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Chateau Sainte Sabine 1024 768 Mari Bickmore

Chateau Sainte Sabine

Experiencing French Elegance: My Stay at Chateau Sainte Sabine

My travel experiences have taken me to many corners of the globe, but my recent stay at the Chateau Sainte Sabine in France stands out for its unique blend of history, elegance, and natural beauty. This hotel, nestled in the Burgundy countryside, provided a magical retreat that was much more than just a place to rest my head at night.

Setting Foot in a Historical Marvel
As I made my first steps into the Chateau Sainte Sabine, I was immediately struck by its majestic grandeur. The castle, a testament to centuries past dating back to the 16th century, was as awe-inspiring as one could imagine. Its careful restoration has managed to strike a delicate balance, offering modern conveniences while maintaining the castle’s original charm and historical authenticity. The castle exudes an enchanting fairytale-like ambiance that is palpable the moment you step foot inside.

This feeling is further heightened by the stunning grounds that encircle the castle. An immaculate lake reflects the beauty of the chateau, creating a tranquil, serene atmosphere. The grounds are home to a herd of deer, providing a rare sight and creating an experience that is both surreal and soothing.

As I moved through the castle, I could almost feel the stories of the past coming to life, providing an intimate glimpse into the people and events that this castle has witnessed, a journey through time.

A Warm Welcome into French Hospitality
Upon setting foot inside the Chateau Sainte Sabine, I was instantly greeted by the friendly and approachable staff. I had been on the road for about six weeks at this point and it was so welcome to be welcomed. The team at the Chateau Sainte Sabine were helpful and welcoming, with a commitment to offering the utmost comfort to their guests. From the moment I checked in, their attention to detail and commitment to exceptional service was clearly evident. They extended their support and guidance in various ways, including providing recommendations for local sights worth exploring or the best dining options nearby, one of which was Le Lassey, which is onsite and is a Michelin-mentioned restaurant.

A Luxurious Retreat in the Rooms
Each room at Chateau Sainte Sabine is an expression of timeless elegance with an unmistakably French touch. They epitomize luxury and comfort, blending the castle’s historic charm with modern amenities seamlessly. Each room has a distinct design, making it feel like a bespoke living space rather than just a hotel room. These spaces beautifully merged the castle’s grandeur with luxurious comfort, offering a tranquil haven after a day filled with exploration and discovery. Our room had stunning views that stretched out into the horizon, offering a panoramic display of the stunning Burgundy countryside. For me the rooms at Chateau Sainte Sabine were more than just a place to unwind. They were an extension of the castle’s historical charm, offering guests the opportunity to live, if only for a short while, within the pages of a rich, fascinating past.

Exploring The Surrounding Serenity
Staying at the Chateau Sainte Sabine isn’t just about relishing in the luxuries within the castle, it’s about embracing the serenity of the natural beauty that surrounds it. Although the chateau is conveniently close to historic places like Dijon, Beaune, Chateauneuf, and the lovely Pouilly-en-Auxois, the castle grounds were truly a charmer. Taking a leisurely stroll around the pristine lake and sitting in the lawn chairs that dotted the perimeter, watching the deer grazing peacefully, and soaking in the tranquility of the unspoiled landscape created a magical ambiance. You are also in Burgundy, so there are many vineyards around to set up a tasting.

A Gastronomic Journey Through French Cuisine
The culinary experience at Chateau Sainte Sabine’s Le Lassey restaurant was a true celebration of French gastronomy. The menu was focused on local specialties, showcasing the rich flavors and culinary techniques that the region is known for. The ingredients were fresh, many sourced directly from the bountiful Burgundy countryside. The restaurant also offered a superb selection of wines from local vineyards. We’re not drinkers but I noticed that the staff was suggesting pairings to complement the dishes.

