The Unexpected - June 26

Karl and I were having tea in the courtyard, talking about Puy du Fou and how much fun we had had yesterday, and decided to run out for some croissants before leaving for Niort.  As we walked out of the courtyard, "Do you have the house keys?"  "No, don't you?"  We had locked ourselves out of the house! 

Needless to say, it was a stressful day, trying to figure out how to get back in.  Fortunately, we knew that Aaron and Wayne (where we took our writing course) had a spare set of keys, so we drove out there 3 times, wondering where they could be on a Saturday.  They came home around 4:00, to our great relief!  The bonus in all this is that we all went out for dinner together, to St-Généroux.

The town was named after a monk who settled here 1200 years ago.

Aaron, Wayne, Karl

There is an ancient packhorse bridge dating back to the pilgrims who crossed it on their way to Santiago de Compostela.  

Aaron, Marguerite, Wayne

The church is one of the oldest in France.  Built in the 9th century, it was a popular resting place for pilgrims.  In the half light, one can almost conjure an image of them kneeling at the altar or resting in the base of the pillars. 

We had dinner "Au bon accueil", and it was fantastic!  Served family style, with huge platters of food placed in the centre of the table for us to serve ourselves. 

• Started off with a platter of potato salad, shredded carrot salad, white asparagus and pasta salad. 
• Then came a platter of poached perch in a beurre blanc sauce - so light!
• French fries, potatoes Dauphine, green beans.
• Magret de canard cooked on their big indoor chimney bbq.
• Tray of cheese.
• Île flottante, chocolate mousse, lemon meringue pie, almond blanc-mange.  We each had something different, depending on our taste.
• Mareuil Rosé wine.
• Coffees.

Another excellent dinner - one of our top favourites!  Wonderful to share it with friends.