21 Adventerous Days in Europe on a
Rick Steves Tour
Europe Bound!
I was sad to be leaving Switzerland - as with so many other places, I wanted to see more. This tour is absolutely a sampler and helps me know where I want to return, with Switzerland being a definite yes! We headed to France ready to take in a new country and culture.
My wow moment was my nerve calming interaction with the frenchman at the restaurant. I love that I started off on a good foot with the French.
France
Stechelberg, Switzerland to Beaune, France
May 22, 2013
Tour Day 18
Wow Moment
Food
For lunch we enjoyed the French version of McDonalds- a burger and fries.
We enjoyed many yummy treats around town including a peach tart and macaroons.
For dinner we enjoyed a meal with the group. We started with escargot, which was a first for both of us. We were a little apprehensive but I can honestly say that we both loved it. We then had an appetizer that was kind of like pieces of ham held together with pieces of jelly. Mike may or may not have finished mine. But at least I tried it! We then had beef bourguignon with a potato napoleon of sorts. Both were superb. For dessert we enjoyed a layered creation with a soft bottom layer, a cool raspberry sorbet, a layer of crème, and sprinkled with cocoa.
Travel Tip
Pack a water bottle. I am drinking water all the time so I was not sure what I would do in Europe. I brought a water bottle that fit in my purse and any chance I had I would fill it up. I don’t think I ever found myself thirsty.
Well we left Switzerland today and headed to the last country we would visit- France.
A Special Introduction to France...
On our way we stopped for some lunch and I had a special experience with a Frenchman. As silly as it sounds I was kind of nervous to interact with French people as they don’t necessarily have a reputation for being friendly. Luckily before we arrived Reid gave us a little lesson on the French rules to being polite. When we stopped for lunch I opted for the French version of McDonalds because I was feeling nauseous (first time on the bus so far!) and needed some salty fries to ease my stomach. The restaurant was packed. There were about 6 lines open with at least 6 people in each. I was nervous because I was going to have to try and interact with someone in this rushed environment. It was my turn to order. I stepped up, said “bonjour monsieur, parlez-vous anglais?” The cashier greeted me warmly with a “oui” and a smile, and went the extra mile to help Mike and I out throughout our whole visit at the restaurant. I later found out that he was the manager. I was grateful for this introduction to the French people.
We arrived in Beaune at about 2:00 and had some time to relax in the hotel. After a bit of time we all met up to get oriented to the town and to head to the Hotel Dieu.
Pictures: Our hotel from the outside. A pic taken in the courtyard looking up at our hotel window, our room key, and our hotel's card. Most hotel cards in Europe include a map of the city on one side - so helpful!
As we were getting oriented I noticed families wandering and enjoying the simplicity of the place. We arrived at the Hotel Dieu and instantly I was impressed with the building - mostly because it was so different than other buildings I had seen thus far in Europe. The hotel was not a hotel at all but a hospital for all classes, especially the poor. We noticed the beds they used to sleep in and the instruments that were used.
Afterwards Mike and I wandered the town. I was excited to begin my sampling of French desserts. We noticed window after window of macaroons and tarts. All the desserts were created in such unique ways. I wanted to try everything. We grabbed a few desserts to sample and I was in heaven.
We continued to explore and eventually ended up on the edge of the downtown area. There was a nice path that winded us past churches, through a park, and past the lovely white buildings that primarily occupied Beaune.
One thing I have learned about myself as a traveler is that I love to take walks around town. It gets you to the quieter, less visited corners of the area. I love to walk!
We later met up with the group and enjoyed our first French meal together.
Our lovely tour buddies teaching us how to eat escargot
Some of our favorite tour buddies!
