You've Got a Friend Part 4

We met Freda Arlow and David Sachs for an intimate lovely lunch at Auberge du 15 in Paris during a terrible downpour.   Due to our metro stop being at least 20 minutes away by walking and failing to bring an umbrella, the drenching effects were obvious.  Nevertheless, we endured the torrent and had a leisurely luncheon, being the last patrons to exit the premises.

We had the joy of a visit for several days in Amboise from Sharon and Ron Rose.  This visit predates Ron's dreadful bicycle accident in Michigan which will lay him up for at least 3 months if not more.  Upon their arrival, Ron and Barbara prepared a healthful lunch for the travelers.

Then it was off to Chenonceau, the chateau of Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de Medici, two rivals for the affections of Henri II.  Clearly Sharon has no rival for Ron's affections.

A couple of first courses

Main courses

And always Sharon's favorite course

Some of the lovely flowers from the outstanding Renaissance gardens at the chateau

The next day we all went to Chambord, even Lola.  The King of France, François I, built it as his consummate showplace with a double entwining staircase, so those going down did not encounter those going up.  

Chambord was first intended as a hunting lodge, in reality it is an extravagant chateau over 156 metres long and 56 metres tall with 77 staircases, 282 fireplaces and 426 rooms. 

François I reigned for 32 years, during which he spent only 72 days at Chambord; he never saw his grand project completed for on his death in 1547 only the keep and the royal wing had been finished.

Lola enjoyed the grounds in particular.  Following the visit to Chambord, Sharon and Ron drove to Paris.  At least during Ron's convalesence, they can reflect on the precious time we spent together.

Lola

This entire post is devoted to our little Havenese's adventures in France.  She adores it here.  She is welcome in all restaurants, even the fanciest, and stores as well.  Only museums exclude her.  Plus she has our companionship all the time and need not be left at home solo.

Here is Lola on our front lawn with Leonardo da Vinci:

In front of our home:

With Hudson and Scarlett in Paris:

To go to Paris, she needed her own train ticket:

She enjoyed the train trip:

After hours of shopping in Paris, she needed a lift:

Later she went to a restaurant for dinner:

Finally she went to bed exhausted and pampered:

Other restaurants Lola has visited:

Vous Avez Un Ami Part 1

Now it's time to meet some of our new Amboise friends.  Denise Seidler, a former Parisienne, who resides in Michigan, visited Amboise and introduced us to Sylvie and Richard Viard.  Richard is a dentist, and Sylvie runs a B&B from their ample historic home.

And for those of you who thought Barbara was not able to cook after all those years away from a kitchen, regard the following meal that Barbara and Denise prepared ensemble.

Not bad right?  The cauliflower had a bechamel sauce, the potatoes were provençale, and the salmon had a beurre blanc sauce, bien sûr.

You've Got a Friend Part 3

Denise Seidler runs a French conversation class most evenings in Birmingham in which Barbara participated before the move to France.  Denise paid us a visit in Amboise to make sure we were properly installed in our new surroundings and assist us with some of the nuances of life en France.

Since Denise is a true lover of French cuisine, off we went to Chateau de Pray for a gastronomique adventure.

Perhaps you can make out in the photo above that this establishment was founded in 1244 and yet we were able to enjoy its elegant surroundings almost 900 years later.

And now to display for you the luscious dishes of which we partook which were mostly lobster and various seafood preparations:

Amuse bouche

Entrée (which in French is appetizer)

Les Plats (main dishes)

Fromage (Cheese Course - observe the variety)

Dessert (pomme tart)

We certainly feasted and enjoyed the surroundings après le repas.

You've Got a Friend Part 2

Continuing our scrapbook of friends' visits, next appeared Shari Burgess.  She was in Paris and various other destinations on business as Treasurer of Lear Corp, but she made time to spend a day with us.  So off we went to the Louvre.  Below is an all crystal dressing table and chair positioned behind Shari which once belonged to a member of the nobility.

We finished the day off with dinner at Fermette Marbeuf.  In renovating an older area, this belle epoque glass room was discovered recently and turned into a restaurant.

Our friend Cindy arrived as well.  She also was traveling on business but squeezed in a day with us in Paris.  Here is a bit of info on Cindy:

Cynthia Niekamp, PPG Industries' senior vice president and highest-ranking female executive:

Cynthia Niekamp grew up with four brothers, studied industrial engineering at Purdue University in classrooms filled mainly with male students, and cut her teeth in business working during summer breaks on the production floor of a General Motors Corp. subsidiary in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio...Ms. Niekamp oversees about 4,000 employees at 18 plants around the world.  

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/news/taking-charge-cynthia-niekamp-ppg-industries-highest-ranking-female-executive-295101/
So now that you know about Cindy's background, you will understand why she and Ron were so enthusiastic to visit the site below:

Can you guess where we went?  Ta Da - the sewer system of Paris.  In the second photo, Cindy and Barb are standing next to one of the huge balls that push sewage through the system.  There is a complete museum display of the history of sewage during the centuries.  For you engineers, here is some of what we discovered.  Until the Middle Ages, the drinking water in Paris was taken from the Seine.  The waste was poured on to fields or unpaved streets and filtered back into the Seine.

Around 1200, Phillippe Auguste had the Parisian streets paved, incorporating a drain for wastewater in the middle. Under Louis XIV, a large ring sewer was built.  Under Napoléon, the first Parisian vaulted sewer network was built.  There is a major display in the museum, which is located right in the sewer network, dedicated to Jean Valjean.  Victor Hugo was friends with an executive of the sewer system.

Try and guess what the next two photos are:

They are photos of stuffed rats sold in the sewer museum gift shop - honestly!