Wine country

I have quite a restricted diet.  Not by choice, but because there are foods that don't agree with me.

I have to largely avoid sugar, rich foods, alcohol, bread or dairy.  When I overindulge the symptoms can range from aching joints, heart palpitations, blurred vision, a fuzzy brain or hayfever-like itchy nose and eyes.  The joys of food intolerances.  

While this is good for maintaining one's weight, it is a little dreary when visiting places where food is such a large part of the travel experience.  I can get away with the odd gelato in Italy or the occasional breakfast croissant in France, or a glass of wine at dinner here and there, but certainly not every day.

So after four days of failing to resist baguette with insanely good home-made strawberry jam at breakfast each morning and a few sips of wine at lunch and dinner each day with our friends I am feeling the effects.

We are now en route to Paris from the Alps and have stopped for the night in the village of Chassagne-Montrachet in Burgundy.  This might mean something to wine lovers.  It is the home of the world's best chardonnay.  We are staying in the Chateau de Chassagne-Montrachet (first image).

It's rather unusual to go wine tasting and decline the offer to taste the world's best wines I'm sure. Will tells people I'm a recovering alcoholic.  It's a long way from the truth.  The last time I drank too much was in 1997.

Anyhoo, we are in this pretty little village and feeling very relaxed.  Staying at the chateau is rather fun.  We are the only guests and there is no staff here overnight.  We have the run of the house.  Currently we are enjoying an open fire in the sitting room and will soon venture out to dinner.  I jokingly asked if the chateau was haunted, "Yes", said the woman who showed us to our room, "But the ghosts are friendly".  She then gave us her mobile number, "In case the ghosts bother you."  I'm not sure, but I think she was joking.

While Will enjoyed the wines, I turned my attention to the sights of the village.  It is a rather grey day today so the colour palette is muted but very much to my taste.  The second photo shows the view from our room.  The landscape will look very different when the vines and trees have their foliage.  

Look at that pretty roof of one of the houses in the village with the gorgeous dormer windows.  The next photo is of the village school. It's a beautifully maintained village and so neat.  Even the weathered old shutters look handsome.

Comments

[corrie]

Oh I hear you on that! I'm not good with strong cheeses, wine and bread and mix them together - really not good. They repeat on me! I have memories of the rare times I did eat goats cheese in france!

enjoy! Your pictures and commentary are just gorgeous.

Corrie:)

[Jen]

You poor luv - I laughed out loud at Will calling you a recovering alchoholic! They probably believe him too as he looks so trustworthy.
I can't believe your hotel is haunted - you must be loving that! Make sure you stay up and see if anyone is roaming the hallways.