Sunday, July 19, 2009

Un picnique

Today we had a picnic in a grassy park near the ruins of a 9th century monastery, in the old walled hill-top city of Vezelay. Our table was laid on an old, lichen-encrusted rock. We had bread, a slice of country terrine, some jambon persille, and some cheeses, including the marvelously stinky Epoisses. We drank a Gevrey-Chambertin with our picnic. For dessert, some ripe nectarines.

Beyond the grassy parkland, the view of the fields beneath the town stretched away. This little town, once a stop along the route of medieval pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, is the home of the Basilica of La Madeleine de Vezelay - the Basilica of Mary Magdalene. The church was originally built in the 9th century; rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries, and then remodeled in the mid 19th century. It is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture.

There is something wonderful about visiting such an old venerable site. And I'll tell you about it later. Right, now, let's enjoy le picnique.

4 comments:

  1. Looks like you also have some fine French bread there too. Looks like a real treat.

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  2. You are making me hungry again! For the french meal and for the lovely medieval town!

    Looks wonderful!

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  3. Glennis, do you still have to pinch yourself to believe you are there?

    It is like you are in a movie. Everything is just like I dream.

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  4. What a fantastically wonderful thing to do! Picnic : ). I love it.

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