My family and I have a tradition of traveling every year for my dad’s birthday. My dad and his wife, my sister and her husband, and Jon and I have sipped wines in California, snorkeled with tortoises in the Caribbean… and this year? Our trip started and ended in Paris, with a week-long private barge trip through Burgandy sandwiched in between.
I know, I know. Dream come true. My dad has a pretty good track-record of picking bucket-list destinations for his birthday trips.
With the backdrop of France, this trip focused a lot on food and wine. Which, as you can imagine, is right up my alley. I ate and drank my way through Burgundy. I took lots of photos. I listened hard to all of what the wine experts had to say.
I retained very little of the knowledge. And, I gained nearly five pounds. #alas
A lot of our itinerary was planned for us through our river cruise line, which you can find more information about here. We were on Belmond’s Fleur de Lys, and although the boat was utterly delightful, the crew made the experience one of the best week of our lives. Everyone needs a Beverly in their lives. Everyone.
It’d be pretty hard to do Burgundy the wrong way. There are literally hundreds of fabulous wineries you can visit. Adorable towns every where you look. And there wasn’t a morsel of food I didn’t enjoy. But, I think the best way to convince you that a trip to Burgundy should be added to your bucket list is through photos.
Take a peek, enjoy, and ask any questions about my experience if you’d like to learn more!
A Visual Guide through Burgundy, France
Obligatory couple’s photo during the ‘golden hour.’
Jon captured this photo (and many, many others) with his drone.
Our final destination, Dijon, in al of it’s fall leaf glory.
We may or may not have lost and then found a dog named “Alan Baxter.” You can’t make that up.
If you know my BIL, Bo Bo, this photo needs no further explanation.
This was a typical lunch on the boat. Bring elastic waist band pants to return home in, folks. Consider yourself warned.
These were the best snails I’ve ever had. But I could probably eat anything bathed in basil and butter.
I totally nerded out with my camera in the market in Dijon.
I’ve never been so desperate to buy so much mustard, as I was in the Maille Mustard shop in Dijon.
Paul Day bronzed cows. And my fam. This is happiness.
Leaving the boat was hard, but with Paris as a consolation prize, we all survived.
We scheduled a shopping trip and in-home cooking class with a local chef while in Paris. It was both fun, funny, ridiculous, and ridiculously tasty.
Cooking class appetizer: Puff pastry stacked with roasted tomatoes, eggplant and goat cheese.
Cooking class main course: Sea scallops with sautéed leeks and apples with a cream foam.
Cooking class dessert: Candied figs with smoked bay leaves, apricot and whipped cream.
Au revior, France. Until we meet again!
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