Now that it is the correct day we are headed to a small cottage in Semur-en-Auxios, but first we have to resolve a car problem. The check engine light came on early in this trip and the engine has beens running rough. We headed for Dijon to exchange the car. We got there just before the lunch break and the exchange went well, except that one of the hubcaps had been scrapped and it was not on the damage form. I am sure I did not do it, but to bad, it is my problem. The manager asked if I had taken pictures of the car when I picked it up and I said yes. I had assigned this task to Vicki but she only took pictures of the scraps that were already noted on the form. The manager said he would send in pictures and they would be in touch with me. Rental car companies have got very serious about any damage to a vehicle. Europcar has not been as serious as the other companies though. I guess I will see how good my credit card companies coverage is if I am billed for the damage.
After a great lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant we headed west. This area is all agriculture and almost no vineyards just rolling cleared land with fields prepared for the winter.
I picked Semur en Auxois solely based on the cottage that we rented. I wanted some time in rural France and this looked like a great place for that. After stopping at the Inter Marche to buy groceries we headed for 33 Rue de Vigne. The owner was quick to come to the gate to let us in and show us the cottage. It is located in the far corner of his oversized yard and is just what we wanted. We settled in, turned on the heat, which is unusual as it is usually not turned on yet for this time of year, popped the cork and a bottle of wine and called it a day.
We have a private entrance
October 17
Wow, where have I been. This week has flown by. We are so confused or relaxed we both woke up one morning and were sure it was Thursday until we turned on a electrical device and found out it was Friday. We were so sure that it was Thursday that I did a google search and found out that it really is Friday.
So, what have we been doing? Walking around this small town, a lot. Visiting some interesting sights and riding through the country. So here is a partial rundown.
Out and about in Semur-en-Auxion
Our local church
It is a little under maintained
Netting to catch the ceiling falling from heaven
Nothing piss's me off more than Americans saying "if it was not for us, you would be speaking German" to the French. Fortunately I have not heard this much in recent years. The ignorance of Americans on history is staggering. If it weren't for the French we would still be drinking tea. The French supplied 12,000 soldiers and more than 32,000 sailors to our revolutionary effort. More soldiers than we supplied.
The French are very grateful and have monuments all about France to the soldiers who died in WWII. This is not the first one I have seen for WWI and but the only one I have ever seen in a church.
Photos from the ramparts
Main street in the old town
Beef bourguignon
My morning coffee spot
That last rose in our garden
Great place to have dinner
The owners and their daughter
This is Fido as Vicki calls him. I don't know why but he just tickled us. It comes out and roams around and then goes home. I was so intrigued I have ordered a robot vacuum cleaner for home as Fido would not work in my front yard.
The Abbay was founded long long ago with monks. They started taking anis and making candy at some time. The abbay was taken by the government in after the monks fled in 1792. The same family has owned it since the early 1900's and have been making anis candy since then.
Epoisses is were the stinky cheese is made. We did not get to see the production but we did buy some. I love it. Vicki, not so much. The Chateau is private but you can walk the gardens. It is for sale.
A deal at 3.2 million Chateau d'Epoisses
People have asked were we are "exactly" so here is a link: Semur
