Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Trip to Cody
I was lucky enough to get picked up right from home; Colleen, Jackie, and I. We had fairly good luck on traffic through the park. One stopped car for a black bear but he pulled off into Petrified Tree rather quickly. The talks were interesting. And we got to see a moose on the way home!
Monday, June 13, 2016
European wrap-up
A wrap-up and a bit of miscellany. We had a driver from the airport who also took us to Normandy. Hakim was awesome. With the train strike, it made it so nice to just hop in our car with all of the luggage rather than struggle to get on the Metro.
Asking me about the best meal I had? They were all awesome. There were a couple that were only okay, true, but everything was just so much better than you can usually get over here.
There were so... many... English speakers. I tried to speak French but no one was enjoying my accent so the folks in the shops and restaurants usually just switched right over to English if they could.
I also finally learned how to prounounce Peugeot (poo-jus, (like au jus))
Asking me about the best meal I had? They were all awesome. There were a couple that were only okay, true, but everything was just so much better than you can usually get over here.
There were so... many... English speakers. I tried to speak French but no one was enjoying my accent so the folks in the shops and restaurants usually just switched right over to English if they could.
I also finally learned how to prounounce Peugeot (poo-jus, (like au jus))
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Dinant
We got to have a leisurely morning since we didn't have to leave until 9. Then we had a little (~3,000 steps) hike over to the Grand Centraal Station. We were off to Dinant, where we had lunch at the Cafe Leffe. Delicious.
Then a tour with Theierry. We started at Brasserie de Bocq. On the way, we passed the Leffe Abbey (which we learned last night, that means that the beer was once brewed by monks but no longer; the Trappistes beer is brewed in the Abbey an at least overseen by the monks). There are still monks in the abbey, but InBev (sp?) now makes the beer and uses their name.
Mouseau, a family brewed beer until just before the Second World War when they sold to the Lamotte family until a storm blew down the stack in the 70s. It was closed for a couple of decades but then opened by a man from Lamieux who renamed the beer Caracole (snail in French, the nickname of those
From Lamieux)
Two types of castles - on meant to defend something (usually on top of a cliff) This one was the same, but surrounded by wetlands that were dangerous to those who didn't know the area
The oldest part of this castle is in the river side. It has belonged to the same family for 25 generations. The gardens are not watered by pump, it comes down from the hills
Caracole beer is the last one in the world to heat the grains in the fireplace. They produced four beers until recently but now have a gastronomic beer by a local chef (at least a local gastronome)
Troublette -- white beer, a little dry for me
Saxo -- pale ale
Caracole --
Nostradamus -- five different malts
Then a tour with Theierry. We started at Brasserie de Bocq. On the way, we passed the Leffe Abbey (which we learned last night, that means that the beer was once brewed by monks but no longer; the Trappistes beer is brewed in the Abbey an at least overseen by the monks). There are still monks in the abbey, but InBev (sp?) now makes the beer and uses their name.
Mouseau, a family brewed beer until just before the Second World War when they sold to the Lamotte family until a storm blew down the stack in the 70s. It was closed for a couple of decades but then opened by a man from Lamieux who renamed the beer Caracole (snail in French, the nickname of those
From Lamieux)
Two types of castles - on meant to defend something (usually on top of a cliff) This one was the same, but surrounded by wetlands that were dangerous to those who didn't know the area
The oldest part of this castle is in the river side. It has belonged to the same family for 25 generations. The gardens are not watered by pump, it comes down from the hills
Caracole beer is the last one in the world to heat the grains in the fireplace. They produced four beers until recently but now have a gastronomic beer by a local chef (at least a local gastronome)
Troublette -- white beer, a little dry for me
Saxo -- pale ale
Caracole --
Nostradamus -- five different malts
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Brussels Day 1
We went with the Belgian Journeys company and our guide was owner Marie. She is a fabulous guide and had appointing she is very willing to share. Neuhaus? Not in her chocolate tour. #1 she doesn't like it; #2 they use palm oil in their chocolate.
Pralines in Belgium are all chocolate - not mixed with almonds
Started in Chocopolis -- looks tacky/touristy but is local and they are the only company to ship anywhere in the world
There we got to taste a dark chocolate ganache (dairy free in Belgian) with chili -- nice and smooth and then, POW!
The. We walked over to the next stop and saw some history along the way.
Picture of the "Royal" area, palace, library, etc.
Museum of Music -- art nouveau
Brick building closeup is of an art nouveau building (ransom, just a neat building)
Confiseer - buys chocolate that is already made, melt it down and create from there
Chocolatier - buys cocoa beans and creates their own chocolate
At the second shop, Frederic Blondeel, Marie had us stop and smell. It was a fabulous: all fresh chocolate.
Marie told us she likes to start with single origin, then have an old favorite and then end with something experimental (flowers, etc.)
