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Post by sistereurope on Apr 8, 2008 10:20:54 GMT -5
I'm B-A-A-A-C-K from my trip and I'm feeling jet lagged and SAD! I really did have some regrets about not being able to see Paris (how can one BE in France and not see Paris?!) but I had a lovely time nonetheless. I really liked Nice and felt that I could have spent a lot more time there. Our Easter lunch was fabulous and I had foie gras creme brulee - only in France could they think of something so heavenly. Provence was lovely and the markets there are to die for! We spent a lot of time in Avignon and the wine area around there - we bought 2 cases of wine and had to buy an extra suitcase (let me know if you want to learn the secret of packing 24 bottles of wine in 4 suitcases and have none of them break). And we had a blast in Barcelona. The only drawback was that the stinking dollar made the already high prices outrageous (I do have to say that Barcelona was much less expensive than France...what's up with that?) But to paraphrase Scarlett O'Hara..."I'll think about my bank account tamarra"... ;D I'll post some pics in the proper category when I recover. So, what did I miss besides Truffaut's ACE of CAKES?! That's my hometown show, hon  Woohoo! I missed all of you - hope all's well with everyone. Now I need to figure out how soon I can get to Paris!! |
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Post by Anne on Apr 8, 2008 11:14:33 GMT -5
Welcome back Sister  ! It's nice to know that you had such a great time . Tell us more about the wine that you bought  ... |
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Post by geordy on Apr 8, 2008 11:31:40 GMT -5
Yes indeed, Welcome back and I'm so glad you enjoyed Nice..I did too..and Avignon , etc. Get some rest and tell us more! |
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Post by sistereurope on Apr 8, 2008 12:42:50 GMT -5
I will give a trip report when I can think straight! But I had to answer Anne's question: My husband LOVES Chateauneuf-de-pape. They are his favorite wines, so I literally had to pry him out of some of the caves there ;D We bought 6 bottles total...3 from this older wine maker who spoke French with an accent I'd never heard before (just when I was getting the hang of it!) We had a nice day in Beaumes de Venise as well, and bought about 4 bottles there (Anne - what we bought is so much better than what we can get here, and much cheaper even with the lousy dollar!!!). Anyway, we shopped at the cave in Lourmarin and bought several bottles from the surrounding vineyards, so thanks for your suggestion. We also bought some Gigondas and a few Cote du Rhones. We just so happened to stumble uopn the annual "Rhone Exaltation" wine exhibition when we were in Avignon, and spent the day tasting wine INSIDE the Palais de Papes! We even took a wine tasting class there. What a great experience that was. The rest we bought in the Corbieres, where we visited this small family winery and met the 5 year old grandson who our bottle of "Petit Jules" was named for. We bought 4 there and then relaized that we needed to buy a new suitcase... Sigh...so many wines, so little time... And as I said to mu husband, we won't be able to go out to dinner for quite a while now so that we can get out of debt from our trip! But drinking that wine might help ease the pain some |
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Post by Shoesy on Apr 8, 2008 13:14:02 GMT -5
Hi Sis! I'm glad to see you back on the Forum, though I'm sure you'd rather be elsewhere. |
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Post by sistereurope on Apr 8, 2008 13:29:11 GMT -5
Shoesy! You're right, I'm sorry to say. And I have tons of work to do, but my mind isn't functioning. It's still in France (with a little part in Spain!) Speaking of Spain, we met two couples from Israel in Barcelona. They were there to see some basketball game? Anyway, we spent a fun time talking to them at a Tapas bar in the market in Barcelona, and they took our picture for us. They were so nice - they reminded me of you |
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Post by Shoesy on Apr 8, 2008 13:33:35 GMT -5
Sis - My hubby and son are still lamenting the fact that our team lost that game last Thursday.  We're playing against Barcelona again this Thursday here in Israel, and whoever wins gets to participate in the Final Four Competition that will take place in Madrid in a few weeks. |
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Post by annettecinca on Apr 8, 2008 13:44:58 GMT -5
Welcome home, Sis! Glad to hear your trip went well, but I'm sorry you had to come back to reality so soon  |
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Post by sistereurope on Apr 8, 2008 13:45:07 GMT -5
Well, even though I really liked Barcelona, I'll root for Israel to win so that your family will be happy again! ;D
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Post by framboiseetrose on Apr 8, 2008 13:51:43 GMT -5
Welcome back, Sis!
