St. Brice and Luxeuil

In Paris we joined Terry's band (the River City Jazz Band...well, we really didn't join them to play, just for the rest of the tour) and first went to a hostel in St. Brice, near Domont, France - a very quaint town. Arrived late in the night since we left Paris around 10pm, so all we did was go to sleep. In our room were Deb, Ter, me, and Jojo (Jordan). We want to adopt him! Next morning was a nice breakfast.....this is a great hostel with lots of rooms....our room had its own sink and shower but no toilet. (that seems to be quite normal, even in homes). We decided to walk into the village of Domont....several from the band wanted to go back to Paris, but after 4 days there, we wanted to be in a smaller town. It was further than we thought (isn't that always the case???) We enjoyed the little shops and found a grocery..."Leader-Price" where we bought some lunch, walked back to the hostel (it was a lot longer on the way home, but also uphill, just like the way there....and also must have been over 90 degrees.....that part is true). We had bought a nice sparkling rose, some meats and cheese, so along with the bread we had taken from breakfast, we had a great little picnic. Nice breeze, great company....eventually most of the ones who stayed in town came out to lie on the grass and just enjoy a little respite. Later on the afternoon we decided we needed a nap.....although Deb didn't have enough shopping so she had Christine (manager of the hostel) drive her to LeClerc.....having great sales. It began to thunder and rain but that didn't stop me from dozing off! Deb arrived just in time for dinner, a little wet, but with some cute things.......rain all through the night.....plus crazy guys from our tour who took off their shirts and stood out in the rain. Which was probably good since it was so hot during the day.....we all entered the evening with lots of sweat and fatigue!

A bus drive to Luxeuil during the day with stop in a wayside cafe...good food, then on the road again. We arrived in Luxeuil-Les-Bains (Luxeuil with the hot baths). We arrived mid-afternoon on Saturday and had some time just to stroll the little streets, get something to drink and then back to the beautiful church that would be the concert venue...attached to the Hotel de Ville (city hall). We were given 2 rooms (guys and gals) to unload all our suitcases and change for the evening...we saw a wedding party (I usually discover at least one wedding per international trip!).
The rotarians in the town put out a dinner spread that was amazing and delicious. It consisted of many cold meats, wonderful potato salad, a rice salad with veggies, and of course the best bread in the world. The second course is the cheese course with some local cheeses...one called Munster (Deb's town in Indiana) and was very "stinky"! (ok, I shouldn't have written those two things in the same sentence!) In the summer in France, most people only drink rose or white wines....we had a lovely rose and of course lots of water and coke. For dessert there were wonderful tarts...apple and cheese. During dinner we had a thunderstorm that cooled the air just a bit...every day the temps have been way over 80 degrees...many days without even a slight breeze, and no air conditioning in any of our homes or hostels, so needless to say, we appreciate every little puff of wind. The concert itself was attended by about 400 people and was amazing. The sound was a little different than the first concert because of the tall ceiling of the basilica - the sound got lost in the massive structure but was still great.
After the concert was a small champagne reception for the band and the local officials....the mayor gave a speech (EVERYONE here LOVES to give speeches!!!) and then our family took us home to a beautiful, large home very near to the church. (oh good, we won't be late for the bus!) Upstairs there were 5 bedrooms, each with its own sink, and one hall bath with shower as well. Downstairs was another full bath with shower, master suite, office, huge living/dining area, and kitchen. Bernard and Terese had done major renovations when they bought the home 18 years ago to open it up, and now there are floor to ceiling doors that open into an outdoor dining area. The home is very welcoming, airy and bright, and since no one in Europe has, or even needs, screens, they have brought the outside in (or the inside out....I'm not sure which!).

Before breakfast this morning we had a lovely little tour of their garden. Bernard and Terese knew the name of every single plant and tree....several specimens from other countries. They had done everything themselves...paths with stepping stones, several little "retreats" around the yard including a darling little corner "maison pour les enfants", complete with little table and chairs! It was under a huge tree and I can just imagine how much fun the grandchildren have playing in there. There were several places around the yard with table, chairs, lounge chairs, hammock, etc. My kinda yard!
After breakfast with our host family, the rotary club in Luxeuil treated us to a tour of the village including a climb up into a tower with a great 360 degree view of the surrounding area. After a delicious lunch @ a local restaurant, we got into a small touring bus to go to a cherry farm where we learned how they make an amazing cherry liqueur and also absinthe, which was made from the wormwood tree - actually originally had a little LSD in it - may be why it had been banned for quite a while!!! This was followed by a visit to an American War Memorial in Epinol France where 5000 US servicemen are buried - very beautiful and quite moving as it was July 4. At 4:30, they lower the flag, then broadcast a 21-gun salute, La Marseillese, (the French national anthem), the Star Spangled Banner and then taps. It was just amazing and thrilling to be there looking out over all the cross headstones in perfect formation on a most beautiful sunny day, hearing patriotic music from both countries - I must say it was quite emotional to reflect back to what actually had happened here in France. Our guide (who was from California) told us about the 45th division that was composed of mostly Native Americans, some Latinos and some drafted Japanese - whose first emblem actually was a swastica, which, we were told, in Native American symbolism stands for the 4 corners of the earth - however that was quickly changed after Hitler decided to use the same symbol. This particular division actually liberated Dachau. After the trip to the memorial we went to visit another distillery with tasting and tour, and in the evening attended a dinner at the local Cherry Festival in Fougerolles - very fun and good food. (also this year's "Miss Cherry Blossom" made an appearance....with her "court"!) They had made paella in huge flat pans, stirring it with large wooden paddles. A sangria made with some quite sour apples and oranges, lots of wine, coke, etc. Our "hostess" for the evening, Silvie, wanted everyone to "intermingle" and was upset when the Americans sat with the Americans, and the French sat with the French. So, she just took matters into her own hands, and told everyone where to sit! Terry and I were seated at a table with all French people, but as I am fairly fluent in French, this was not a problem for us. There was a program with some Hungarian dancers, a band, and then they called the Americans up to the stage and we got to sing our national anthem for them (accompanied by a CD they had procured). They kept us up on the stage to watch some "cowboy" line dancers...(I think EVERYONE in Europe thinks EVERYONE in the US line dances.....) it was a little long, but they had prepared a lot to entertain us. Then the band played again and the dancing began.
Who knew Debbie would be the most popular person asked to dance by every man there! (ok, I think there were a few that didn't ask her...) Bernard had come for the dinner, but Terese was too tired (probably from doing all our laundry which we gave her in the morning). We've been kept up very late every night.....the drinking actually makes everyone get louder....imagine that! So, we had hoped to maybe get in before midnight this evening. Not to be. As we got up and asked Patrick, the rotary president if we could leave, he said "you will enjoy dessert." (listening between the lines was, you WILL stay until I say you can go!) Bernard was tired, we were beat, and even Silvie wanted to go, but we sat down for dessert, some sort of creamy, cherry sweet delectable.
Finally on our way home, Terese called Bernard to find out where we were....guess she didn't expect us to be out that late either.
Didn't sleep well...probably because of all the sugar in the dessert that we "enjoyed"! Had to get up very early to load the bus for the LONG drive to Montreux, Switzerland....stopping along the way at a grocery store (more like Target, a little bit of everything), where people got snacks...Deb and I needed more camera batteries. Then another couple of hours to the border, where the Swiss yawned us through. No boarding the bus, no stamps on passports.....sorry Deb. Quite a bit of light rain during the trip, but when we arrived in Montreux, the sun was out again. The only rain we've had this whole trip has either been at night, or when we are sheltered, and the rest of the time it's been absolutely beautiful.....though HOT.