On occasion it would be beneficial to have another set of hands.

When you have a large camera in your hands there is little room to hold an iPhone at the same time… which is a shame because I love my iPhone camera but often forget to use it.

But when I do remember it and turn off the sound people usually don’t know I’m taking their picture and in this case spying on what they ordered for dessert.  Tarte Tatin, Panna Cotta, no one was dieting at that table.

Except my French boyfriend, you can’t fool him, he doesn’t let a photo opp get away.

A big camera is a lot of fun but even a small camera can catch a big moment.

Enjoy!

Leslie

The region of Auvergne in South Central France is the least populated region in all of France.  The weather is totally unpredictable and for a long time my friend Richard joked “Of course the weather is bad, Leslie is here.”, initially I believed him.

Even with unpredictable weather, I’m still a fan.  Auvergne is famous for Cantal, Saint Nectaire and blue d’Auvergne cheese…Yum!  The region probably has more cows and goats than people and is home to Les Chaines des Puys, the oldest geological mountain range in France.

The area is also part of France’s largest national park, the Parc Naturel Regional des Volcans d’Auvergne, and is a destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

At 1,465meters tall, Le Puy de Dome is the highest of the dormant volcanos in the area with extraordinary panoramic views.  With it’s large antenna the mountain is a landmark for the region and in the past could easily be viewed on the label of Volvic Water which comes from the region.

You can’t visit this region without visiting the Puy de Dome but as rain, snow, wind or fog can quickly leave you in a precarious situation you hesitate before committing to a hike.  But last year clear weather allowed Claudine and I to hike the Puy de Pariou, a massive grass filled crater with incredible views of the region and the neighboring Puy de Dome.  It is one of the most impressive landscapes in all of France.

And this year was monumental because after ten years of visits to Clermont Ferrand I finally visited the summit of the Puy de Dome.  It’s not a long hike but the ascent is a killer because the climb is steep but the views at the top are well worth the pain.

If Claudine and I are lucky and mother nature cooperates our next girls weekend will come to a close with another hike in this beautiful region.

Enjoy!

Leslie

PS:  The picture with no watermark was taken last year from the Puy de Pariou.

Visiting my French boyfriend and my new love (la boulanger) are not the only reasons I visit Clermont Ferrand each year.

I love Claudine’s French kitchen and the weekly deliveries of freshly prepared food from her mother-in-law Mamie Nicole (Grandma Nicole).

Mamie Nicole is a rock star!  She will be turning 80 this year and she still prepares home cooked meals daily with fresh ingredients from her garden.

Her carrots, peas, and baby potatoes are amazing. They are sweet yet savory and are probably prepared in best quality lard and butter Auvergne has to offer.  Julia Child would be proud.

I like to think Mamie Nicole likes me too because when Claud and I return from the girls weekend I verify with Richard the size of the weeks delivery.  Extra-large!

For le petit déjeuner et le goûter (breakfast and afternoon snacks) Mamie Nicole sends delicious buttery Madeleines from her local boulanger but Mamie Morissette (Grandma Morissette), who is also a rock star, has these meals covered with fresh baked cookies that Claudine stores by the truckload in her freezer.

I don’t know what’s in those cookies (possibly something from the local pharmacy) but there is no stopping at one.  And although I couldn’t tell you how many I eat, I will admit that the tin is usually empty the day Claudine brings me back to the airport.

I’ve been lobby for overnight delivery to NY for a while.  Mamie Nicole and Mamie Morissette would make a killing (who wouldn’t want Grandma Direct?!?!).   But even with overnight delivery of the Grandma’s’ goodies I can’t imagine a year that I don’t visit Clermont.

It’s not the place or the food it’s the people.  See you next year Claud!

Leslie

The goal of visiting Marseille was not just to see the sites, it was to enjoy the local cuisine.

One of Mapie’s friends gave us a list of restaurant options for dinner. I don’t know how the girls selected it but they chose a small local seafood restaurant tucked into a hidden corner of Marseille.

It was a typical seaside restaurant, overlooking a scenic cove filled with leisure and fishing boats.

It was perfect and the food delicious.   The girls and I are very lucky when we are together.

I hope you’re lucky enough to find and visit the restaurant Au Bord de L’Eau too, but if not take a minute to enjoy a visit right here.

Enjoy!

Leslie

Les Calanques were not my only new discovery with the team.  We also visited Marseille, France’s second most populated city.

The owner of our B&B highly recommended Marseille’s tourist train (he was very excited about it).   We weren’t convinced as we are not the guided tour kind of group.

But Marseille is a sprawling city and outside of Le Vieux-Port (The Old Port) the main attraction is Notre-Dame de la Garde (Our Lady of the Guard), a Neo-Byzantine church that sits on the city’s highest peak at 162 m (532 ft) high.

Given the distance and the incline, we took the owners advice and got on the tourist train.

The basilica is known as the city’s guardian and protector and although it has not always protected the city properly, it’s incredibly beautiful.

What surprised me most about Marseille is the plague of stereotypes that often overshadows the city’s beauty and history.

Similar to tourist trains the city often gets a bad rap yet it is really worth a visit… At the minimum for the tourist train ride, it was excellent.

Enjoy!

Leslie