All that wine packed in 4 suitcases. I need to learn how to pack those without breaking. You have to start a new thread on a step-by-step how to for us ignorant ones who would love to drink some good french wines straight from the vineyards.
Can't wait to see your pictures. Nice must have been bustling at Easter!
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Post by Shoesy on Apr 8, 2008 13:58:46 GMT -5
Thanks so much, Sis.  It's such a big deal for my two guys. They have season's tickets to the games, and they're always sooooo happy when our team plays well, but when they lose......... >:(well, let's just say that men can be such babies at times. |
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Post by cigalechanta on Apr 8, 2008 14:32:38 GMT -5
Yes, rest up and tell us how to bring back a case. Gigondas is one of my favorites. I've been buying alot of Corbieres because they have so improved the last several years and are priced affordable.
Welcome back!
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Post by luvparee on Apr 8, 2008 16:02:14 GMT -5
Sis -- I'm so glad your back safely and had a fabulous time.............. hope you enjoyed Provence as much as I did! However, I brought back "stuff" rather than wine. Now I wish I would have bought wine to savor! Hope you get back on your feet soon and have some free time to write up a very detailed (!) report.
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Post by Darcy on Apr 8, 2008 20:53:25 GMT -5
Welcome back, Sister! Catch up on your life and then tell us all about it!
We also want to hear all about your "kids'" trip!! The photo of them with their banner at the ET was so cute!
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Post by joan1 on Apr 9, 2008 1:11:41 GMT -5
Welcome back sis, glad you had a wonderful time..
Packing all that wine, in all those suitcases,, well, I cannot even imagine the feat , or should I say fear,, so glad they all survived. You must have very good packing skills!! I think you should give a tutorial !
Foie gras creme brulee,, no , is this right?? I am confused, I cannot imagine these two together, I mean, liver in dessert?? No, I must be confused ? Was this dish sweet or not? The " brulee" is burnt sugar right? Please elaborate I am so curious.
Thanks and glad you are back,, I am sure you have tons to tell us once you are well rested.
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Post by Shoesy on Apr 9, 2008 1:33:28 GMT -5
Joan - I was also very confused when I read about the froie gras creme brulee. However, I immediately blocked it out of my mind because just thinking about it sort of freaked me out.  I guess that when Sis is good and ready, she'll enlighten us regarding this "heavenly" dessert (?), which is probably somewhat of a mystery to most of us. |
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Post by Anne on Apr 9, 2008 3:43:16 GMT -5
Sister, I'm afraid that it is too late to tell you that  , but if your husband is so much into Rhône valley wines, he should buy some from E. GUIGAL, my favourite producer from this area (not that I know so many of them either  ...) . He is quite famous, so you'll be able to find his wines easily enough next time you are in Paris . He does Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas and a remarkable Côte Rôtie . Plus Hermitage, Tavel, Condrieu, etc ...  |
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Post by Shoesy on Apr 9, 2008 3:54:31 GMT -5
Anne - I guess you've just given Sis another good reason to start planning her next trip to Paris. ;D
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Post by mez on Apr 9, 2008 5:39:25 GMT -5
Welcome back! I can't wait to read your trip report...and I definitely want to hear about how the wine bottles survived the hourney home. |
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Post by Happygoin on Apr 9, 2008 7:00:52 GMT -5
This from a non-wine drinker: I wonder who had the job of schlepping that suitcase with 24 (!) bottles of wine through the airport |
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Woohoo!
!
...
We're playing against Barcelona again this Thursday here in Israel, and whoever wins gets to participate in the Final Four Competition that will take place in Madrid in a few weeks.
It's such a big deal for my two guys. They have season's tickets to the games, and they're always sooooo happy when our team plays well, but when they lose......... >:(well, let's just say that men can be such babies at times.
I guess that when Sis is good and ready, she'll enlighten us regarding this "heavenly" dessert (?), which is probably somewhat of a mystery to most of us. 
, but if your husband is so much into Rhône valley wines, he should buy some from E. GUIGAL, my favourite producer from this area (not that I know so many of them either 
...) . He is quite famous, so you'll be able to find his wines easily enough next time you are in Paris . He does Châteauneuf du Pape, Gigondas and a remarkable Côte Rôtie . Plus Hermitage, Tavel, Condrieu, etc ... 
hahahha