Burgundy Bliss

Our room, the newest at Domaine des Anges

A return to Domaine des Anges was everything we anticipated and more. Set in the tiny (year-round population of about 400) Burgundian wine village of Puligny-Montrachet, this now 4-star chambre d'hote is presided over by charming British ex-pats John and Lady Celine Nicholls, who have become friends as well. John gives me too much credit for their constantly booked rooms because I was able to get them listed on Trip Advisor after our visit last year. I think the flow of guests is more attributable to the beautifully appointed rooms - now four with more to come - great table d'hote that Celine prepares on request certain nights and location surrounded by what many consider the best white wine vineyards in the world.

Our day in Burgundy included a visit to the Chateau de La Rochepot, a modest pile by castle standards but fascinating nonetheless. Within the complex is a 12th century chapel, a small dungeon and some comfortable living quarters by the standards of the day. Yes, it's surrounded by a moat.

The grape harvest had just begun while we were there, with migrant pickers working the fields by day and staying who knows where (some in their cars and vans, I expect) at night. We saw one guy trudging back to town with a bottle of wine under his arm, a bonus perhaps?

As the signboard shown above attests, they had plenty of work ahead. This is near Saint-Romain, a small but typical village where families have been making wine for generations. This also is the location of Les Roches hotel and restaurant, where we stopped for an absolutely fabulous lunch - as good as anything we had in Paris.

I'm afraid clients of Like Living There have suffered a bit this past week, as we've been preoccupied with travel. Worse, the internet was out at our hotel in Geneva, so I'm writing this from the small chambre d'hote we found (after an exciting  over-the-river-and-through-the-woods drive) in Vaugines, Provence. Interestingly, the latest inquiries are for apartments in Paris, particularly for the holiday season.

Today will be spent moseying around Provence, probably toward Aix and then tomorrow we head to Barcelona. It will be nice to be anchored for six nights after five spent on the road. We're also looking forward to giving the clothes washers a good workout!