Fontainebleau, Wine Salon, and Friends

Main courtyard at Fontainebleau

A Day Trip to Fontainebleau

Our visit to Fontainebleau should have been an easy day trip, but it was complicated by the fact that it is increasingly difficult to use American credit cards in Europe.  Paris has automated many functions, like buying train tickets, and the automated machines require special credit cards with chips (which is becoming a standard throughout Europe).  Hopefully, U.S. credit card companies will offer chip-cards soon – they are more secure than our current cards and are gaining attention since the Target credit card debacle. 

Famous staircase where Napoleon bid adieu
 to his troops before being exiled to Elba

Anyway, we were eventually able to buy a special day ticket covering all our transportation (called a "Carte Mobilis") thanks to the kindness of a French Metro worker who took us under her wing and directed us to someone who could process our American credit card.  Once we were underway, the train ride to Fontainebleau took only 40 minutes, and then a 10 minute bus ride from the train station took us right to the chateau.

Fontainebleau is one of the most famous chateaux in France with a long history that stretches from the early 12^th c. to WWII when it was used as a Nazi headquarters until it was liberated by General George Patton.  The gorgeous buildings are designed in the French Renaissance style, and an audio guide directs you throughout the complex.  The rooms are sumptuous to say the least and reflect the tastes of famous kings like Francois 1^st (who Anne thinks Frank resembles) to Napoleon Bonaparte who loved staying here until he was forced into exile on Elba, circa 1814.  

Table where Napoleon was forced
 to sign his abdication

We saw the actual table where Napoleon was forced to sign his abdication, the bedroom where he tried unsuccessfully to commit suicide, and the famous staircase where he bid farewell to his troops before he was “escorted” into exile.

Francois 1st Gallery at Fontainebleau 

Our favorite rooms included the Francois 1^st Gallery plastered with the modest king’s initials and his insignia, the salamander.  Why a salamander?  Seems an odd choice but apparently back then people thought the salamander had special properties that made it fireproof, and it fit Francois’s motto: “I nourish the good and extinguish the bad.”  The main ballroom was also fabulous as were the king and queen’s apartments.  One of the rooms was used as a “playroom” by Marie Antoinette, a place to play cards and other games.  After spending several hours touring the castle, we ate a snack at an outdoor café and then made the return trip to Paris.

Napoleon's throne room at Fontainebleau

What a library! (Fontainebleau)

Bienvenue Wine Salon 2014!

Wine Salon 2014

Our main objective for this trip to Paris was to attend the Wine Salon.  As you may recall from previous years, the salon is a huge wine tasting event sponsored by the independent winegrowers of France.  For 6 euros, you get a wine glass and all the tasting you can handle for four days from hundreds of vintners from every wine region in France.  This year, we were excited to learn that a small favorite champagne producer we had visited two years ago had joined the salon.  So we started our 2014 Wine Salon visit with a glass of fantastic Godme champagne.

Happy man at the Wine Salon!

As always, what makes this wine tasting event so special is the chance to talk with all these people who devote their lives to making French wine.  The language issue can be tricky, but it is a great way to practice our French, and everyone is enormously kind and patient.  We had the best time tasting and laughing with these wonderful people. 

Crowds attend the Wine Salon

Of course, we ended up buying “a few” bottles for the flight home, and a few for imbibing back at the apartment.

Helene and Eric

Dinner with the Lorentz Family

On Saturday night, we had the pleasure of dining with the Lorentz family: Eric, Helene, and their son Clement.  We have known the Lorentz’s for about 8 years now since we first met at a B&B in Burgundy, and we always enjoy getting together when we are in Paris.  We had a fun night talking politics and laughing at cultural differences etc.  

Clement

Clement must be the best behaved 8-year old boy in France (he would certainly take that honor in America).  He happily entertained himself for 5 hours (incredible!), reading a Harry Potter book and creating some remarkably detailed drawings.  He never displayed any child-like annoyance or boredom as we chatted with his parents and talked adult things most of the night.

Frank falls in love with the "volleyball bed"

Crazy Times on the Streets of Paris

One last story for this blog entry.  During our wanderings, Anne noticed a young couple snuggling on some kind of a crazy-looking bed on the floor of a shop.  She glanced discreetly and told Frank to take a look.  Well, Frank walked right up to the window and stared!  The couple was totally nonplussed, and the young girl even invited us in to try it out for ourselves!  The “bed” was made of volleyball-size rubber balls held in place by some netting.  Actually very comfortable – Frank loved it as you can see in the pictures.  The store also sold funny-looking “Baloon” chairs that seemed to be like big balloons until you sat down on one, and it conformed to your body.  Just one of those crazy, unexpected experiences in the back alleys of Paris!  Eventually, Frank even talked Anne into joining him in the "crazy bed" experience.