Boyzz in Rioja & France 2019
Another summer, so time to go and visit Uncle Vic in France- where else can we visit en route? Well, there's always somewhere different in Rioja, the half way point. And then, Cognac sounds like an interesting, albeit boozy place, to spend a few days exploring/sampling
So, first stop the Echaurren Relais & Chateau hotel in Ezcaray
Click on thumbnails to enlarge
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Ultra modern room, but far from a Relais hotel. The pater liked its door!. Long walk to the river & hermitage, tapas en route |
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Their 65 euro Degustation meal was rubbish. Breakfast in the plaza was more to our liking. |
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Chais Monnet seemed the perfect hotel: luxurious room, super pool, free cocktail in the rooftop bar, but lost browny points for its dining experience. |
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Food was yummy( avoiding the buffet) - great prawms, chocolate & cognac baba postres- but crowded bistro surrounds & poor top staff in it |
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The serious business of sampling different cognacs led us to tour 4 different Cognac Distilleries
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Martell was a winner: good self guided tour, enthusiatic employee for the sampling, and.. both an old lorry & sidecar for us to ride on! |
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Thumbs down to Remy Martin in spite of a special train for us lads with short legs: security nuts & Chinese muppet with poor pronunciacion as guide |
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We liked Hennessy, both its boat ride & guide Meghan. Also enjoyed the Cognac town museum |
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And Baron Otard was great, with Sabine as our guide. Nice french lady in the shop too - bought some pate to pig out on later |
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Then om in the pouring rain to Uncle Vic's: this year he had bought 3 wheelbarrows for the price of two
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Settled to have lunch indoors. Out offer of help was declined in making fish cakes- Gaynor said our fur would get sticky! |
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Then back south to Brinas, Rioja again. the Palacio Tondon had great views iver the Ebro and scrumptious food, albeit sub parr staff |
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Next day we sampled wines in the Gomez Cruzado & Rioja Alta Bodegas, then walked past all the Bodegas |
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into Haro with its many statues before walking back to the Bodegas & sampling more wine in Muga's |
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And after another yummy dinner, it was back home the next day to await being allowed out on out next adventure
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