Unwinding
One of the highlights was the heated pool. I enjoyed lounging poolside, with the historic castle as my backdrop. I hope to visit in the summer and take advantage of cooling off after a long day of…maybe doing nothing. But I’m a wimp and October was not the month for me to enjoy the pool, even if it was heated. There is a lovely changing/bathroom area by the pool and a kitchen area stocked with beverages, at a cost of course, but so handy to have right there without having to walk back up to the chateau if you feel the need. I could probably do that for days.

Reflecting on a Memorable Stay
As I prepared to bid farewell to the Chateau Sainte Sabine, I was more than a little sad to be saying farewell. This hotel was not just another stop on my travels, but a dive into the timeless elegance that epitomizes French charm. If only I’d had a 1700’s ballgown, the castle stay would have been complete. The Chateau caters to a wide spectrum of guests; whether you’re passionate about history, a gastronome, or simply in search of a unique and enchanting escape, and whether you alone or traveling with friends, the Chateau Sainte Sabine possesses an allure that is sure to captivate you, much like it did me. I would definitely come back for a stay. We were there in the fall, but I would love to see it when the flowers are in bloom and it’s warm enough to dive into the pool! Maybe they’ll invite me back!

Enough is Enough…Muslims need their own designated place to live…and not with Western Society 270 187 Mari Bickmore

Enough is Enough…Muslims need their own designated place to live…and not with Western Society

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS MODERATE ISLAMpeaceful religion

Hey, I usually never, ever post a politically-centric only article.  I am happy traveling and eating well, and will post something lovely to eat tomorrow, but for today I can’t help myself.  These Muslims are a plague and a pestilence wherever they become more than 5% (well any percent, but that tips their scales).  Every single day, somewhere in the world, an atrocity is committed in the name of Islam or by countries or people practicing Sharia.  Every. Single. Day.  Stoning, honor killings, chopping off hands, horrid treatment of women, rapes, pillages, forced conversions, beheadings, jizya…The list goes on and on.  You want to tell me that that is a small percentage of Muslims, 10-15%.  What percentage of Germans caused the Holocaust?  The activists?  10-15%.  With any historical war or evil movement, what percentage were the activists?  10-15%.  The biggest issue is the one that most people don’t want to see.  All Muslims believe that they are superior and that they should rule over everyone else.  That every person should have to live under Sharia.  All of them.  They are not the bomb-strapping, beheading, in-your-face killers.  They are just waiting for the others to do the wet work.  Part of those, however, are the complainers.  The ones who are offended.  They ones who are trying to change our laws, our cultures, the very fabric of our society, slowly, like a cancer.  Our governments, our liberals, our media are letting it happen.

say no to islam

Look at Sweden.  About 40 years ago their government voted to change their homogenous society to a multiculture society.  Once Sweden had almost no crime, and now they are number TWO in the world in rapes.

http://www.d-intl.com/2013/10/15/sweden-a-new-hell-for-women/?lang=en

Who do you suppose is committing the majority of those rapes?  But their news agencies and reporting bureaus are not allowed to report those numbers.  I suppose we should let that go and apologize because the women of Sweden aren’t covered head to toe in a black tent, otherwise the Muslim men can’t control themselves any better than animals.  (apologies go out to the animals).  Why are people not rising up in all our Western countries to protest?  Because we are lazy for one, but we are PC’ed to death or afraid we’ll be prosecuted for some “hate” crime.  I maintain that the term “Islamaphobe” is stupid.  A phobia is an irrational or unfounded fear of something.  There is nothing irrational or unfounded about it.  I read a new word lately that I like:  Islamapologist = our news and government would fall under that.

Over the weekend there were two shootings in Copenhagen committed by a Muslim, targeting an artist and at a Jewish synagogue.   Luckily, he was shot by police, after injuring three of them.  We must not let ourselves lose our freedom of speech and expression due to fear of harm or fear of “offending” them.   What is more offensive, a cartoon or a beheading (or any of the atrocities listed above?).  Jews are leaving France in record numbers (over 6000 in 2014 alone) due to fear from harm by Muslims.  They are being spit on, ridiculed and attacked by Muslims. http://www.newsweek.com/2014/08/08/exodus-why-europes-jews-are-fleeing-once-again-261854.html

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/jewish-graves-france-desecrated-nazi-slogans-swastikas-n306931

jewish gravesNBC reports that male teenagers were arrested for this, one having confessed, but did not report the names, thereby not reporting that it was Muslms.

