I forgot to talk about last night’s meal. The owners started off with something foie gras that I couldn’t (and wouldn’t) eat before bringing out these unbelievable goat cheese and honey hors d’oeuvres…manoman. I ate three or four. Couldn’t stop myself.

We moved into the grand salon for the meal, and first up was this huge, delicious, amazing pile of prawns. I couldve left the table then and been happy with the food. There was also lots of wine flowing, as well as conversation…two families gathered around one huge table like that was quite an experience.

Next up was the main; most people had duck while Nellie and I had wolf fish (?), which was very tasty with some pepper on top. Dessert was…I can’t remember now. Not peach, not orange…eesh. Anyway, it was delightful. We brought more wine (and our hosts) to the table and chatted on into the night. Some of the transatlantic travelers began to fall off so we moved ourselves into the kitchen and stayed there ’til nearly 1AM.

Today’s been a lazy one. Nellie and I slept past 9, getting up for some pastries and a walk to the top of the hill (where you can see the Pyrenees in the distance). This place is a mosaic of rolling hills, farms, thickets, animals and chateaus, and it’s a very calming place.

Since this is the first real downtime I’ve had in months I’m enjoying the peace and quiet. Nellie and I are the only guests left here right now; everyone else is off in town or exploring the countryside. Me, I’m sitting in the courtyard, in clean air and perfect temperatures, nibbling a pain au chocolate, occasionally scratching O’Malley (the resident cat) while I write this up. I may play some ping-pong later, or I may sit by the pool. I may read in the petit salon or have a nap in my room. Or I may do absolutely nothing, and enjoy the hell out of it.

[tags]france, lartigolle, pyrenees[/tags]