of an ancient castle, once owned by the Barons of Jerphanion, who were some of the best jewelers in France. 

For centuries, there has been a legend of secret underground tunnels running from the Château de Saint-Laurent-de-Mure to l'église de Pouilleux. 

Last Monday, the 15th of November 2010, these secret tunnels were discovered! Workers were fixing a sidewalk in the Village, on rue Georges Pilet, when their work truck drove up and the road collapsed underneath it. Upon inspection, they discovered a tunnel 1.5 meters underground that is 2 meters high and roughly 1 meter wide. They went about 10 meters down the tunnel and found it to be blocked by debris. 

The Mairie, or Town Hall, made a decision NOT to inform the public and gave instructions to HIDE the tunnel and plug it up with cement immediately!!!!! Which they did!

No archaeologists were called in. No one took photos. No one noted what kind of masonry the tunnel was built with to help determine its age. No one looked to see if any ancient artifacts could be found in the tunnel. 

Nothing!

The Mairie did this as they didn't want to be bothered with archeologists coming out, didn't want to be bothered with losing money, or having villagers complain because a road is dug up. 

I don't understand how one man in a small village has the right to hide France's historical past. As a French person sadly noted when I told them of this affair, "France is losing her past."

This happens all the time. 

Ancient Roman ruins, tunnels, etc are found and they are hidden from the public and never properly explored, cataloged, or noted. People don't want to lose money or be bothered! It makes me want to cry. France should be proud of their rich and fascinating past, they should do all they can to investigate these finds and shed more light on their glorious history. Instead, small-minded people make decisions that effect the entire country. It's not right. 

Gros bisous de honte (shame) et a demain.

Love, Charley

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Cartes postales ... La Mer, le Mistral et les Mouettes ...

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

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J'aime le Mistral qui fouette le visage, qui vous courbe et vous fait presser le pas !

Cet après-midi à Saint-Raphaël et Fréjus-Plage, il a tenu toutes ses promesses !!!

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Le ferry est à quai, les traversées pour Saint-Tropez et Sainte-Maxime ce sera pour une prochaine fois !

...Les palmiers "décoiffés" par le Mistral ! Ils n'étaient pas les seuls !

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Très peu de promeneurs ...
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Le cours Jean Bart et ses platanes roux ...
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Au large de Fréjus-Plage, une petite voile courageuse sur la mer qui frisait ...

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Plus de mouettes que de promeneurs !

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Elles étaient partout !

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Pas grand monde en terrasse non plus ...

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Le manège ...

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Le lion de mer ...

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Une jolie après-midi qui nous a mis le rose aux joues ...

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Amitiés à vous qui passez

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La Tour Eiffel!

Monday, 22 November 2010

La Tour Eiffel was built by Gustave Eiffel as an arched entrance to the 1889 World's Fair. It is 324 meters (1,063 feet) tall. It was never meant to be permanent, it was to be taken down after the Fair. There was an economic crises, and the city didn't have the funds to take it down.

The tallest building in Paris, it is one of the most visited sights on the planet. But, my favorite story about La Tour Eiffel took place during the Nazi occupation.

The French cut the lift cables when Hitler took over Paris so that he would have to climb up the stairs to get to the top of the tower. Hitler never climbed up. A few of his heinous henchmen did, to plant a Nazi flag at the top. The wind blew it away. They say that Hitler may have conquered Paris, but not the Eiffel Tower! But the best part of this story is: at the end of the war, Hitler gave orders to Dietrich von Chioltitz, military Governor of Paris at the time, to destroy the entire city of Paris and leave it in rubble! This order was disobeyed. Hitler famously called him on the phone, screaming in an apoplectic rage, "Is Paris burning?!" Merci to Dietrich von Chioltitz, who negotiated with his enemy, the French Resistance to keep the city intact and to organize a peaceful surrender for himself and his troops; many valuable and historic monuments still exist in Paris today.

Twice it should have been destroyed ... that is one good luck tower!

I am a sucker for anything that sparkles. Call me crazy, cra-a-a-azy! I love, love, love it that La Tour Eiffel sparkles at the top of the hour every hour. Voilà, un petit sparkly video below. 

Gros bisous qui brille et a demain!

Love, Charley

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Mick Jagger's favorite castle

Mick Jagger's favorite castle is located in the Loire Valley, not far form his own castle. First built in 1005, Château de Montrésor, was a great medieval fortress. The castle passed through several hands before being demolished in 1203. It was then rebuilt in 1393.

Located in the Loire Valley, minutes away from the great châteaux of the Royal and Noble families, Château de Montrésor became important during the Renaissance and was completely refurbished as well as embellished upon. 

During the French Revolution, the castle suffered and was left to decay. In 1849, a Polish Count bought the castle and gave it new life. Today, the castle is exactly as he left it one hundred and fifty years ago. Château de Montrésor remains in his family today.

The road leading up to the castle

Ancient walls

The entry portal

The courtyard

Inside

The abandoned carriage house

Abandoned carriage

Abandoned taxidermy--creepy!

A staircase leading to underground passages

The languid River Indre 

If you go to the Loire Valley to see all of the magnificent, Cinderella-esque châteaux, I strongly advise also taking in le Château de Montrésor. It sings to you, it's fairy-like, magic, and original in its rich decor. No small wonder it's Mick Jagger's favorite!

Sleep next door at the fabulous B & B, Château de la Voûte.

Gros bisous des châteaux magique et a demain!

Love, Charley  

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