A New Year

Okay, well now you know one of my worst habits - procrastination!  I didn't do very well with the blog last year, but it's a new year and I'm full of optimism that this year will be different (fingers crossed).  I love reading other people's blogs.  So much so, that some days I don't get a whole lot done around the house.  And to top it off my daughter, Erin, and good friend, Jane, introduced me to Pinterest recently!  Now that definitely makes it a challenge some days to get anything done. ;D  ( note:  if you haven't checked out Pinterest you don't know what you're missing!)  So, since the weather outside is horribly windy, rainy and grey - even by Belgium standards - I thought it would be a good time to sit down and get started, again. 

Since my husband returned from deployment this past spring we have been making a greater effort to travel more often.  I must admit that in the past couple years we'd gotten a little complacent about it.  Two deployments and family obligations didn't help, but still we'd become 'home bodies'.  After a little reevaluation, and realizing we will be leaving Europe sooner rather than later, we thought we'd better start hitting the road and experience more of what Europe has to offer.  In October we spent a fun weekend with friends in Beaune, France, wine capital of Burgundy.  It's one of our favorite locations.  The Saturday market there is fantastic; the streets are lined with quaint shops; there's a very well preserved medieval hospice (hospital; built in 1442); good restaurants; and an abundance of wine caves!  Plus this trip we made a point of touring our favorite mustard factory - La Moutarderie Fallot.

But first we took a pleasant detour on the way down and stopped at the town of Troyes, FR.  Established in Roman times, it luckily escaped bombing during WW1 and WW2.  Because of that it has some of the finest half-timbered houses I've ever seen.  There's also a cathedral and about 8 other churches, all in great condition.

16th century half-timbered houses in Troyes, FR.

Narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses.

Drain spout on cathedral.

Too funny!

Now on to Beaune.....



                                        

My favorite olive vendor's stall.

Champignons (mushrooms)

Radis (radishes)

Carottes (carrots)

Our favorite sweet indulgence - Nougat!!

Hospices of Beaune - known for it's elaborate tiled roof.

Another inner courtyard picture.

The best dijon-style mustard in the world!!

Four guys in hats.



Whew!  That took awhile.  Hopefully as I blog more often I'll get the hang of this.  I need to move on now but I'll try to come back later and tell you about our other two trips to round out 2012.  

Have a great day, Lala