Monday, April 8, 2013

Safely Back in Paris

We were not flogged for speaking English at the Normandy Chateau but we did get some stern glares...

I apologize for the lack of photos but we are going back in two weeks and by then the flowers should be blooming so I hope to have some pretty photos. 

This is not a great photo of the chateau...it really was prettier from other angles but apparently I am not a good multi-tasker. I was consumed with French words running through my head.


Here are some shots of our room.


This bed is adorable and it was pretty darn comfortable.


The chateau was built over the course of 300 years! The first section was constructed in the 1700s with additions added about every 100 years from there. I will do a much better job of photographing next time. Every day was very full. We started with a petite dejeune (breakfast) at 9 a.m. Lessons started at 9:30. We worked until dejeune (lunch) at 12:30 or so. Our host, Taco, would teach part of the morning lesson and then spend the rest of the day preparing our food. I really could kick myself for not getting photos of his meals. They were French farmer recipes...rather rustic and so wonderful! I don't like fish or seafood so he always made a special plate for me if that was the main course. I was well taken care of! 

We had a second instructor, Adam, to work with us the rest of the day. After lunch we would be in lessons until 6 p.m. Then we had a couple of hours of free time before dinner at 8 p.m. But of course... French was supposed to be the only language...we were very skilled at getting our hosts sidetracked and into conversations in English (we are so bad!). Politics and travel were two areas of conversation that often turned to English because it was just easier!!!!

4 comments:

Sand and Sunshine said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip. ;-) And the food - sounds yum!

Caroline Ingalls said...

I'm going to Amsterdam tomorrow to see the tulips blooming .....

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

no fish and seafood and you living in Alaska with all that salmon - ! Was it just the two of you learning French or more people there? Sounds like an interesting experience - you will be speaking like a natural French person in no time at all.

Lynette said...

What a pretty room and such a gorgeous setting. :)