La Grappille

We are now in the Rhone Alp district of France in the Beaujolais wine area. We are staying at a beautiful B&B called La Grappille. It is in a renovated old farm house perched up in the hills overlooking the expansive valley and village of Villie-Morgon. Unfortunately for us it has been raining since we arrived yesterday and is completely overcast this morning. There was a short break in the skies yesterday and, Wow!!!, are we missing out on the views!!!! Pauline, the B&B owner, tells us that on a clear day you can see all the way to the Alps and can see Mont Blanc. This is a very impressive area of France. While we are very ready to return to Canada it would be nice to be able to spend some time exploring this area as well. The drive here from Villers-la-Faye was very lovely -- along country roads through many more beautiful villages and towns. We stopped in St. Georgeaux du National to explore the remains of a medieval part of the village and stopped in Cluny (a larger town with a university) for our lunch.

Our B&B hosts are a very hospitable young couple, Pauline and Bruce, who have lived in the farmhouse for the past 1 1/2 years after spending 9 months renovating it. It is a very impressive building with tremendous views. The B&B aspect of the building is very accommodating with two upstairs rooms, a communal sitting room/kitchenette and another private bedroom with ensuite which is where we are sleeping. The bedrooms are very nicely decorated and the bathrooms have very modern fittings. Lovely bathrobes hanging for their guests and a big, comfy bed! Nice spot to spend our last two nights in France. Pauline told us this morning at breakfast that the farmhouse was originally owned by a family with 11 children and they all lived in the space which is now their living/dining room which had been separated into two rooms, plus they had the small kitchen area. All the rest of the house was work rooms, etc., for the farm. During the renovations several of the children of the family came by as they were very pleased to see their old home being preserved. Also, last Mother's Day (whenever that is in France) the children of 6 of the remaining sisters bought them each a night's stay at the B&B plus the catered dinner option which Pauline provides. They are to come next weekend for their stay and it is sure to be an emotional weekend for these 6 ladies. What a wonderful story!

We are not sure what we will be doing today -- we are waiting now for the skies to clear a bit. There are some local "caves" to visit for tastings, a wine museum in a nearby village and a castle in a park. Last evening, during a break in the rainfall, we took a walk through the vineyards. One is quite free here to walk through the vineyards as Bruce explained there are various plots owned individually and therefore it is not possible to restrict access through the vineyards. A beautiful rainbow appeared across the skies while we were out! We think the cycling here would be amazing and there are terrific hiking/walking routes -- we just won't be able to partake of any of it. We have had a fantastic French adventure. We fly home tomorrow via Lyon and Frankfurt. A bientot. Au revoir France!!