Day 2
Here we go again. Had to wait about 20 minutes to speak with a schoolmistress–like lost baggage woman, who at first practically told me the bags were on the carousel and I just missed them.
But for some reason she warmed up to me and spent about 20 minutes with her going over our baggage receipts, boarding passes, future places of stay, etc
But for some reason she warmed up to me and spent about 20 minutes with her going over our baggage receipts, boarding passes, future places of stay, etc
Once she found out we were staying at Chateau Mercuès, she decided she really liked me. She had no idea where the bags were. I told her we had the same problem the last time we flew into Toulouse 3 years ago. Yes, she joked, but they installed a new baggage handling system at Charles De Gaulle since then, and improved it a year ago. Twenty four kilometers of tracks for the baggage. Can’t you see the improvement?
She said her only obligation for the first 24 hours was to give me a toiletry kit, but since she was out of kits, she would just go ahead and give us Euros.
I was thinking about $20 would be about right. She looked up the rate for people traveling from Newark. It was about 115€. I thought – hey – about $110 is pretty damn good, then she said, “I’ll write you a check for 230€, since it’s 115€ per person! I reminded her that there were 3 of us, and she ended up writing a check for 345€, but had no idea when our bags would arrive.
I walked out of the office and told the biking Dad about the deal we got. Madame came out of her office and said “M. Siebenheller, I have a message about your bags!”
She told me the bags were coming in at 2:45, and they would be brought to the Chateau some time in the future, exactly when unknown. Still, we were 345€ richer, and our bags still existed.
Waited on 2 more lines, got our 345€ in cash, got another 100€ from the ATM just to test the ATM card. Then stopped at the bar for 3 sandwiches to go and 3 Cokes, and hit the road in our Renault Scenic mini-minivan.
Took the un-scenic route out of town (we had no map), and headed to Cahors, about 1 hour north.
Hit bumper-to-bumper traffic outside of Cahors, while Jill and Kristen snored. This is our first time in Europe in the summer… bummer.
Finally got into Cahors about 1 p.m., after eating in the car. Hey, I can sit in traffic in New Jersey, I don’t want to do it here.
Went through Cahors and did a drive-by of the Pont Valentré to show it to Kristen. Just like the poster in my office. But no parking to be found, and no driving on the bridge anymore… bummer.
By this time, I was fading fast, so we found a LeClerc and bought 3 bathing suits so we could at least use the Chateau’s pool. A little ugly, but hey, they’ll work
She said her only obligation for the first 24 hours was to give me a toiletry kit, but since she was out of kits, she would just go ahead and give us Euros.
I was thinking about $20 would be about right. She looked up the rate for people traveling from Newark. It was about 115€. I thought – hey – about $110 is pretty damn good, then she said, “I’ll write you a check for 230€, since it’s 115€ per person! I reminded her that there were 3 of us, and she ended up writing a check for 345€, but had no idea when our bags would arrive.
I walked out of the office and told the biking Dad about the deal we got. Madame came out of her office and said “M. Siebenheller, I have a message about your bags!”
She told me the bags were coming in at 2:45, and they would be brought to the Chateau some time in the future, exactly when unknown. Still, we were 345€ richer, and our bags still existed.
Waited on 2 more lines, got our 345€ in cash, got another 100€ from the ATM just to test the ATM card. Then stopped at the bar for 3 sandwiches to go and 3 Cokes, and hit the road in our Renault Scenic mini-minivan.
Took the un-scenic route out of town (we had no map), and headed to Cahors, about 1 hour north.
Hit bumper-to-bumper traffic outside of Cahors, while Jill and Kristen snored. This is our first time in Europe in the summer… bummer.
Finally got into Cahors about 1 p.m., after eating in the car. Hey, I can sit in traffic in New Jersey, I don’t want to do it here.
Went through Cahors and did a drive-by of the Pont Valentré to show it to Kristen. Just like the poster in my office. But no parking to be found, and no driving on the bridge anymore… bummer.
By this time, I was fading fast, so we found a LeClerc and bought 3 bathing suits so we could at least use the Chateau’s pool. A little ugly, but hey, they’ll work
Pulled into Chateau Mercuès (Mer-cue-ESS) about 2 to a friendly welcome. Explained our baggage difficulties to the Proprietor – he said “C’est normal”. The bags will arrive tomorrow a.m. and we can wear our (grungy) clothes to dinner – no problem.
Our room was on the top floor of the Chateau, overlooking the inner courtyard (where dinner was served), and more spectacularly, the Lot river several hundred feet below.
Immediately hit the pool for a couple of hours of R&R. Kristen and Dad splashed around and we enjoyed the (hot) sun.
Back to the room for a 2 hour nap, (the deepest sleep I’ve had in years), then awoke at 7:30 for dinner in the courtyard at 8.
Dave – foie gras, pork molded in a terrine kind of thing, cheese (wow), and a tarte de fraises (strawberries) and a white cheese sorbet with a sweet basil sauce (wow). Jill – green salad, same pork, dessert – wow! Kristen – tagliatelle pasta with Parmesan, pistachio ice cream, (excellent). Overall one of the best meals we’ve ever had.
Finally fell asleep at 1 a.m. (Kristen included) listening to the clink of the staff setting tomorrow’s breakfast dishes in the courtyard.
Day 3 >>>
Immediately hit the pool for a couple of hours of R&R. Kristen and Dad splashed around and we enjoyed the (hot) sun.
Back to the room for a 2 hour nap, (the deepest sleep I’ve had in years), then awoke at 7:30 for dinner in the courtyard at 8.
Dave – foie gras, pork molded in a terrine kind of thing, cheese (wow), and a tarte de fraises (strawberries) and a white cheese sorbet with a sweet basil sauce (wow). Jill – green salad, same pork, dessert – wow! Kristen – tagliatelle pasta with Parmesan, pistachio ice cream, (excellent). Overall one of the best meals we’ve ever had.
Finally fell asleep at 1 a.m. (Kristen included) listening to the clink of the staff setting tomorrow’s breakfast dishes in the courtyard.
Day 3 >>>