Route des Grands Crus, Burgundy
The vines were beautiful in the late-afternoon sunshine
Route des Grands Crus, Burgundy
Colorful fall vines near Beaune
Route des Grands Crus, Burgundy
Simply trying to get a good shot of the 'Route des Grands Crus' sign, Caroline got this shot of the 'Sister City Sonoma,CA' sign!
Route des Grands Crus, Burgundy
Grape harvesters were out in full force during our visit
Route des Grands Crus, Burgundy
Tiled roofs AND vines - bonus!
Beaune, France
View from our room at the Hotel de la Cloche
Beaune, France
Lovely exposed beams and stonework in our room at the Hotel de la Cloche
Beaune, France
Scott passes by the plain exterior of the Hotel Dieu, the medieval charity hospital. Note the barrel displaying wine - these marketing tools were everywhere in this super-wine town!
Beaune, France
We LOVED looking in the display windows of the amazing delis all over Burgundy! (And no, we did not try the tripe in aspic pictured here!)
Beaune, France
Close enough to Germany to have a Route 66 Pub on the main square - the Germans love this stuff!
Beaune, France
Scott enjoys a cold one at a cafe next door to the Route 66
Beaune, France
The delicious AND charming Piqu'Boeuf Restaurant near our hotel
Beaune, France
Enjoying a Haute Cote at the Piqu'Boeuf
Beaune, France
At the Piqu'Boeuf
Outside Beaune, France
On the road to La Rochpot Chateau, we were able to find some grapes still on the vine - most of the vines had been harvested prior to our arrival
Outside Beaune, France
Lovely vines, on the road to La Rochepot Chateau
Puligny-Montrachet, near Beaune, France
Bronze statue in the famous wine town of Puligny-Montrachet on the Route des Grands Crus
Puligny-Montrachet, near Beaune, France
Scott helps out with a little heavy lifting
Outside Beaune, France
Misty landscapes on the road to La Rochpot
Outside Beaune, France
Finally, we spot the lovely La Rochepot Chateau in the distance
Outside Beaune, France
La Rochepot, up-close but closed.
Outside Beaune, France
La Rochepot Chateau
Hautes Cotes de Beaune, France
Vistas over Burgundy
Hautes Cotes de Beaune, France
Vistas over Burgundy
Beaune, France
In the cave at Marche au Vins
Beaune, France
Let the tasting begin!
Beaune, France
Wine tasting in the cave at Marche au Vins
Beaune, France
Caroline strolls among the barrels at Marche au Vins
Beaune, France
Wine tasting in the cave at Marche au Vins
Beaune, France
The wine tasting continues upstairs at the 15th C. Marche au Vins
Beaune, France
Scott demonstrates incredible stamina and endurance in his tasting abilities
Beaune, France
Scott admires the magnums while sipping from his tastevin at Marche aux Vins
Beaune, France
Back at the room with our purchase
Beaune, France
Displaying our wine purchase on our cute twin beds, the only room they had left!
Beaune, France
A man and his wine
Beaune, France
Caroline poses with the wine purchase
Beaune, France
Holy baguettes! Caroline poses with the giant loaves in the indoor portion of the Beaune Saturday market
Beaune, France
Sausage, anyone?
Beaune, France
Mushroom display at the Saturday market
Beaune, France
Bountiful produce even in October at the Saturday market!
Beaune, France
Did we mention it was cold and rainy?
Beaune, France
Olives! At the Saturday market
Beaune, France
Truffles for sale at the Saturday market - the white slips of paper list the individual price of each truffle
Beaune, France
Garlic, shallots, onions galore at the Saturday market!
Beaune, France
Olives!
Beaune, France
Cheese vendor at the market
Beaune
Wine press at the Wine Museum (free section)
Beaune, France
We snacked on a little pate en croute from the Saturday market. It would have been better had it not been ice-cold...
Beaune, France
Charming courtyard of the Hotel Dieu, the local medieval charity hospital, now a museum
Beaune, France
Charming courtyard of the Hotel Dieu, the local medieval charity hospital, now a museum
Beaune, France
Main room of the Hotel Dieu, the local medieval charity hospital turned museum
Beaune, France
The room of the Hotel Dieu for patients with means, fewer beds and decorated with ornate paintings all over the walls
Beaune, France
Scott enjoys a Ricard (pastis) with lunch from time to time
Beaune, France
A casual lunch on the square
Beaune, France
The river through town, used as waste removal by the charity hospital
Beaune, France
Dinner and a pichet at our favorite cafe in Beaune, Cafe le Carnot
Beaune, France
Dinner and a pichet at our favorite cafe in Beaune, Cafe le Carnot
Beaune, France
Enjoying oeufs en meurette (eggs in red wine sauce) at Cafe le Carnot
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Our luxurious and comfortable room at the Hotel Pavillon des Lys
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
View of the chateau from our bathroom window at the Pavillon des Lys
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
View of the chateau from our bathroom window at the Pavillon des Lys
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Hotel Pavillon des Lys
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Town center in Amboise
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Hilltop view of town and the Loire River in the background
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Footrace!
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Scott poses in front of the Loire River
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Caroline, looking puffy wearing ALL of her warm layers, poses on the bridge over the Loire with the chateau in the background
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Loire River
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Incredible tasting menu - yes, we ate all of it - at the Pavillon des Lys
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Tastefully decorated landing below our floor at Hotel Pavillon des Lys
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Tastefully decorated landing below our floor at Hotel Pavillon des Lys
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
View from our bathroom window, in the sun this time!
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Town center
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Savoring our final cafes cremes before heading back to Paris
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Yes, more cats!
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
I think they're getting annoyed with the crazy lady taking pictures...
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Formerly a private mansion, the Hotel Pavillon des Lys
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
The gorgeously renovated Hotel Pavillon des Lys
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Hotel Pavillon des Lys, looking into the elegant salon, where we enjoyed a Montlouis or two the previous evening
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
The tranquil, sun-dappled pathway leading to Chenonceau Chateau
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
Chenonceau Chateau (note the lack of other tourists in our photo!)
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
Scott poses, alone, in front of the chateau
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
Chenonceau, constructed over the lovely River Cher
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
Chenonceau, constructed over the lovely River Cher
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
One of the many rooms with a view over the river at Chenonceau
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
The elegant and grand Gallery at Chenonceau
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
Scott runs to pose for a photo in the Gallery
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
Caroline poses with the largest of the many fresh, seasonal floral arrangements found throughout the chateau
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
The kitchen, complete with boar's head
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
The kitchen, complete with boar's head
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
Boar's head, hung above meat hooks in the kitchen at Chenonceau
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
Seasonal arrangement adorning what would have been the chateau staff's dining table
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
The chateau gardens still had lovely blooms in mid-October
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
The residents of Chenonceau's 'donkey field'
Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France
The labyrinth
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Our final lunch before returning to Paris to fly home
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Scott's delicious Croque Madame
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Caroline's rillette sandwich came only with a bag and not a plate since it was on the "snack" menu, but was tasty nonetheless
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
A parting walk over the Loire
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
Au revoir Chateau d'Amboise!
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
We couldn't resist another photo when the sun came out!
Amboise, Loire Valley, France
The Loire River in the rare October sunshine
Outside Paris, France
Unfortunately, our last night in Paris was hardly something to write home about...