A Parisian lunch in the 6ième with a lovely lady taking Paris by storm!
Weaving through the rooms of Le Grand Palais, admiring Renoir.
The deliciously clear and warm September days.
French family dinners.
The comfort of a country farmhouse, creaky stairs, comfortable beds, and baguettes delivered to your door.
The energy of one extraordinary chien, Coca.
A wonderfully simple and elegant French bride surrounded by her friends and family in an église pittoresque in the middle of the countryside.
Champagne, cold gazpacho, foie gras pattiseries, noix de st. jacques, fresh asparagus, filet mignon, brie and a crisp salad, more champagne, chocolate cake, coffee and cream pastries piled high in a wedding pièce montée.
A lazy Sunday, spent laying under the September sun and drinking coffee with excellent conversations.
This weekend Stéphane and I were invited to the wedding of one of his college roomates. We spent the weekend at his parents house in a tiny village of considerably less than 100 people, Hannogne St-Rémy. Saturday we dressed (me, in regrettably high heels) and drove down bumpy skinny roads through the French region known as the Ardennes (think rural Michigan) to an even tinier village called Vaux Champagne. It was fairly easy to find the church, up on a hill with the houses draped down in a spiral.
The ceremony was simple and beautiful, and afterwards we were invited to the bride's parent's house for le vin d'honneur, champagne and hors d'oevres. The house was also easy to find, as we walked down the hill from the church and through the open gates of the farmhouse. We congratulated the newlyweds and introduced ourselves to the many who came to congratulate the new couple.
Two hours later, after hobbling up a stadium-like set of bleachers for a picture with the couple and their family, we drove to another village, Vitry, for the fabulous dinner I mentioned above. When we left in the wee hours of the morning to drive home, I felt like I wouldn't be able to eat for days !
It was so fun to experience my first French wedding. It was fairly similar to the American ones I've been too, but with a couple differences. The témoins, bridesmaids and groomsmen, were not wearing matching dresses or suits. There was no announcement of 'you may kiss the bride' after the ceremony- but rather applause when the couple exited the church with the family and friends waiting for them outside. There weren't as many games at the reception and certainly no garter-searching : o We spent 3 hours at the dinner table instead of under 1, and there was more champagne than I'd ever seen in one room ! It was a great experience, and a great opportunity to meet and talk with some very nice people.
How were your weekends ? Any exciting things going on this week ?
I'm back in Beaune, and going to observe my first classes tomorrow before I start teaching next week. Wish me luck!
alli
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