February Trip: the man known as Bocuse

Well, as if the Friday one-star Michelin restaurant located in our hotel was not enough to satisfy the "foodie" in us both, the "piece de la resistance" awaited us on Saturday evening.  The man and his restaurant:  Paul Bocuse.

http://www.bocuse.fr/accueil.aspx

Who is he?  Paul Bocuse (born 11 February 1926) is a French chef, based in Lyon, famous for the high quality of  his restaurants and his innovative approaches to cuisine.  He is one of the most prominent chefs associated with the "nouvelle cuisine", which is touted as less opulent and calorific than the traditional classical French cuisine (not sure I personally experienced that on this evening) and stresses the importace of freshest quality ingredients.  

Side note:  Paul Bocuse was honored as the "Chef of the Century" by NYC's Culinary Institute of America in March of this year, about a month after our visit.



Although not a milestone b-day for the Budman, still a reason to celebrate; thus, we trundled off on Saturday evening to a 4 1/2 hour meal consisting of 10 courses. 



A photo with the Monsiuer Bocuse - too charming!



Without further ado, our selections:

MENU GRANDE TRADITION CLASSIQUE

Bocuse appetizers for the table - potpourri of little morsels

Scallop of Foie Gras, pan-cooked and served with verjus sauce

Truffle Soupe V.G.E.

(dish created for the French President in 1975)

Filey of Sole with noodles, "a la Ferand Point"

Beuajois Winemaker's Sherbert

Bress Chicken cooked in a bladder "a la Mere Filloux"

Selection of fresh and matured cheeses from "La Mer Richard"

Delicacies and Tempations

(every kind of possible dessert  - over different 24 options)

Fantasies and Chocolates

The cheese bladder before puncture.

Cheese board....take what you want.  Budman is flagging at the point and passes, but the Hachie Gal's gastronomique marathon is in full force, and she surges ahead with selections from the cheese tray.  This is definitely known as "hitting the wall" to use a running term.

About half of the desserts we actually were able to choose from...and we could have had one of everything if we'd wanted.  I counted over 24 different desserts options.

Singing "happy birthday" to the Budman with the organ grinder in the background.  Charming!

As if 10 courses were not enough food, including the dessert tray featured above, Budman then got his own birthday cake.  Now, we are really groaning with aching stomaches.

At last, the taxi awaits us to take us back to our hotel...we are gorged!

February Trip: Lyon Traboules

Traboules are a type of passageway primarily associated with the city of Lyon, but are also located in a few other French cities as well. In Lyon, they were originally used by silk manufacturers and other merchants to transport their products.




The first examples of traboules are thought to have been built in Lyon in the 4th century. Lacking water, the inhabitants moved to the banks of the Saône River where the traboules allowed them to quickly get from their homes to the river as well as allowed the silk workers on the La Croix-Rousse hill to get quickly from their workshops to the textile merchants at the foot of the hill. Thus, most of the traboules in Lyon are located primarily in the 'old city' (5th arrondissement) and the Croix Rousse (1st and 4th arrondissements).



The layout of Vieux Lyon is such that there are very few connecting streets running perpendicular to the river. The traboules allowed workmen and craftsmen to transport clothes and other textiles through the city while remaining sheltered from inclement weather. For many inhabitants, being a "true Lyonnais" requires being knowledgeable about the city's traboules.





Nowadays, traboules are tourist attractions, and over forty are free and open to the public. Most traboules are on private property, serving as entrances to local apartments. Many, if not most, of the underground passages have been blocked off and are currently used as storage areas.



Interesting factoid: The traboules in Lyon are often credited with helping prevent the occupying Germans from taking complete control of Lyon during World War II as the local inhabitants scrambled through these narrow passageways, allowing resistance fighters to do great damage.

February Trip: Lyon night shots

Those of you who know us well need no explanation.

February Trip: Lyon

The trip of month retrospective is long overdue and I am way behind in posting updates.  The main reason for this is that I have been too busy to download photos as the trips are coming in rapid succession.  One of the more pleasant downsides of lots of travel.  I know, I know.  You Texans are shaking your heads.

Anyway, to celebrate the Budman's b-day in February, we decided it was to be a foodie weekend in a country known for its gastronomy, France. 



Where else to head? No, not Paris, but Lyon!



