Lyon

Domaine De Gorniton

Missy and Ramses

Our 17th Century Dining Hall

Fascinating Dinner Conversation

My Exercising Paid Off!

From Paris we loaded up the car to head to Chasse Sur Rhone where we were to stay at Domaine de Gorniton, a working farm run by Jacqui and Jean, a couple in their eighties whom we had first met nine years ago in 2003, on our thirtieth wedding anniversary trip. We were almost newlyweds, but too young to know it.

Their place is absolutely charming, with five rooms that have been carved out of the outbuildings, and a main farmhouse that stays true to form as an old French chateau.

Melissa absolutely fell in love with their massive mastiff, a cross between a lab and a great dane, and the love was mutual. This beast followed her everywhere she went, into her bedroom, out the door, or if she had been gone for a moment, would race towards her at breakneck speed to greet her and demand the affection he was due.

Our first night at the DdG, we ate with the other guests in the 17th century stone alfresco dining nook capable of seating at least twenty. We started with aperitifs in the garden, with antipasti by Jean (who was a baker of some renown by trade). Our dinner partners were Graham and Suzy, Tina and David, Sophie and Francois, as well as our hosts Jean and Jacqui. Quite the table as Graham, David and Francois were all Doctors, and Francois and Sophie were on their way across Europe on a BMW motorcycle! Needless to say, the language barrier did not prevent us from having a night full of great food (Jean's Roast Pork was outstanding), great wine from the estate and great conversation. I was honoured to be asked to bring in the dinner as Jean said he was no longer strong enough and needed the "Canadian with Muscles" to carry it in!

Our second day we headed back to Lyon and found “Old Lyon” - where no cars are allowed, and the streets are jammed with tables for the ubiquitous cafes, bars and restaurants. After walking through the city and soaking up the beautiful architecture and scenery, we settled down to a dinner at a curbside cafe.

No sooner had we finished our antipasto and started on our primi, than there was a loud bang and a pigeon fell to the ground beside our table. Apparently it must have hit a window in the cathedral above us. As the streets were teeming with pedestrians, children, people with dogs, cats without people, I walked over and picked it up and put it safely on a ledge. Although we tried to feed it bread and give it water, that couldn't overcome its obviously broken neck and we watched its final moments as it shuddered and fell off the ledge to lie still on the ground.

For some reason this affected us all and the three of us returned to DdG a little bit quieter, but still very impressed with the beauty of old Lyon.