So we got a 73% chocolate from Papua New Guinea and then we got to choose between bay leaves/basil/peppercorn, black pepper, and citronella and THEN a choice between a milk praline hazelnut, a raspberry caramel, passion fruit caramel, and sea salt caramel) and THEN a ganache with Christmas spices and run
We went to the next stop, Pierre Marcolini, which was very busy but our guide took us up to the second (third) floor which had a thick carpet but it was fake grass which was interesting to sit on.
Marcolini was a pastry chef until he developed a gluten intolerance and then turned to chocolate
First chocolate was 75% chocolate from Madagascar. He makes tea with chocolate but also makes chocolate with tea -- we tried the Earl Grey Tea. Not Dad's favorite
And third we tried a chocolate that had a paste inside with cardamom. Interesting. That's all I've got for that one. Interesting.
On the way to the last chocolatier, we passed the medieval wall of Brussels. It is in Flemish territory but it is different.
Then we passed the Mannekin Piss, the official symbol of Brussels. The first one was put in in the 14th Century. Then it was replaced in the 17th Century when it was stolen. The last time it was stolen was the 1970s and it washouts in the river with its legs cut off.
We stopped in Grand Place which has existed as a square since the 12th century. It was mostly razed by Louis XIV's troops in the 1500s (except for the tower.
We went through the Royal Galleries (picture of the open air arch). Very Fancy Shops (Shoppes?)
Our last sweet shop was Meert which originally opened in 1761 (but only opened at this location in the last 5 years). We got to choose two and I got the Yuzu (lime from Japan) and the sea salt the Marie recommended.
The first beer stop was a puppet theatre. There are low fermentation beers (quick to make, most of the well-known beers e.g. Corona, Heineken, Budweiser). High fermentation is for the more complex beers (ales). Spontaneous fermentation (lambic beers from Brussels). We tried a cherry lambic, not sweet.
11 Trappist beers in the world, 6 in Belgium (only one in the States).
Duvel - like beer and champagne had a baby
The fries in Belgium are deep-fried in beef fat
We tried a stout which was good
Double and Triple beers -- beer used to be 3%, 6%, and 9% alcohol (so three, two times three, and three times three).
We had a round with Manchego and bread and then some salami and Serrano.
Apparently fresh hops and fresh weed smell very, very similar since they are in the same family.
The last beer was an IPA on the sweet side, not as citrus-y.
Then it was on to the oldest bar in town with traces into the 17th Century. I got a "girly" beer (another Kriek) while the "male" beer was the Trappistes Rochefort 8. Mortsubite.
Pralines in Belgium are all chocolate - not mixed with almonds
Started in Chocopolis -- looks tacky/touristy but is local and they are the only company to ship anywhere in the world
There we got to taste a dark chocolate ganache (dairy free in Belgian) with chili -- nice and smooth and then, POW!
The. We walked over to the next stop and saw some history along the way.
Picture of the "Royal" area, palace, library, etc.
Museum of Music -- art nouveau
Brick building closeup is of an art nouveau building (ransom, just a neat building)
Confiseer - buys chocolate that is already made, melt it down and create from there
Chocolatier - buys cocoa beans and creates their own chocolate
At the second shop, Frederic Blondeel, Marie had us stop and smell. It was a fabulous: all fresh chocolate.
Marie told us she likes to start with single origin, then have an old favorite and then end with something experimental (flowers, etc.)
So we got a 73% chocolate from Papua New Guinea and then we got to choose between bay leaves/basil/peppercorn, black pepper, and citronella and THEN a choice between a milk praline hazelnut, a raspberry caramel, passion fruit caramel, and sea salt caramel) and THEN a ganache with Christmas spices and run
We went to the next stop, Pierre Marcolini, which was very busy but our guide took us up to the second (third) floor which had a thick carpet but it was fake grass which was interesting to sit on.
Marcolini was a pastry chef until he developed a gluten intolerance and then turned to chocolate
First chocolate was 75% chocolate from Madagascar. He makes tea with chocolate but also makes chocolate with tea -- we tried the Earl Grey Tea. Not Dad's favorite
And third we tried a chocolate that had a paste inside with cardamom. Interesting. That's all I've got for that one. Interesting.
On the way to the last chocolatier, we passed the medieval wall of Brussels. It is in Flemish territory but it is different.
Then we passed the Mannekin Piss, the official symbol of Brussels. The first one was put in in the 14th Century. Then it was replaced in the 17th Century when it was stolen. The last time it was stolen was the 1970s and it washouts in the river with its legs cut off.
We stopped in Grand Place which has existed as a square since the 12th century. It was mostly razed by Louis XIV's troops in the 1500s (except for the tower.
We went through the Royal Galleries (picture of the open air arch). Very Fancy Shops (Shoppes?)
Our last sweet shop was Meert which originally opened in 1761 (but only opened at this location in the last 5 years). We got to choose two and I got the Yuzu (lime from Japan) and the sea salt the Marie recommended.
The first beer stop was a puppet theatre. There are low fermentation beers (quick to make, most of the well-known beers e.g. Corona, Heineken, Budweiser). High fermentation is for the more complex beers (ales). Spontaneous fermentation (lambic beers from Brussels). We tried a cherry lambic, not sweet.