Lyon, the second largest city is France, was founded by the Roman Empire in 43 BC, when it was established as Lugdonum and used as a major Roman fortress. The site of Lyon was actually inhabited long before this time during the Bronze Age, but the town’s structure was put in place by the Romans.
Many Roman ruins and sights can be seen today.







Christianity was subsequently introduced into France (known as Gaul at the time) through Lyon and the centre was ruled by archbishops for centuries.  Many beautiful churches, including Church of Saint-Nizier, and other buildings offer an array of gothic, romanesque, baroque, and classical architecture.












































Lyon really took off in the 15th century, when it became the European trade capital and attracted traders from all over Europe and even Asia. At the time, Lyon’s trade fairs were the talk of Europe after being granted by Charles VII and later Louis XI. The city achieved new heights of prosperity in the 17th and 18th centuries owing to the brilliance and cunning of Louis XIV and its textile industry.
 

 

 


Today, the city is known for its temperate weather, even in February and its food, wine, and restaurants.  More on that in next blog.  After all, that is why we travelled to Lyon!

London 2012 Olympic Ticket Upate

OK, so I totally caved in and spent the better part of one day mapping out my Olympic ticket strategy, events, and locations before entering the ticket ballot process for the London 2012 Olympics. An exercise in logistics management if ever I saw one.

I will refrain from admitting to the total cost of tickets for which I submitted an entry but suffice to say it will be a chunk of change if I get all my requests.  I based my logic on the fact that I have the worst luck in ticket ballots known to mankind, and rarely ever obtain the tickets I endeavor to purchase. That said, I am conscious that I could be "too successful" in this ballot process, and will quickly be converting next year's vacation into a "stay-cation" if my tickets requests all pan out. 

UK Olympic organizers state that all ballot entrants will be told by June 24 if any tickets will be awarded so they will only have use of my funds for about 4 weeks before they say "yea/nay" to my requests.  I put into for the usual suspects:  opening and closing ceremonies, track and field, gymnastics, swimming, and diving, as well as for equestrian, basketball, and cycling. 

At this point, the Budman and I are an affirmed "no" to rhythmic gymnastics, synchronized swimming, archery, and table tennis.  Suppose I ought not to "diss" these sports before I find out if I got my other ticket choices.  Worst case scenario, I can at least see the women and men's marathons live.

Happy to report....

...that all was safe in the UK yesterday, in light of earlier rumors of terrorist bomb plots related to the Queen's visit to Ireland.  There were a few odd security concerns in central London (and Ireland as well) but for the most part, London rolled merrily along.  So much so, that for the first time in a year, there were no delays on tubes, trains, or highways during rush hour.

A side benefit to the £26 million security bill for the event....tax money at work.

some things are universal

I don't care what country or culture you hail from....nose-picking in a team meeting is just plain wrong.
No, not shaking that hand!

Royal wedding: my viewing point

Thanks for all the emails and cards I received from friends outside of the UK inquiring on my plans for attending the Royal Wedding.  You are a clever lot, and I have heard it all more than a few times (wink-wink):

*  My invitation to the wedding must have been lost in the mail; hence why the Budman and I watched the ceremony live on TV with 2 billion other global guests...happily ensconced from the sunny and warm haven of Provence.

*  Yes, my wedding hat must be gorgeous; in fact, I did not need a hat for the royal wedding (see bullet above).  I am happy report that my stash of hats has multiplied dramatically for other events since living in London.

*  No, I am not planning on camping out overnight on the Mall to stake my claim for a slab of concrete so I can view the wedding couple's carriage return from the Abbey.

*  Yes, I thought the "Duchess of Canterbury's" dress was lovely. 

*  Yes, I loved the John Rutter choral piece that was sung: my choral friends were particularly interested in knowing my reaction this since Rutter is personal favorite of mine.

*  No, not planning on serving tea, scones, or finger sandwiches while I am watching the royal wedding on TV. 

*  And finally, NO, I was not planning on buying any Royal Wedding souvenir paraphernalia, but then I spied a spoof t-shirt in Aix-en-Provence on the wedding day, and say, "sure, what the heck!"

Before you think I am a bit cold-hearted about the royal wedding fever in London, rest assured, I scrambled (from France) to set the Sky recorder via my IPhone minutes before coverage of the ceremony began.  Monday afternoon, I ensconced myself on the sofa for the full replay.

the whole Bin Laden thing

Watching the images of the Bin Laden event unfold this week, I must second the quote of another (and shared with me by Cyn).

“Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Pretty much sums it up for me. Chapter closed.

A Week in Provence

It has been a place I have wanted to visit for years, especially after reading Peter Mayle's A Year in Provence, but for some reason, the timing was never right (those 6 years in Asia kinda got in the way, too).  Finally, we are here in this divine place.

And can I say for the record, that this is in fact, the first vacation place I have visited that I could actually retire to?  I already hear the groans in "The Hachie" as I admit to this in writing.  Honestly, I think any concerns are unfounded at this juncture but one can dream. 

So, what have our first few days of glorious French Provencal vacationing been like?  Well,  still a little too much discipline to the work emails and the marathon training,  but a marked improvement to this time last week, I am happy to report.  To quote Jim K., "more play, less work".  Amen, brother!

Pictures and stories of the charming places we visited will follow, but let me be your senses for just a moment a provide a sampling of the first few morning runs I have experienced in Provence:

*  the rustle of tree leaves in the wind on a cool spring morning
*  big puffy white clouds in a sky of baby blue, with the early morning rays of peaches and golden yellows peaking through the clouds
*  gurgling brooks that meander through farmlands...yes, brooks in fact do gurgle
*  the tinkle of bells around the necks of sheep being led by herders from one pasture to the next, and the occasional herding dogs barking their commands to wayward sheep
*  the smell of antique rose buses, wild wisteria, and acres and acres of blooming peonies...fragrant mornings beyond compare
*  and while we are on the subject of fragrant mornings beyond compare, the sweet little light brown donkeys (and their fragrant byproducts) who meander over to the fence as I run buy...those big brown eyes following me intently as I run up and down the farm road.  Somehow, I don't mind the smell....
*  the beautiful white Camarque horses that dot the landscape of every other farm, manes flowing in the wind
*  the mist on the the fields after a hard night's rain that rises gently skyward as the morning dawns  
* and my personal favorite....wild red poppies....bobbing their heads in the wind everywhere I turn, as if they know that red is my favorite color and they are personally greeting me to this corner of the world

I could go on and on but you'd just accuse me of making this up.  As I said in an earlier facebook post, I am living a Monet painting this week.

Dubai bound...

Work beckons...UAE calling.  Just as I was getting that seat assignment confirmed for the UAE flight, this came into my inbox:  UK man beaten in Dubai for swearing.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1376649/British-tourist-Lee-Bradley-Brown-beaten-death-Dubai-police-cell.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
 
Not that I intend to be a troublemaker  (after all, "troublemaker" has never been my middle name), but if there was any doubt, I will just watch my "p's and q's".
 
Thank you very much.

A Day Without Shoes

Please join millions of global citizens who will be participating in One Day Without Shoes - an opportunity to raise the awareness of others that are less fortunate both here and abroad. Thank you Blake Mycoskie/Tom's Shoes for spearheading the event.

http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/learn-more

I am actually doing this in London....It is so HARD!

the first of two comments on UK inefficiency....

Effective yesterday, the cost of a first class stamp in the UK rose 5 pence to £0.46, the single largest price increase ever on record. For you yanks, that is the equivalent of $0.74 for a single first class US stamp. 

Rationale for the price hike according to a Royal Mail Spokesperson: " With the sharp declines in mail volume - a 20% fall in five years - our revenues are falling. That means if we don't generate more income, we will simply not be able to keep funding our six-days-a-week collection, sorting, transport and delivery operation to the UK's 28 million homes and businesses. Royal Mail lost £16.3 million on stamped mail in the last financial year. This is equivalent to a 6.4p loss on average on every stamped item, which the price hikes should go towards covering."

Now a comment from the peanut gallery:  I have painfully witnessed first hand the inner workings of the Royal Mail operation - too many free standing post offices, lack of technology modernization (who hand peels stamps off a sheet and gives to customers - why am I even "licking stamps"), bureaucracy in the pick-up of mail and parcels (akin to the Abbott and Costello gag, "Who's on First" - no one ever seems to want to own up as to where I can pick up a package). 

I could go on, but I won't.  Suffice to say, I only foresee mail volumes continuing to drop with the increase use of online ecards and other technology.  Sure, there will always be a need for "snail mail", but as volumes decrease (as they inevitable will), will price hikes be the best way to address that. Doubt it...shouldn't Royal Mail be getting to the root problem?

Sorry, this change consultant just can't help herself sometimes.