“300 tombs were desecrated in the Jewish cemetery in the eastern town of Sarre-Union on Sunday. President Francois Hollande labelled the incident “odious and barbaric,” and Prime Minister Manuel Valls said via his Twitter feed that the “vile, anti-Semitic act” was “an insult to memory.”

CNN:  CNN states here that there is a growing anti-Semitism in Europe.  They are sooo PC that they cannot even say where is is coming from….THE MUSLIMS!  They won’t even utter that when they WONDER who did this to the graves.  Isn’t it more than obvious to everyone who can reason?  But, then again, CNN doesn’t reason very well.  CNN is non-news, in my opinion, so I even surprised that they reported this at all.

http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/02/16/newday-bittermann-jewish-graves-desecrated-france.cnn

Coq au Vin – In a slow cooker! 1024 689 Mari Bickmore

Coq au Vin – In a slow cooker!

coq au vin 9

I would have to say one of my favorite places to visit is France, from the eastern Atlantic shore to Paris down to Provence (especially in the lavender season), along the coast and over to the Dordogne, which is where I would love to live. So who else to take inspiration from but Julia Child. This is certainly not her classic coq au vin recipe, but I think a good adaptation. Sitting here in chilly winter weather, the rich, filling and flavorsome goodness of Coq au Vin just fit the bill. I made it fairly easy to make it in my slow cooker, yet it remians very close to the original. In the words of Julia Child “You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients.” The only thing wrong with this recipe is that my kitchen window is not overlooking the Dordogne River.  The  sauce turns out so rich and wonderful! I love it served with mashed potatoes.

Ingredients
3-1/2 pounds skinless chicken thighs & legs (or a breast also if you like)
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp gluten-free flour or all-purpose flour
salt & pepper
3 tbsp olive oil
4 slices lean bacon
36 very small pearl onions peeled and left whole (or 18 larger ones – can use frozen)
½ lb sliced button mushrooms
½ lb sliced baby bella mushrooms
2-1/2 cups red wine (tested with cabernet sauvignon)
2 tbsp tomato paste
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 large sprig thyme (or a generous 3/4 tsp dried)
1-1/4 tsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:
1. Place the chicken, flour, salt and pepper in a gallon size ziploc bag and shake well. Make sure the chicken is liberally coated with the flour mixture. This may have to be done in divided amounts.coq au vin

2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet on medium high heat, then add the chicken pieces. You may have to use more olive oil that stated to brown your chicken.

coq au vin 23. Brown the chicken for about 2 minutes on either side until it turns a lightly golden color.
4. Stir the remainder of the flour from the bag into the browned chicken and transfer to your slow cooker.
5. In the same skillet, cook the four pieces of bacon until crispy. Remove onto paper towels to drain.

6. Also in the same skillet place the onions and mushrooms for about 4 minutes, stirring regularly, until glazed and shiny, then transfer the mixture into your slow cooker.
7. Crumble the bacon and add to the slow cooker.
coq au vin 48. Whisk the wine and tomato paste together lightly until the tomato
paste breaks down then combine with the garlic, thyme, oregano and bay leaf and add into the chicken mixture.

Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3 1/2 – 4 hours.

The slow cooked chicken will fall easily from the bone into the sauce once done.

coq au vin 7

Excellent served with mashed potatoes and sprinkle with chopped parsley.

“Mise en place” a french culinary term which means organizing the process of cooking by making it more efficient, helping prevent mistakes or forgetting vital ingredients. Line up your spice jars and set out all ingredients before starting the first step. I recommend this for all recipes.

