Speaking about my « French » life, it is appropriate to say that it was born in Burgudy, as it’s the place where I first settled arriving to France. I moved later in other départements (twice), but my story in France actually started in this calm region in the heart of the nation – and still today, now and then, I come back visiting it, as you usually do with your grammie. So if you go to visit Burgundy, please, kiss her for me! – and don’t miss my favourites spots:
- Mâcon. Mon premier foyer français! A Mâcon il y a du bon vin blanc, une roche à randonnée (pas trop haute, idéale pour les paresseux), 2 salles à concerts dont j’ai encore nostalgie, des festivals sympas à bord de Saône pendant l’été. A Mâcon j’ai fondé mon premier café polyglotte: ils se rencontrent encore chaque lundi soir – allez-y papoter un peu, il y a des gens cool!
In the photos here below: La roche de Solutré, perfect for lazy people trekking – so perfect for me. From there, you can see those lovely vineyards
- Tournus. Wenn ihr gern Fahrrad fahrt, rate ich euch ab Mâcon bis zum Tournus fahren! Es gibt ein winderschöner « grüner Weg », der die zwei Stadte verbindt. Ihr werdt am Saône, unter die Schatten der Bäumen fahren. Tournus ist eine schöne kleine Städtchen: es gibt eine alte Kirche und Banken vor des Flüsses, wo man ein Sandwich ruhig essen kann.
- Cluny. Visitare questa cittadina significa fare un vero e proprio viaggio nel tempo, dritti nel cuore del medioevo. Il centro storico è in perfetto stato, e seppure il famoso monatero che fu un tempo così prestigioso non è oggi intatto, vale ancora la pena di passeggiare tra le sue vestigia. Vi aspetterete di vedere Adso da Melk spuntare da ogni angolo – oppure Troisi e Benigni, dipende se amate di più Umberto Eco o la commedia italiana.
In the photos here below: The curch of Tournus on the left, the Monastery of Cluny on the right.
- Beaune. Esta ciutad es conoscida por su viejo hospital. Durante muchos siglos todos los francèses venìan aqui con la esperancia de sanarse. El hospital es enorme, uno de los mas grandes de la Francia medieval, y fue utilizado hasta el XX siglo. El edificio es hermoso y la visita es muy interesante: fueron los medicos de Beaune que dicieron que el vino es mejor que el agua – una buena excusa para los borrachos de hoy!
In the photos here below: on the left, me wandering how many spirits haunt the well of the Beaune’s hospital. On the right, the traditional medieval kitchen in Beaune’s hospital.
- Dijon. The capital of Burgundy, this ancient glorious kingdom whose story is well shown in the Musée des beaux-arts de Dijon. The city has a majestic architecture, which covers it like a mediaeval armor. Follow le parcours de la chouette in the old town: it will lead you to the owl sculpted in the main cathedral: if you caress it by making a wish, your dream will come true. Also: that’s the right city where to buy good mustard!
In the photo here below: a skull nailed down on a door. Gauls used to cut their enemies’ heads to decorate their own houses. Be careful: some traces of this temperament might persist in some French people nowadays… [this skull is to be seen in Mâcon’s Musée des Ursulines].