Sunday May 4, 2014 - Paris to Beaune, France - Day 4

We got up about 7 and headed out before many people were on the street.  It was good to see the "street cleaners" working hard to sweep up the debris on the sidewalks and in the gutters.  Paris seems a bit "dirtier" than I remember.  Al tells us that it is because of changes in the government and cuts in public works.  At least the streets were spotless this morning.

We went to our original boulangerie and had café au lait and a croissant.  Yummy.  We went to the other one to see if they had any sandwiches out but they didn't.  So we returned to the hotel, finished packing, checked out and waited for our taxi.

The Hotel Caron de Beaumarchais was a wonderful quiet and quaint hotel.  This is where M. Beaumarchais wrote The Mariage of Figaro in the 1700's.  There is memorabilia all over the hotel from this along with a harpsichord and harp in the lobby.  Only 19 rooms in the entire hotel and nice.  We'll be staying here again at the end of our trip when we return to Paris.

The taxi arrived right on time - we had made a reservation the night before which is recommended.  It was a short trip to Gare de Lyon and the traffic was light since it was Sunday morning.  We found the Enterprise Car Rental office where Emilie had arranged the car.  We got an almost new Peugeot - automatic - SUV-type car.  We were able to get the suitcases under the back so they aren't visible in the car from outside.  Only problem was they had no GPS which we needed and insisted on as that was in the reservation.  We had to drive to Orly to get the GPS.  The Enterprise man there insisted that we upgrade our vehicle and get one with an integrated GPS but we told him "No" three times before he finally gave us a GPS that hooks in the front window.  A Garmin machine that was great - it warns you of speed limits and gives good directions.  We had trouble understanding why we weren't on the highway instead of the back roads and it ended up being a "setting" that Tim was able to change.

Then we were off to Vaux le Vicomte outside of Maincy just south-east of Paris.  This is my favorite chateau of all.  We enjoyed the ride through the country and spent a little while admiring my favorite chateau and taking pictures.  There were LOTS of people there and it is the first time that I've seen the chateau with the front and back doors open so you can see all of the way through the first floor.  Beautiful.

Vaux le Vicomte - my favorite chateau!

We then set the GPS to take us to Chateau de Guedelon in Treigny about 2 hours from Vaux le Vicomte.  It was an absolutely beautiful ride with fields of canola full of bright yellow blooms side by side with huge fields of wheat so green - actually a beautiful green color (I can's believe I'm writing that since I don't like green!). 

Fields of canola everywhere in full bloom

We enjoyed the ride into the countryside.  On arrival at Chateau de Guedelon we had a small lunch on the patio with a glass of wine and enjoyed the absolutely beautiful day.

We got our tickets and went in to enjoy the site.  A medieval castle being built over 25 years using the old techniques.  There were stone masons, carpenters, rope makers, and all kinds of farm animals.  Lots of people walking around and families.  We enjoyed the castle where they were busy working on one of the walls.  They are in approximately year 16-17 of the project but it looked like it was very slow work and could take longer to complete the project.

The main Chateau de Guedelon Project

Stonemasons working on one of the walls

Dyes used to whitewash and paint designs on one of the interior walls

The "lift" used to raise the stones up higher - there's a man walking inside the wheel that lifts a platform that has the stones or supplied up to the wall to the workers

We enjoyed a coffee and apple tart before heading on our way to Beaune.  Tim took over the driving and the GPS took us through many more gorgeous fields of canola and wheat.  Beautiful vistas and rolling countryside.  I thoroughly enjoyed being able to enjoy the view while he drove.

We were on back roads for a while and then got to the A-6 highway, watching our speed all of the time as we hear they are strict. 

Then a funny incident (for me!).  We got off of the A-6 at Beaune and Tim pulled up to the machine where you pay as all of the highways are "peage".  I gave him the ticket and the machine wouldn't take it.  He tried over and over and over getting more frustrated with each try.  I told him to push the "Attention" button.  So he opened the car door, and the door open alert started, he pushed the button and an attendant was trying to help him but she didn't speak English.  More frustration!  Tim held up the ticket in front of the camera and she told him in French that the ticket was a parking ticket from the garage at Gare de Lyon - NOT the ticket from the peage!  Oh boy, did I get it then!!!!  (:-)  (:-)  I wanted to laugh out loud so badly but I knew that would only make it worse.  We found the ticket, paid and were on our way.  I'm actually still laughing about this.

It was a short distance to the B&B in Beaune - L'Octroi Saint Jacques owned by Jocelyn Bianco and her husband.  It is right on the "ring road" around Beaune which is a small town.  We rang the bell and he opened the gate for us and we were able to park inside the yard.  He was very friendly and knew a little English, but spoke to us mostly in French which I was able to understand mostly.  The accommodations were spacious with a queen bed and 2 smaller beds and a huge bathroom.  We have the entire upstairs of the carriage house and our room is the Louisane Room.  Nice place.

The view from our guest room of the main house at L'Octroi Saint Jacques

Our bedroom at L'Octroi Saint Jacques

We had purchased some wine at the Monop' in Paris so took it out on the patio and enjoyed the afternoon and a bottle of wine.  Tim used La Fourchette to make reservations at Le Relais at the Hotel de la Post not far from our hotel.  We changed and went to the restaurant and had a drink at the bar and then a great dinner.  Tim had a steak while I tried something new - terrine of rabbit and then porc medallions.  I had a 4 course menu and had a fabulous cheese course and dessert.  We enjoyed a great bottle of Volnay wine - we'll visit there tomorrow.

The Hotel de La Post where we had a fabulous dinner

We were both stuffed.  We finished dinner about 10:30 - almost a 3 hour dinner!  We walked about around the ring road to our hotel and went straight to bed.  Tomorrow we don't have to get up as early, so we'll enjoy a good night's sleep.