It's about a 75 minute dive to the city of Bordeaux from our house, so we go a few times a year for the "big city" experience. And of course to have a bit of wine. There is one store in the middle of town that sells the good stuff, and is often crowded with wealthy Asian tourists who really seem to love the regional wine. The store is fun to visit because at its center is a tall spiral staircase, with the wines organized around it. At the lower levels, there are some very nice wines in my price range, and as you go higher, the bottles start getting more and more outrageously priced. Once you start seeing the 500 euro and up price tags, it's more like an exhibition of things that normal people will never own. At the 1k+ range, you are happy things are behind glass, as you'd be devastated to accidentally bump into one and break it.
Nice yarn, thanks. Among Italian wines the top two are Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino. Montalcino is beautiful medieval fortress/town on a Tuscan hilltop.
<img src="https://files.ctctcdn.com/fc601759001/94dbd976-ebbb-4839-a638-5f48f3540a4a.jpg"> There are more than 200 wineries in an around the town but as a rule they don't give tours. The stores full of dazzling viniferous treasures, though…to many to understand even for a wine collector. Some of the wineries have been bought up by big corporations, and others, like many in Napa, bought up by people who want a winery for vanity. But there are still plenty of old family businesses, one of the things Italy does well.
Years ago when I was getting to know the woman whom I eventually persuaded to become la signora_quarantanova, one of her Italian friends mentioned in passing that "of course every part of Italy is beautiful," and I wrote it off to native pride. Now I've seen a bunch of it, from Sicily and Puglia to Venezia and Sanremo and I have to say that it's true. The farmland countryside isn't as pretty as it is in Germany, where there's hardly any sprawl, but the lakes, coasts, mountains and cities―particularly the cities―are spectacular.
So I'd advise you to do so. Come visit us next summer.
It's silly, but I've never been to Italy. And we used to live in Lyon, so close! It's on my list. Will definitely let you know when we make the journey.
Only knew of him lately. I have a "FREE WINONA" t-shirt from long ago, and my musical co-conspirator said we should learn that song, and also "Looking at the Sun". So I did. Haven't played 'em since, but I know 'em.
I've seen him in concert a few times. The man performs with about a dozen guitars. And I'm not exaggerating. He has them lined up at the edge of the stage and swaps them out between (or even during) songs. Seems kinda pretentious to me, but maybe my ear is simply not refined enough to appreciate the subtle difference each instrument brings to the performance. Anyway, I still like him and his style of basic pop-rock.
One of my favorite French words is the word for "sunflower," which is tournesol, or "turn-sun." Poetic, non?
Coincidentally, it's sunflower blooming time here in the Charente, where they grow giant fields of 'em. It's purdy.
"The French don't have a word for 'entrepreneur' "- George W Bush
So close to Bordeaux. One hears they make wine there.
They've been known to.
It's about a 75 minute dive to the city of Bordeaux from our house, so we go a few times a year for the "big city" experience. And of course to have a bit of wine. There is one store in the middle of town that sells the good stuff, and is often crowded with wealthy Asian tourists who really seem to love the regional wine. The store is fun to visit because at its center is a tall spiral staircase, with the wines organized around it. At the lower levels, there are some very nice wines in my price range, and as you go higher, the bottles start getting more and more outrageously priced. Once you start seeing the 500 euro and up price tags, it's more like an exhibition of things that normal people will never own. At the 1k+ range, you are happy things are behind glass, as you'd be devastated to accidentally bump into one and break it.
Nice yarn, thanks. Among Italian wines the top two are Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino. Montalcino is beautiful medieval fortress/town on a Tuscan hilltop.
<img src="https://files.ctctcdn.com/fc601759001/94dbd976-ebbb-4839-a638-5f48f3540a4a.jpg"> There are more than 200 wineries in an around the town but as a rule they don't give tours. The stores full of dazzling viniferous treasures, though…to many to understand even for a wine collector. Some of the wineries have been bought up by big corporations, and others, like many in Napa, bought up by people who want a winery for vanity. But there are still plenty of old family businesses, one of the things Italy does well.
Ooh! I have to visit!
Years ago when I was getting to know the woman whom I eventually persuaded to become la signora_quarantanova, one of her Italian friends mentioned in passing that "of course every part of Italy is beautiful," and I wrote it off to native pride. Now I've seen a bunch of it, from Sicily and Puglia to Venezia and Sanremo and I have to say that it's true. The farmland countryside isn't as pretty as it is in Germany, where there's hardly any sprawl, but the lakes, coasts, mountains and cities―particularly the cities―are spectacular.
So I'd advise you to do so. Come visit us next summer.
It's silly, but I've never been to Italy. And we used to live in Lyon, so close! It's on my list. Will definitely let you know when we make the journey.
|Don't try that at home|
I love that album.
Only knew of him lately. I have a "FREE WINONA" t-shirt from long ago, and my musical co-conspirator said we should learn that song, and also "Looking at the Sun". So I did. Haven't played 'em since, but I know 'em.
I've seen him in concert a few times. The man performs with about a dozen guitars. And I'm not exaggerating. He has them lined up at the edge of the stage and swaps them out between (or even during) songs. Seems kinda pretentious to me, but maybe my ear is simply not refined enough to appreciate the subtle difference each instrument brings to the performance. Anyway, I still like him and his style of basic pop-rock.
Some sort of fetish, I imagine.
| Look into the sun |
Please. This is exactly what the aliens want you to think! Build the damn space wall!
Ah Sunflower
Ah Sunflower, weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the sun;
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveller's journey is done;
Where the Youth pined away with desire,
And the pale virgin shrouded in snow,
Arise from their graves, and aspire
Where my Sunflower wishes to go!
—— W Blake