Monday, July 7, 2008
Today we get an early start and travel to France through the Jura Mountains. Like all of the other trips we’ve taken through Switzerland, it is beautiful. Different from all the others, it’s not a long drive—yeah! Each time we’ve traveled into a new country we’re amazed at how the architecture changes. This part of France is really pretty. Once in Dijon we check into our hostel—pretty nice, but it feels like we’re staying on a cruise ship—only no cool towel animals to greet you. Ah well, at least we have internet service!
At our hotel we have about 45 minutes to get settled and have lunch.
We head out after lunch for the barrel maker Francois Freres in Saint Romain, Beaune. This is the first cooperage facility that we’ve visited on this trip, and everyone has a good time. Apparently these folks aren’t worried about OSHA showing up on their doorstep because we were allowed to walk around without hard hats. The barrels they made were beautiful, and the whole facility smelled like sweet oak. We learned that their facility will hold up to $1billion in inventory that will produce approximately 1 million barrels. Amazing. Its interesting to learn that while many of the procedures of barrel-making are mechanized, the barrels are still put together by hand, and the quality standards are very high.
These are the photos of oak used to make barrels, and different steps in the process.
Once our tour is over, we head back to Dijon. We have several hours free in the city before we get on the bus and head back to our hostel for the night. Andrew and Nicole join us as we head into the city. We decide to walk to Notre Dame (not the big one) and see what it looks like. It’s another beautiful cathedral, but very different from the one in Siena.
Photos of Notre Dame--the gargoyles were quite impressive!
For dinner, we find a restaurant with an outdoor patio and enjoy a fantastic meal of pasta and pizza and Pinot Noir. It’s a great evening. Along the way we pick up a bottle of wine to enjoy later.
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