11 Trappist beers in the world, 6 in Belgium (only one in the States).
Duvel - like beer and champagne had a baby
The fries in Belgium are deep-fried in beef fat
We tried a stout which was good
Double and Triple beers -- beer used to be 3%, 6%, and 9% alcohol (so three, two times three, and three times three).
We had a round with Manchego and bread and then some salami and Serrano.
Apparently fresh hops and fresh weed smell very, very similar since they are in the same family.
The last beer was an IPA on the sweet side, not as citrus-y.
Then it was on to the oldest bar in town with traces into the 17th Century. I got a "girly" beer (another Kriek) while the "male" beer was the Trappistes Rochefort 8. Mortsubite.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Notre Dame and bus tour
We started off with a Metro trip to Notre Dame. After an hour spent in quiet contemplation, we hedges off for a bus tour. It was really nice to spend a few days on foot and then a day sitting and getting the whole overview of the city (and get to listen to interesting Frencc music relating to the areas we're in
And you learn a little bit about the whole history of France. Like the fact that this tour really likes to talk about the .salacious side of France, referring to Henry IV as a philanderer (twice) and talking about what people got up to after beheadings (brothels were involved.) students went in search of the lowlife in the disreputable areas near <jardins>
The picture of the Eiffel Tower includes a look at the statues in the Trocadero, seven men and one woman.
It takes 60 tons of paint to recover the Eiffel Tower
We also experienced some excitement when a motorcyclist went around the bus and we all went flying forward when the driver hit the brakes. Seatbelt are a good thing
he obelisk is the oldest monument in Aris
And you learn a little bit about the whole history of France. Like the fact that this tour really likes to talk about the .salacious side of France, referring to Henry IV as a philanderer (twice) and talking about what people got up to after beheadings (brothels were involved.) students went in search of the lowlife in the disreputable areas near <jardins>
The picture of the Eiffel Tower includes a look at the statues in the Trocadero, seven men and one woman.
It takes 60 tons of paint to recover the Eiffel Tower
We also experienced some excitement when a motorcyclist went around the bus and we all went flying forward when the driver hit the brakes. Seatbelt are a good thing
he obelisk is the oldest monument in Aris
Thursday, June 9, 2016
June 10 -- Champs Elysee
On Wednesday, we had fit so much into our day that we took Thursday morning a bit more slow. We didn't even leave the apartment until 11, heading over to the Arc de Triomphe. While the rest of the group sent over to the Harley Davidson store, I ran up to the top. Almost literally. The line was super short to get in and then to get up. And everyone was moving fairly quickly. Not like my memory of 2000.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
June 8 Louvre tour with Malcolm
Started in the statue courtyards aka the Richelieu wing.
The green statue was one of four that were at the foot of a statue of Louis XIV. When he was overturned, his statue was melted down but the statues of his victims were left untouched.
Four statues representing the four rivers
The apartments of Napoleon Bonaparte III <one picture of Catherine de Medici>
Then we moved into the French painters
John the Good (Jean Le Bon) - the oldest picture of a French royal <picture>
Also saw pictures by Seuer and Poussin. Also some Vermeers, Goyen, and Dujardin in between the Richilieu and Sully wings (the Dutch and Flemish rooms mainly being closed at the time for renovation, some paintings had been kept out).
Next we went down three levels to walk through the moat of the royal palace (1200s/1300s, probably filled in during the 1500s) that had been excavated in the 1980s
Through the Greek antiquities to see the Venus de Milo and the winged Victory of Samothrace discovered in 1863.
The Coronation of Napoleon <picture>
And of course the Italian Renaissance -- Titian, da Vinci, Digiorgio. "She looks like the kind of women who promises more than she delivers" -- Oscar Wilde
Ending at some of Michaelangelo's statues
The green statue was one of four that were at the foot of a statue of Louis XIV. When he was overturned, his statue was melted down but the statues of his victims were left untouched.
Four statues representing the four rivers
The apartments of Napoleon Bonaparte III <one picture of Catherine de Medici>
Then we moved into the French painters
John the Good (Jean Le Bon) - the oldest picture of a French royal <picture>
Also saw pictures by Seuer and Poussin. Also some Vermeers, Goyen, and Dujardin in between the Richilieu and Sully wings (the Dutch and Flemish rooms mainly being closed at the time for renovation, some paintings had been kept out).
Next we went down three levels to walk through the moat of the royal palace (1200s/1300s, probably filled in during the 1500s) that had been excavated in the 1980s
Through the Greek antiquities to see the Venus de Milo and the winged Victory of Samothrace discovered in 1863.
The Coronation of Napoleon <picture>
And of course the Italian Renaissance -- Titian, da Vinci, Digiorgio. "She looks like the kind of women who promises more than she delivers" -- Oscar Wilde
Ending at some of Michaelangelo's statues
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