Photography Perils In Paris 577 1024 Mari Bickmore

Photography Perils In Paris

Just recently in September, my daughter, son-in-law and I were wandering through the streets of Paris and decided to tour L’Opera.  We became a little lost so we stopped to load directions on Amanda’s phone.  As we stood there, a woman came walking down the sidewalk across the street from us in full dominatrix regalia, carrying an umbrella (remember the umbrella part because it definitely plays into the story).  Now remember this is near high noon, middle of the day, and this “lady” of the evening (now remember it’s the middle of the day) struts down the sidewalk all strapped up in black leather and thigh-high stilettos   She commences to park herself right across the street from us and leans against a railing, in front of a store that I suspect sells what she is wearing among other things.  I can’t help myself…I quickly pull my phone into position to snap a photo, but at the same time I snap a car goes in front of her and soeiffel towerme pedestrians also, so all I get is a blurred picture of a car in motion.   In any event, at that moment she whips around and comes marching toward us, at a pretty good clip I might add.  We are like “uh-oh”  “OMG” and being the naives that we are, just stood there like deer in the headlights until she was upon us talking in loud, non-stop French as I tried to understand something of what she said.  It boiled down to “I am going to call the police if you don’t delete that picture.”  But she couldn’t understand that there was no picture with her in it!  Let me tell you, she was scary in those 6-inch spiked black heels and leather.  She grabbed my phone and was going through it looking for that non-existent picture and she wanted to go through all the way to the end…all 697 pictures worth.  I finally took back my phone from this Asian Amazon and said enough is enough!  Well, as you might guess, that didn’t sit very well with her.  She grabbed my left wrist and jerked me around to face her at the same time breaking one of my favorite necklaces off and into pieces with her other hand. all those pretty pieces tinkling across the sidewalk.  In my whole life I have never been physically restrained in anger!  I was in shock…all I could think to do was try to pry her hand off my wrist and yell “you broke my frickin’ necklace!” over and over while also keeping her from digging those spiked heels into my foot or leg.  My daughter on the other hand, having been raised with three brothers, was attempting to pull her arm off me with her pointy fingernails.  I guess the claws worked because I was released and she backed away.  However, she thought it was me who scratched her and she was not a happy camper, so as I bent down to pick up the remnants of my necklace next thing i know I am being whacked in the face with the umbrella (I told you to remember that weapon) and Miss BDSM waving forearm in my face like I had broken it and shouting French obscenities.    Amanda had apparently scratcher enough to at least get her to unhand me; that’s my girl!.  In any event, that umbrella strike hurt like heck!  Right across my cheekbone on the right.  Then, of course, I’m yelling “You hit me in the face!”….over and over.  Do you think that umbrella turns into a whip?   At that point, my daughter and I were seeing red and moving toward her aggressively still shouting the same thing, but my son-in-law was gently pulling us back, trying to be the voice of reason, and all I could think of was that she hit me and it hurt and this was a Crazy person (with a capital C).  He pulled us into a clothing shop and at first they were like “you can’t stay in here,” but then I showed them where she hit me and they saw who she was, so they very nicely shut the door to keep her out and told her to go away.   I apologize for not having pictures, but we didn’t stick around long to take more.   Try to visualize this scene and wish that it had all been caught on video…which I am sure it was but nobody sent it to me.  The only appeasing factor was that Bradley reminded me that tomorrow we would wake up and still be us and she would wake up and still be a prostitute.  But we never even made it to L’Opera.

All in all, though, I did come out with a little black eye and a great story.  I also got to learn a little self-defense, after the fact, and I now know how to get someone to release my wrist should I ever have an altercation with a prostitute on the streets of Paris, or any other city I guess.  I also learned that no matter how many times you replay what you should have said and done, you can never go back and get a re-do.  Moral of this story:  When you snap a picture, run as fast as you can!  They’re not going to catch you in those heels!  Sorry there are no pictures…so I will just put in a Paris shot.

