Oupia, France April 8-10, 2011

We spent a wonderful weekend with longtime friends, Steve and Dianne, from our days in Grande Prairie, Alberta in their lovely rental house in the village of Oupia, west of Narbonne, in the south-west of France (Languedoc-Rousillon province). Their renovated farmhouse was bright and spacious and could sleep at least 6 people. The weather was perfect-warm, sunny and clear blue skies. The pool wasn't open yet but it must be a welcome addition on those hot summer days!





























Dinner al fresco just after our arrival in nearby Aigne: Steve, Steph, Dianne and Pat














The next day a tour of the surrounding countryside led us to the town of Minerve on the steep banks of the Cesse River. On the way, a working windmill:














Vineyards just starting to show a little green





























A graveyard...New Orleans style, above ground














Lunch at Auberge de la Croisiere beside the Canal du Midi














On the restaurant grounds














The Canal, still early for boat traffic














Appetizer of foie gras














Dessert tasting selection




























Minerve














Pat, Steph, Dianne and Steve



































































































Dinner on our last evening-tasty BBQ "calcots" with romesco sauce brought from Catalunya for our hosts! (Not worms, but rather a cross between a small leek and a spring onion!)














A lovely relaxing weekend and a perfect chance to catch up with Steve and Di. Our thanks to you both! We'll have to do it again sometime, somewhere!

Hasta luego...

Montblanc, Catalunya March 6, 2011

Named Montblanc (White Mountain), originally due to a lack of green vegetation, the town today, set amidst lush vineyards and abundant fields, can only be compared to a fairy tale kingdom. Built on top of a hill in the 11th century as a safeguard against flooding from the nearby rivers, Montblanc maintains its old world atmosphere within high medieval walls.

According to the Catalan historian, Joan Amades, the walls of Montblanc are the origin of Catalonia's most famous legend Sant Jordi, celebrated throughout Catalunya on the 23rd of April. The story tells how a wicked dragon from a nearby lake terrorized the village, devouring all the far animals until there were none left. The dragon then demanded one of the villagers on condition that he would vacate the town. The villagers agreed, drew lots and the King's daughter was selected as the sacrificial victim. Only minutes before the princess, dressed in white, was about to be eaten by the dragon, a young knight appeared on horseback, speared the dragon with his sword and saved the princess. Where the dragon fell, a rose bush appeared with red roses the colour of the dragon's blood. The knight plucked a rose and gave it to the princess before riding off out of the gates and into the sunset.

To commemorate this legend, on the day of Saint Jordi, men traditionally give women a rose while females give males a book. Although this might seem slightly unfair, the atmosphere throughout Catalunya on the 23rd of April can not help but impress. The epicenter of this festive activity is, of course, at Montblanc where the party lasts an entire week. During the final week of April, this festival livens up the streets of Montblanc in a whirl of colourful events.

Pat and I visited Montblanc upon returning home from our overnight stay in Siurana (see blog posted on May 8th). We didn't realize until later in the Spring, the enormous significance of the town to the legend of Sant Jordi, which I have printed above. To be sure, the town was decorated for Mardi Gras celebrations as the Festival of Sant Jordi would not be held for another few weeks.

The town as seen from afar:














A map of the walled city:














Front entrance of the Church in Montblanc





















































Coffee break in the main square





























A local chocolate shop-note the "fried eggs"!



















Florist shops are usually open on Sunday mornings



















Medieval streets



















Public water source



















Another Church on the outskirts of town




















Hasta luego...

Dr. Stephanie L. Bourque, M.D.

Graduation from LSU Medical School was held over two days, May 18 and 19, 2011. Pat and I left Barcelona on Friday, May 13th and spent four days at our Lakehouse in New Brunswick, before heading to New Orleans for this special occasion. Jen and Ben stayed with Steph and Lou so we rented a room in the Hotel Prytania Oaks, which was very comfortable. Here are the highlights from the week!

Steph with her friend, Catherine, after hooding ceremony on May 18th, outside the UNO Arena



















Steph and Lou with her award, the 14th annual Maimonides Ethics Award, as nominated by her graduating class and elected by the Faculty of LSU.



















Sisters: back-to-back! Steph and Jen



















The 137th Commencement of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center on May 19th with some 600+ graduates!














Post-ceremony pictures in the back yard: Pat, Steph and Kathie














Tout le gang: Lou, Pat, Steph, Kathie, Jen and Ben














Steph with our longtime friends, Dr. Shelley and Brian














Rising waters on the Mississippi during our visit: the Bonnet Carre spillway was opened and we went to take a look














Mississippi River side of the spillway














With most of the bays opened to release the water from the river, torrents spewed forth into the swamplands, eventually finding their way to Lake Pontchartrain














Girls' long weekend at the Hilton Sandestin Hotel on the Gulf Coast of Florida: sun, beach, pool, outlet mall and a half-day spa!














The famous white "sugar" sand of the Florida Panhandle...oh so soft and clean!














Steph and Jen at sunset on the beach














Steph, Lou and I went to our old house in Slidell to pick up lumber (pine and oak) stored in the garage attic since 2000. It came from our property on Pineview Road in Brockville, cut and planed in 1984. Lou will haul it to Denver and begin some wood-working projects for their new home!



















4519 S. Derbigny Street in Broadmoor, Steph's home for four years while in Med School














Steph and Lou among packing boxes on their way to a final dinner at Commander's Palace














Bread pudding souffle at Commander's says it all














Happy Trails, both of you! XOXOX

Hasta luego...

Overnight in Siurana, March 5, 2011

We enjoyed our second annual "calçotada" in Cornudella de Montsant with Pat's colleague from Coty, Joan, his wife Marie-Angels and sons Joan and Oriol at the summer home of Joan's parents. Joining us again were Enric, Mary and their baby daughter, Lucia, as well as some other friends. Joan booked us into the very beautiful Hotel Mirador in Siurana on Saturday night, at the top of the hill overlooking Cornudella and the valley. The view was amazing and the weather perfect! What will we do without calçots when we have to leave Spain?!?

The Hotel Mirador from a distance














And from the driveway














Front entrance of the hotel from our bedroom window

























































The sunny restaurant overlooks the valley




























The area is popular with rock climbers...you can see why, given the surrounding terrain!










































Hasta luego...