French Countryside

the final post of our recent european trip will be a stroll through the french countryside

sharing some of the treasures we found there. i just couldn't get enough of the centuries old farms with their stone barns, lush crop fields and herds of graceful, pale charolais cattle. paul patiently listened to my sighs and exclamations for miles and miles (or kms and kms, as the case may be). 

we had talked about spending some time in paris but when it came down to it, the countryside was so endearing, so beautiful, so entrancing, we decided to give paris a miss this trip and that is fine.

we stayed at the charming le clos barisseuse, a newly renovated 18th century country chateau/farmhouse estate in the village of saint vaast les mello. it is still a mystery to me how paul manages to find these unique places.

*sidenote - if you happen to be searching for a dreamy french wedding reception venue, we've found the perfect spot!

charming, romantic, comfortable, complete with a 15th century chapel and endearing pigeon tower!

big margo, you must build one of these :)

we enjoyed romantic dinners el fresco (oh woops, that's italian) created and served by a young, shy but very talented french chef.

i think this is the one and only picture paul and i have together on this trip. we just never got around to  asking, in our high school french, "would you take our photo, s'il vous plait?"

during our stay, paul and i took bike rides exploring the surrounding fields and forests.

a little way into the forest, we came upon a memorial for four american bomber pilots shot down on 

june 27, 1944. humbling.

we also discovered a stone quarry... 

 big, beautiful felled oak trees (paul was besotted with them),

and a vacant, charming, old stone building with an outdoor circular staircase surround.

what stories this mystical place could tell.

paul couldn't help walking through and checking the quality of the full and bounteous wheat fields.

"tres bien!", he announced.

a hop, skip and a jump away is the magnificent chateau de chantilly where we spent a rainy and fascinating morning. too, too much to share here but i will mention that this chateau houses one of the finest collections of paintings in all of france...and the library........oh my, the library!

another fascinating surprise we discovered were the equestrian facilities!

the living museum of the horse and chantilly racecourse are here and according to legend, the prince of conde believed that when he died, he would be reincarnated as a horse so instructed his architect to build stables that would suit his royal horse rank.

these horses of luxury, like romeo above (or perhaps, the prince of conde), perform in an equestrian show in this grandest of arenas.

being the end of the school year, we came upon many school groups enjoying a field trip to chateau de chantilly. lucky, european school girls!

we could have stayed all day but also wanted to go down the road to the medieval town of senlis.

we decided to take the self guided walking tour of this ancient city. in the 3rd century, the romans built and protected the city with a 4 meter thick wall and 30 towers. most of them still exist!

beautiful and picturesque narrow streets wind through the city.
we came upon a quaint shoe store and slipped inside for a minute to buy each of our children a pair of  bensimon sneakers, the classic, french, iconic summer footwear.

we thought of each of you often, exclaiming "nicole would love this meal, margo would appreciate this dog statue and these neon macaroons, ben would be taking photos of this....oh, and that, sebastian would be touched by the history and feel of this place, gabi would be checking out these very attractive teenage, french boys.........."

my romantic nature is so attracted to the thought of people most certainly affected by and contentedly living their modern lives comfortably nestled in spaces with walls permeated by the history, culture and influence of centuries of people living their daily lives, walking the same slate paths and.....

passing beneath this same 3rd century archway. mmmmmmm, i actually can't get enough of this. 

to me, it is the epitome of a luxuriously rich, beautiful and simple lifestyle.

i truly love europe and its history, culture and ways. it touches a familiar, comfortable and deep place in my heart and soul.

thank you senlis, for the rich and rewarding experience you shared with me and my husband.

the final night of the trip, as i looked out of our window and onto the ancient chapel and over the french corn fields, i tried to fill my heart and head with the history and deep, calming richness it bestowed, savoring the beauty of this country, this continent and all of the memories that i will now strive to hold complete and clear, incorporating what i may into our lives here at home.

again, thank you my darling paul for this enchanting time spent with you.