August 19, 2012
The weather is becoming very warm and the forecast is for 96 degrees and higher for the next several days. So we decided to make our bike ride early today.
At 8:30 am the air was still fresh and cool as we headed down our hill to the D22. There was very little traffic so early on Sunday morning, so the ride through town and on to Cluny was very enjoyable. The meadows and hillsides are green and vibrant, the villages are cute and quaint, the traffic is light, the road is easy to ride.
First we turned into the road that takes us up to the Chateau. The owner was Alphonse de Lamartine, an author, a poet and a politician. He is most known for this collection of poems entitled Meditations, which were inspired by a young woman he met in Aix-les-Bains. Their passionate love affair was tragically ended when the lovely Julie died unexpectedly. He later married an English woman and became the ambassador to Italy.
The chateau might be interesting to visit. There is a daily guided tour at 11am, so maybe we will get a chance to go into the estate later in the week. Since it was too early when we visited, we headed back down the hill and on into Cluny.
When we got to Cluny we rode up into the town where we took a look at the famous Benedictine
Abbey, built in the tenth century. While a large part of the abbey stands, it appears that it used to be much larger as we can see foundations for the support pillars that extend for two blocks. Next trip to Cluny we will go into the abbey to learn more. It is an imposing structure.
Continuing through the town, we enjoyed the old town area full of narrow, cobbled streets, cafes and shops. By this time of day people were out and about, picking up baguettes at the boulanger, selecting
croissants and pain au chocolat at the numerous patisseries, and sipping cafe noir at the sidewalk tables.
We headed back out of town and made it home by 11 am as the sun was heating up. Into our nice, cool house, we took our showers, had a bite to eat and took a rest. Later we Skyped Pauline and Jerry to get an update.
Don has given up on getting me to join him at the kitchen table, and he has assembled a jury-rigged table out of a couple of saw horses and a sheet of particle board and put it in the back yard so I can eat out there and enjoy my view. I covered the board up with a nice tablecloth and we had a late dinner of salmon and salad with dark chocolate ice cream in honor of Jerry, who often reminisces about the delicious dark chocolate ice cream he enjoys in France. The weather cooled off and it was quite pleasant in the evening.
The weather is becoming very warm and the forecast is for 96 degrees and higher for the next several days. So we decided to make our bike ride early today.
The chateau might be interesting to visit. There is a daily guided tour at 11am, so maybe we will get a chance to go into the estate later in the week. Since it was too early when we visited, we headed back down the hill and on into Cluny.
Abbey, built in the tenth century. While a large part of the abbey stands, it appears that it used to be much larger as we can see foundations for the support pillars that extend for two blocks. Next trip to Cluny we will go into the abbey to learn more. It is an imposing structure.
Continuing through the town, we enjoyed the old town area full of narrow, cobbled streets, cafes and shops. By this time of day people were out and about, picking up baguettes at the boulanger, selecting
croissants and pain au chocolat at the numerous patisseries, and sipping cafe noir at the sidewalk tables.
I absolutely love the photo of the river with the reflection of the house and then the red flowers, Don that is a great shot. I think it would make a great oil, when you get home. I got your voice mail, sorry I didn't answer, I didn't recognize number and I'm leery of unknown numbers, too many solicitors. but I put it in my phone so will recognize next time. Plus will leave computer on so will hear if you call on Skype. Have fun , Cheryl
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