My dears. Be Prepared. To be smashed. With French delights !!! “Vivre comme un Dieu en France”: This cliché is actually very true. Despite all the fuss about the French and travelling in France (“They only speak French! They expect you to do the same.” 😉 ), it is always such a pleasure to be here. I just love France. Really, I do. It certainly helps I can communicate with them though, haha: “Il faut absolument que tu reviennes. C’était trop chouette de t’avoir …” Of course I will be back, dear family! But for now, let’s indulge in the beauty of travelling with the locals – my local family! – in the very heart of France, Limoges: It is here where my friend Anne-Laure lives together with her mum, sisters and friends. During this one weekend in May, we all gathered to celebrate her 29th birthday. Only just start imagining the DIVINE amount & quality of food being served for this occasion … I truly felt like “God in France!” Come on then and enjoy taking this culinary friendship walk with me 😉
PS: The photos are not photoshopped, nor have they been enhanced in any other possible way. What you see is what “I got”, in this case. 😉 Heavens !!
PPS: My best tip on this occasion: Go local. It seriously is the BEST WAY OF TRAVELLING.
Off we go: For starters, everybody has brought a round of delicious French appetizers to the the table.
I cannot remember the name of these beauties, but it was a kind of meat pâté wrapped in millefeuille dough … lovely.
The Girls! At the far right, my beautiful friend Anne-Laure (check out her world travel blog at http://pins-and-needles-in-legs.com !), in the middle Maman Martine and sister Claire, on the left.
Altogether, about twenty family members of Anne-Laure and her boyfriend Julien gather for Anne-Laure’s birthday that weekend. I am busy eating. Naturally!
It is birthday cake time !!! (Some things never change, no matter where you are in this world.)
The cake is a real beauty, though …
On the second day, we are served “Kirsch” (cherry) spirit as a starter on the sunny terrace of Julien’s house in the countryside …
… followed by a tasting of Port & more! Oh how I love the French “apéritif culture” 😀
The family house on the outskirts of Limoges: Would you not like to come here for a holiday?! Just too beautiful!
Meet a real French family over drinks & hugs!
More (incredibly good!) food served to us on this special birthday occasion …
… really enjoying the spicy French mustards, too!
Sweet delights … my God. All these calories will last me for at least one week 😀
And there is more to come! Beautiful.
The girls go for a walk in the countryside …
… love you darling!
Julien’s family has a farm, so we visit the newborn members of the family!
Back in town, Anne-Laure’s friend Claire Chadelaud is about to open her very own café, “Au Coin Des Halles”! Be sure not to miss it next time you are in Limoges, “at the corner of Les Halles market”.
I cannot stop taking pictures of my beautiful French friend Anne-Laure. 😀 Stay the way you are, dear !
With my Frenchies Anne-Laure and her friend Claire!
A little later, we visit the mighty cathedral of Limoges and capture the beauty of the moment on this late sunny afternoon in May.
Mornings are best started by a visit of “La Fabrique Du Café” in the centre of Limoges.
Here, the owner grinds his own coffee filling the air with beautiful aromas: “This is why I have taken you here”, Anne-Laure smiles.
The latte we order tastes just wonderful, too. Easy morning delight.
For lunch, we improvise with this beautiful salad complimented by cheese, baguette and red wine. Naturally!
I cannot believe how lucky I am … My life? My work? My travels 😀
French Apéritif: Typically started around 8 pm and followed by dinner around 9 – 10 pm, complimented by more cheese and wine towards midnight … “Of course, we don’t do this every day.” (But every other day, hehe.)
Planning the next (round the world?) trip with Anne-Laure.
Just SCHÖN ! 😀 Thank you for following us: The French are actually quite wonderful, aren’t they? Have I mentioned I loved France before? Right, I have. 😉
2 comments
Hi Elena,
Searching for information about Limoges, I found this post from you. Looks like a wonderful trip.
We will leave for Limoges the day after tomorrow. I’m always searching for tips that are not in the touristic folders. Are there places (for lunch, dinner, to go with kids, for good shopping) you or your French friend can recommend?
Thanks,
K
Dear Kristel,
Thank you so much for your comment! Of course, I could give you the following tips for instance:
– In Limoges, you should visit the recently opened café “Au Coin Des Halles” (it is literally at the corner of famous Les Halles market!) and very cute, the owner’s name is Claire Chadelaud please say hi to her as she is a wonderful friend of Anne-Laure, my friend in France!
– Also, go to the cafe “La Fabrique Du Café” which I describe in this article, as it is fantastic and the owner roasts his own coffee !
– For more information, you can always contact my friend Anne-Laure directly through her website at http://www.pins-and-needles-in-legs.com
Hope this was useful to you !!
Enjoy Limoges & France 🙂