“I love everything that is old; old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines.” --Oliver Goldsmith, The Vicar of Wakefield
Traveling to Beaune
On our spacious Heidebloem--the bus!
We were sad to bid Paris aideu and a bit anxious to figure out what the traveling would be like--but our fears were quickly forgotten once we got on our spacious bus, met Roni, our competent driver, and saw Cristina's smiling face. There was more than enough room for everyone--thanks to the small group, we were all able to have our own row on the bus and often would coordinate alternating wall/aisle seats so that we could recline without imposing on those behind us. During the time on the bus we relaxed while soaking in the beauty of the French countryside, read books, and began getting to know our tour-mates. Cristina made general announcements over the P.A. and gave ideas about popular attractions in each location, but also made sure she stopped by each group of travelers to answer any questions and help us decide what to do with our time. She also offered to coordinate dinner for anyone interested, which we appreciated--we knew we would eat well with her in charge. After so much walking in Paris, it was fabulous to put our feet up and appreciate the change of pace and scenery.
After four short hours on our bus, we arrived in Beaune...
After four short hours on our bus, we arrived in Beaune...
Exploring BeauneAs we approached Beaune, it was clear we would be experiencing an entirely different side of France in both the scenery and the pace of life. While in Paris, we were constantly on the go; Beaune provided the perfect opportunity to slow down, take in the village life, savor the wine, and make memories with our tour-mates.
Upon arriving at our hotel, Le Hotel Des Remparts, our group was welcomed by the owner and we were all personally escorted to our quaint but extremely spacious rooms. After settling in, we all reconvened in the open-air courtyard and discussed our plans for the day. We were interested in wine-tasting (we were in wine country, so duh!), and found that my "buddy" and his family were planning to go to the same place. For the first time on our trip, we set off with other travelers--something that would soon become a common occurrence. As we made our way towards the wine cellar, we came across Hotel Dieu; in the 1400s it served as a hospital to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay. The architecture was impressive, but the audio-guide that explained its history left a bit to be desired--it was no Rick App, as we came to fondly call our Audio Europe guide. After completing the hospital tour, we made our way to Patriarche Perre & Fils, the largest wine cellar in all of Beaune. Three miles of underground caves were filled with thousands of bottles of wine. We wound our way through the cellars and enjoyed tasting more than 13 different types of wines with our tour-mates who were becoming fast friends; together we shared wine, pretzels, and lots of laughter! Following our lunch of wine we continued our walking tour of Beaune--good thing we didn't have to drive! John and Alex (my buddy) bonded over the fact that the city's name made them both get songs from Bone Thugs-n-Harmony stuck in their heads, so they serenaded us as we wandered the quaint streets--our own personal Beaune-Thugs, perhaps? :) We ended our relaxing day in Beaune by joining 24 of the 28 tour members, Roni, & Cristina for dinner at a fabulous restaurant that was in a converted wine-cellar. We feasted on the best bouef-bourguignon and creme brulee we'd ever had, and after a discussion with others John joined them in trying escargot as well, embracing the concept of 'when in Rome'--I mean Beaune... Stopping in Beaune allowed us to experience a totally new side of France that we never would have seen without the Rick Steves tour taking us there. We loved the opportunity to make memories and friends in Beaune--and of course, enjoy the wine! |
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Favorite Beaune Moment?
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Bon Voyage! |