Cathing a breath after Bergen
Back to the roots. On a far point way west...nestled between the massive Norwegian mountains and stretched right out in to the Atlantic...there lies Bergen. The scene of my student years and the rencontre of Mrs. Rahman! Everything was great apart from losing my wallet & my head, nearly getting caught up in a fight with druggies and their respective dogs, humiliating myself by shoving my hand down a public trash bin on Festplassen and getting abandoned by my taxi at 02:00 am in a remote Bergen outback, with a bunch of crazy-assed drunk rednecks cruising around on field, furiously smashing things, probably 100% hammered on 98% pure alcohol - four hours before my return flight to Paris.But great to see old friends again, stirring up good memories from the city that probably defined my future life. Thanks!
Above: Bryggeloftene og Stuene, the restaurant to which I invited Madame for the first dinner date.
Last weekend in August 2009
FRIDAY: END WORK - GO HOME - LEAVE CAR - PICK UP RENTAL CAR - GO TO WEDDING DRESS 1st TRIAL - DRIVE TO CHARLES DE GAULLE AIRPORT - PICK UP PARENTS + BROTHER FROM OSLO - DRIVE STRAIGHT AWAY TO ROUEN - DROP OFF PARENTS AT HOTEL IN DOWNTURN - ARRIVE AT LE MESNIL ESNARD - EAT AND GO TO SLEEP.
SATURDAY: WAKE UP - CAFÉ & CLOPE - DRIVE TO OTHER END OF ROUEN - MEETING WITH NOTAIRE - PICK UP WEDDING PAPERS - DRIVE TO CHATEAU DE BELMESNIL - VISIT & INSPECTION OF PREMISES WITH BOTH FAMILIES - RETURN TO LE MESNIL ESNARD FOR LUNCH - DESSERT: RED FRUIT SALAD - RETURN TO DNWTOWN ROUEN - VISIT X STORES FOR SUITS - BUY BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR MOM - MATCH PL: ARSENAL - MANCHESTER UNITED (1-3) - RETURN TO HOTEL TO FRESHEN UP - ARRIVAL AT INDIAN RESTAURANT - DINNER AND NO TIPS AT AFGHAN (!) RESTAURANT - RETURN TO HOTEL FOR "ADDA" AND WALK IN TOWN - PICKED UP, DRIVE HOME, GO TO SLEEP.
SUNDAY: WAKE UP - CAFE & CLOPE - BREAKFAST: FRESH CROISSANTS - PACK & LEAVE LE MESNIL ESNARD - FAREWELL TIME AT THE MERCURE HOTEL, DWNTOWN ROUEN - RETURN TO LE MESNIL ESNARD FOR LOST JACKET - RETURN TO PARIS ON A13: ACCIDENT + 30 MIN DELAY TO COURBEVOIE - ARRIVAL IN COURBEVOIE - PARKING JUGGLING WITH TWO CARS - LUNCH AT HOME: FROZEN PIZZA - SEARCH FOR LONG DISTANCE CALL TELEPHONE CARD - RENTAL CAR DROP OFF - ARRIVAL AT ROCK EN SEINE - ----- --- -- THE PRODIGY ON THE MAIN STAGE - END.
MONDAY: WAKE UP - FRESH VIENNOISERIE AT FRESH BAKERY - BREAKFAST ON BALCONY - TRAIN WITH FAMILY TO GARE ST. LAZARE - ARRIVAL AT WORK - OFF TO LUNCH WITH FAMILY - BACK TO WORK - EARLY DEPARTURE FROM WORK - TAXI FROM LA DEFENSE TO HOME - SHIP FAMILY OFF TO CHARLES DE GAULLE TERMINAL 2D - DODO - CLEAN APARTMENT - END.
SATURDAY: WAKE UP - CAFÉ & CLOPE - DRIVE TO OTHER END OF ROUEN - MEETING WITH NOTAIRE - PICK UP WEDDING PAPERS - DRIVE TO CHATEAU DE BELMESNIL - VISIT & INSPECTION OF PREMISES WITH BOTH FAMILIES - RETURN TO LE MESNIL ESNARD FOR LUNCH - DESSERT: RED FRUIT SALAD - RETURN TO DNWTOWN ROUEN - VISIT X STORES FOR SUITS - BUY BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR MOM - MATCH PL: ARSENAL - MANCHESTER UNITED (1-3) - RETURN TO HOTEL TO FRESHEN UP - ARRIVAL AT INDIAN RESTAURANT - DINNER AND NO TIPS AT AFGHAN (!) RESTAURANT - RETURN TO HOTEL FOR "ADDA" AND WALK IN TOWN - PICKED UP, DRIVE HOME, GO TO SLEEP.
SUNDAY: WAKE UP - CAFE & CLOPE - BREAKFAST: FRESH CROISSANTS - PACK & LEAVE LE MESNIL ESNARD - FAREWELL TIME AT THE MERCURE HOTEL, DWNTOWN ROUEN - RETURN TO LE MESNIL ESNARD FOR LOST JACKET - RETURN TO PARIS ON A13: ACCIDENT + 30 MIN DELAY TO COURBEVOIE - ARRIVAL IN COURBEVOIE - PARKING JUGGLING WITH TWO CARS - LUNCH AT HOME: FROZEN PIZZA - SEARCH FOR LONG DISTANCE CALL TELEPHONE CARD - RENTAL CAR DROP OFF - ARRIVAL AT ROCK EN SEINE - ----- --- -- THE PRODIGY ON THE MAIN STAGE - END.
MONDAY: WAKE UP - FRESH VIENNOISERIE AT FRESH BAKERY - BREAKFAST ON BALCONY - TRAIN WITH FAMILY TO GARE ST. LAZARE - ARRIVAL AT WORK - OFF TO LUNCH WITH FAMILY - BACK TO WORK - EARLY DEPARTURE FROM WORK - TAXI FROM LA DEFENSE TO HOME - SHIP FAMILY OFF TO CHARLES DE GAULLE TERMINAL 2D - DODO - CLEAN APARTMENT - END.
A fantastic weekend draws to an end...
So, that was done! Driving down south, headed for my future wife's grandparent's home to pre-empt wedding celebrations with twenty-or-so close family members (yes, the in-laws were there). Setting was the impeccish Hotel L'Orangerie situated in Bonnat, an eventless yet beautiful village neatly nestled in Creuse. But where the heck is Creuze you say? I was pretty confused too; the town of Bonnat is in the department of Creuse in the region of Limousin (which is part of the Massif Centrale too) in the country of France. I could have showed it on a Google-map but that would have failed my point.
But everything was swell. The food was as audacious as a French resto can be with a level of service which always screams "improvement!". The establishment also offered a lovely terrace, a full-size pool (it was hot today) , a sumptious foresty garden and an extremely well-kept large veggie garden for keen visitors.
And the trip back to steam city Paris wasn't too agonizing either...
But everything was swell. The food was as audacious as a French resto can be with a level of service which always screams "improvement!". The establishment also offered a lovely terrace, a full-size pool (it was hot today) , a sumptious foresty garden and an extremely well-kept large veggie garden for keen visitors.
And the trip back to steam city Paris wasn't too agonizing either...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)