Wine tasting at Chateau Flaugergues

Friday June 10, 2011                                           Day 345

Roger went out and got pastries for us, then later walked to get Pam and Kathy, dropping by the bakery again for breakfast for them.

We took the stroller and set out for a lovely walk, showing off the Comédie and the Esplanade Charles de Gaulle where Roger plays chess. We ambled our way down toward Place de l’Europe and the river. It was lunch time, so we ate outdoors again. We selected the particular restaurant because they had moussaka on the menu, but when we placed our order, the waitress told us they were all out of moussaka, so we managed without and had a good lunch anyway.

Most of our guests were interested in visiting a French chateau and also in a wine tasting, so we set out after lunch for Chateau Flaugergues, which offers both. This is the same chateau to which we bicycled last fall, when we took in the chateau and gardens but did not indulge in wine tasting. We took a bus from Place de l’Europe and had a 10-minute walk after we disembarked. Fortunately for Brennan, the bus was reasonably stroller-friendly.

We had time to explore the gardens before the guided tour. Roger stayed down below and entertained Brennan while the rest of us took the tour. Actually, I think each lulled the other to sleep – it was Roger’s afternoon nap time by the time we arrived at the chateau.

Granddad's big hand, Brennan's little on

Granddad and Brennan

The chateau’s claim to fame is a hanging staircase – two flights of heavy stone, hanging without supporting posts. The chateau has been in the same family for about two hundred years, and the count who lives there works the vineyards and the grounds with his family.

Shelli and Ronnie strolling up the lane toward the Chateau

Gardens at Chateau Flaugergues

We ended the evening with pizza at a restaurant around the corner from the apartment. Again, we ate outside, and almost paid for it – the clouds began to spit a tiny bit before our order came, but they receded and we were able to eat without getting rained on.