Showing posts with label Pyrenees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pyrenees. Show all posts

Friday, March 8, 2013

Off the Beaten Track



I love Paris, the Cote d'Azur the Italian Riviera et al, the history the stories, but isn't it nice to discover new places, destinations that may not be well known internationally, the kind of place that warrants a secret nose tap, the kind of place that the locals want to keep under wraps, lest it gets too popular and the kind of place that once stumbled upon is never forgotten...


l'Amuse bouche, stuffed olives, served from a Bonsai olive tree, Mr French Sampler is about to dig into something, I cannot recall what it was but it was delicious, washed down with Mimosas.

Followed by something to refresh the palate, the most delicious smoked salmon and citrus salad served in a large pebble from the local river...

I know exactly where this river pebble comes from, I may have to copy this idea!

A surprise that looked odd, wrapped in a silk cocoon but again, delicious.


I forgot to take photos of the main course...but it was delicious...skips to dessert...




Afterwards a stroll round the village...




Hmmm!







On the way back a dip in the local pool...


Remember the river pebble?  I collected a few pure white stones from here for my local stonemason to slice in half and voila, perfect salad bowls.


The way back...







Wishing you all a wonderful weekend.
XXX

Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Big Freeze




With news of freezing conditions all over Europe it was only a matter of time before the cold, snowy weather reached us.  We have had it easy up to now with a very mild winter, lots of sunshine and plants which have no business to be blooming at this time of year, blooming.  This cold spell is set to continue with us for the next week.

I still retain that childish sense of excitement when upon waking the world has turned white.  Here are some Instagram snaps of my morning walk with Crusoe, up the lane and round the Château, the sky is laden with snow and the village is monochrome and very still, Crusoe and I, the only creatures stirring, we could have been walking in a century long past...











Friday, June 10, 2011

The Basque Region


Some things you will discover in the Basque region in deepest South West France...

Espelette

Pintxos

Typical Basque House


Arnaga Gardens

The elegant game of  Pelote





Wishing you all a wonderful weekend
XXX

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

French House for Sale

Front of house and garden

Don't worry I have not turned this blog into an estate agency I am simply helping my Father out, at the tender age of 82 my Father has decided to sell his holiday home in France as he wishes to spend more time in Britain and the US.  I am helping him with the marketing of the property.

The estate agents round here charge exorbitant amounts of commission and in reality do very little work, so we have decided to self market, I am launching it on this blog first before I let it lose on the property websites.

Dad's house is only around 30 years old but it is well built and solid and it is built in traditional Bigourdan style. (Bigorre is the old name for the region that lies to the north of the Pyrenees and in the upper valleys of the Ardour River, now situated in the 65, Hautes Pyrenees department of France, which remains one of the most unspoiled and majestic of regions)

I won't say too much more about it as I really don't want to sound like an estate agent, instead I will show you round...



Front and side of house

The house is set on an acre of land, Dad has not landscaped it too much as he loves simplicity and it is his holiday home, so he wanted to keep it low maintenance, the only job that needs doing is cutting the grass, however for the adventurous the land is really fertile and the soil is rich, it is a gardeners dream, there are endless possibilities and with an acre the world is your oyster, vegetable garden, small holding, or luxurious swimming pool and terrace, it is all possible...

Back garden and view of house

Back garden view from the house

Trees that lead to...

The River Neste, a tributary of the Garonne at the bottom of the garden

A large decked sun terrace, and view from the front of the house, on a clear day you can see the mountains.

 The kitchen

The house looks deceptively small on the outside but it is actually very spacious, at present it comprises 120 sq meters of living space (1291 sq ft) this comprises three double bedrooms and two bathrooms, one with a shower and one with a bath, a sitting room, kitchen diner and hallway, every bedroom has built in wardrobes with more built in wardrobes and storage in the hallway.  There is a huge sous sol with cave (garage,basement and wine cellar) that runs underneath the the entire length and breadth of the house and a large attic space which also runs the entire length and breadth of the house made with beautiful chestnut wood floor boards and an exposed ceiling, ripe for turning into a sumptuous master suite (Dad has always said if he had been younger he would have done this!)

Sitting room

Sitting room

Bedroom one

Bedroom two

Bedroom three

Outside the drive looking right

Outside the drive looking left

What more can I say, the house is ready to move into but also has a huge amount of potential (I am really worried now that I sound like an estate agent but it is true!) all the windows and doors are double glazed (tastefully) complete with wooden shutters, he wants to sell it 'as is' with all furniture, fixtures and fittings, gardening tools and sit upon lawn mower included, he even wanted to throw in his car and motor bike, yes my Dad even in his eighties still tears around on the country roads on a motor bike, I think he will sell  those separately, the asking price is 230,000 Euros, (legal and notary fees not included), what do you think?
Interested?  You can find my e mail on my profile page.

Friday, April 22, 2011

The French Countryside


Even when the sun is not shining the French countryside is beautiful at this time of year, whilst running an errand the other day, I took a wrong turn and got lost, after living here for nearly nine years, I still get lost and constantly discover new and beautiful things. Down here in deepest France the countryside is a labyrinth of windy country lanes and narrow tracks which often lead to small villages and hamlets.

This is my favourite time of year, the cycle has begun again and everything is coming back to life it is like witnessing the greening of the earth.  Whilst getting lost I discovered a whole new landscape, although only a few miles away from where we live this landscape is totally different, as you have seen from previous posts our landscape is breathtaking and dramatic, this landscape is a lot softer, gentle rolling hills, hedgerows and green, green fields.

If you are coming to France this year, get off the auto routes and take the D roads and if you get lost, enjoy it!







Whilst I was lost I found this very unusual and romantic, abandoned farmhouse in a tiny hamlet, I am intrigued by it, you don't often see farmhouses with turrets!  I wonder what the story is, I am going to have to find out more about it.



Back to our garden we have lots of gorgeous white blooms in flower at the moment.

Spirea



Clematis Montana



Pyracantha (Firethorn, it has masses of bright red berries in the autumn)


Wishing you all a wonderful and happy Easter.
XXX