The Girls Love Deauville 1024 768 Mari Bickmore

The Girls Love Deauville

Deauville Plage

Woke up in Deauville, France, Friday morning! The sun was shining, the seagulls were “singing” and this little corner of the world was magnificent. As usual, we were a bit late to rise, so we just put on our flipflops and headed for the beach, with a little pit stop by the boulangerie for a baguette and the market for some meat and cheese, oh and some butter cookies. Lucky! I snagged a free parking spot (no small feat)! And we rented two chairs with a big umbrella and settled in. I don’t get to the beach more than once or twice a year, unfortunately, but I cannot remember the last time I was on a beach that had shells, and I mean a lot of shells. We were amazed! I’m bringing home a shell for you!

Being the Atlantic, the water wasn’t actually what you would call clear, and it certainly wasn’t what I call warm. But, then again, I like the warm, bath water of the Gulf of Mexico in mid to late summer so maybe I’m not the best judge. This was what you might call very refreshing, and I am a pansy when it comes to cool water, so Amanda had to coax me to go out further. After staying in a bit and acclimating, it became, well, comfortable. Strangely enough, early July and the beach wasn’t crowded at all.   But now I remember how much I like a beach vacation.  So relaxing.  Read a little, comb the beach a little, play in the water and repeat and repeat and repeat.  Lovely.

Speaking of lovely, did I say how lovely Deauville is? I am ready to move here. Originally, it was just a small fishing village from about 1060, but around 150 years ago it became a planned city/spa town by the Duc de Morny, for the most part. A place for the fashionably wealthy to unwind, with the train to Deauville/Trouville sur Mer direct from Paris opening in 1863. There is a casino, a racetrack, spas, a harbor and, as I said, a great beach.  They have patterned cobblestone streets with lane after lane of architecturally delightful homes and shops, which are all just a shell’s throw from the beach.

Girls at Normandy Barriere

After a relaxing day at the beach, we got back to our room in the late afternoon, took a little nap and dressed for dinner. Meaning that we did not get out until 8:30 and then drove down to Trouville, which is an older, very cool town right across the harbor form Deauville.  We strolled around trying to decide where we wanted to eat. Always a problem for me is finding the perfect place to eat. Always. These little restaurants are like flowers, we flit from one to the next reading their menus and can’t decide where to land. Finally, since we got too tired to walk back to where we should have eaten, we decided to drive back out to a little auberge near our hotel. How weird is that. Well, we get there at 10:07 p.m. Oops, too late for dinner! What a life – only being open from 7 until 10! So we were stuck with emporter pizza in the room. Not what you want to eat with all those quaint cafes and fresh seafood available. Obviously our own fault.

View from Pont L’Eveque

Okay, So It’s Partially Eaten – It was so yummy!

I do have to interject that when we arrived the afternoon prior to Hotel Mercure Deauville Pont L’Eveque, after sunning by the pool and walking the pathways around the beautiful grounds of the hotel, we happened upon a restaurant in Pont L’Eveque, another small town nearby. I believe it was called Les Tonneaux. It was a gem. I had the local fondue avec mixed viandes and Amanda had the specialty of the house, Tarte Leontine. It was delish and reasonable. I would actually say it was the best meal we had on this trip. I have a few pictures, but forgot to take them before we started eating, so they may not be as appetizing as they could have been.

These have been perfect days away from the hustle and bustle of Paris. I wish I could share this place with all my friends.  I might not stay at the same hotel, as it is a little tired and further from the actual town and beaches of Deauville than I would have liked, but it does have free and easy parking. That may have been the reason I chose it, and it was available at the last minute. However, I would definitely like to spend more time here and explore the quaint shops and cafes, and maybe a spa or two, so I am wishing and hoping that I get to do just that. This was our jumping off point for our 4th of July tribute weekend through Normandy, and it was a great start!

A Perfect Day