Hospitality at its Best

How's it goin', yo?

So, left wine-central Beaune at 13:05 and four trains later arrived in Cheyre, Switzerland around 6-ish last night (the 20th). Another successful travelling day!

Tell me if I'm wrong, but we North Americians dream about spending an evening immersed in the culture of Europe. We read about huge families gathered around food and wine and loud conversation and want to experience it for ourselves. I know I do (or did). It can be hard to get off the beaten path overhear--usually the best that you can do is to go out for a meal and be sevred and the experience turns out to be not unlike what it would be at home--better food maybe, but pretty much it's select from the menu, eat, bill, pay, leave.

That all changed for us last night as the Rapo family welcome us into their home. No sooner had we arrived and Phillipe was on the phone calling his mother and brother and telling them that Selena had returned and they ought to come pay her a visit. After we relaxed and caught up on the terrace over a bottle of brother Michel's Pinot Gris (Phillipe's brother!), Pascale, Phillipe's wife, began preparing an amazing meal of meats and grilled veggies. The girls that Selena looked after are now 13 and 11 years--Camille and Marion--and when she was last here they were 3 and 6 months. They've changed! Great kids to say the least. Bottles were opened and emptied and we finished the experience with a taste of Swiss Chocolate and an Apricot Scnapps and another liquor called Grappo. A sincere thanks to the whole Rapo family--this was surely the highlight of our trip!

It goes on...this morning after an hour spent exploring the town on their mountain bikes, we enjoyed breakfast and coffee on the terrace. Too cool. Gaté pour certain (Spoiled :)

So, after more exploring of Cheyre and Yveron, we board the train for Grenoble, France where on the 23rd we'll see the climb of the Alpe'd'Huez!!! Two more sleeps.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Stay tuned.

Eno/Davidson