Queen for a Day
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- The local village near our chateau
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- Traffic from Italy
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- The King and Queen at the Chateau
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- The front of Chateau Beaupre
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- Highway rest stop women’s bathroom – you gotta squat
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- Morgan’s place in the shade on the Garonne River
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- Toulouse on the Garonne River
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- Canals of Toulouse – close to our lunch restaurant
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- The Prince is served wine at lunch (and everywhere in France)
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- The roof of our chateau
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- After dessert, after coffee, 2nd dessert macaroon, cookie, tart, pistacio cream topped with berry juice
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- Coffee comes with a mini ice cream cone
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- Dessert – red berries with mint granita, served with shortbread cookies
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- Main course #1 Beef with potatoes and sauce
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- Main course #2 Sea bass over a bed of shredded vegetables and cream sauce
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- Appetizer #1 cold cucumber soup with spices and basil
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- Appetizer #2 avacado on top of egg with bread and dipping veggies
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- The Pre-appetizer, pastry “cigarettes” with fish inside, nut tart, salmon on cream in a spoon, chicken spicy between crackers
Ah, to be Queen!
This morning I wait in bed while the King goes off to fight the dragons. The Prince is still sleeping.
After my morning ablutions, I find the Prince has arisen. We go downstairs to breakfast set out for us. Yogurt and fruit, a chocolate croissant, and coffee for the Queen. We ride back up to our chambers and listen to recorded music while corresponding electronically with our peers. We pack for our upcoming journey.
Lunch is at Restaurant Michel Sarran. It has earned 2 stars in the Michelin Guide and every once in a while, we go there to dine. There are 6 people waiting on us, the bread girl, the wine guy, the waiter who takes our order and brings our check, the girl who brings the food to us and explains it, the guy who takes the empty plates away, and the silverware girl who takes away the inappropriate silverware and brings the perfect utensils for each course. They created a splendid mix of artistry and food. For your pleasure, I have included photos of each course below.
The Prince and I then stroll along the bank of the Garonne River, visiting a cathedral and finding the perfect place to sit on this sunny day under the weeping willow. We get the call that our coach is ready to travel and find the King and the coach (a Renault) ready to go. We drive through the countryside, admiring the various chateaux and landholdings.
Finally, we arrive at our own chateau, the Chateau Beaupre (www.chateau-beaupre.com). The tower is 14th century, but our rooms are in the more modern 16th century section. The Prince has his own loft for sleeping. Everything is closed in our little village, so we visit the nearby village Chateauneuf-du-Pape for a late evening pizza at the local pub. Of course, even the cheapest wine is of the best quality.
We are thankful that our Chateau has wi-fi and enjoy the connection before we retire. All is at peace within the Kingdom.
Practicing Travel 
We read with joy that the Queen, King, and Prince find their accommodations suitable. The portrait of the regal pair on the balcony is divine. All we need is a little queenly hand wave:-0
Chateauneuf de Pape is where that first wine that Manley brought back for me came from. Very dry and red. And we see that the Prince is wined-up as well. Very nice. He’ll be expecting fruit of the vine at home now, one surmises.
Pix of luncheon are stunning…one can almost taste it from 6 time zones away:-)
May 20, 2010 at 6:11 pm