Cornimont

Trip Start May 01, 2008
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Trip End Jun 24, 2009


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Where I stayed
Giselle et Francois
(Paris hotels)

Flag of France  ,
Saturday, May 31, 2008

Lucette had arranged with her sister Giselle and husband Francois for us to stay with her in Lorraine in the north east of France.  They live in the most delightful little place called Cornimont, which is nearby a popular skiing area at La Bresse. The whole area is a maze of hills covered in bright green grass and a sprinkling of wildflowers (mostly yellow, purple and white) with lovely stone house or wooden chalets dotted at uneven intervals all over the hills, and he ever present majestic Sapin Tree, a beautiful tall pine.  Some of the tiny roads up the top of the hills are rather hairy when you meet a car coming the other way. Great for a game of chicken!  Roses seem to grow wild and flower prolifically, none better than the one in Gisele's driveway a highly perfumed fuchsia coloured tree rather than a bush. And the birds are everywhere, and singing at the top of their voices. H was thrilled to see a nest of baby Bergeronets in the wall of the swimming pool and get a great photo of them with their mouths wide open waiting for dinner Hohneck
Hohneck
 .  There are also a few cows in fields and I loved the special Vosges cows which are black and white with a large white saddle across their backs.
Francois & Gisele drove us around the area, to Hohneck near the Col de la Schlucht  (alt.1,362 metres) and up to the top of the mountain range at La Grande Ballon (1,424m ) from where you can see into Germany. There was still snow on the top of the mountain and as we walked up the clouds came down and engulfed us.  I expected to see my Mum and Dad at any minute! The boys ogled a group of Porches with Swiss and German numberplates, and bearing expensively dressed and coiffed ladies and gentlemen.  H took a special fancy to a bright orange one! Then a group of bikes arrived, mostly Hondas, and Suzukis, sorry no Ducatis Roy!, and roared off down the mountain past the poor cyclists who had managed to struggle up to the top were getting quite wet in the mist the clouds were bringing on the way down. H has been loving the fact that the cyclists are everywhere in this country, even on the highest mountains in the snow, and he takes every opportunity to have a chat with them.
That night we were treated to dinner of homemade quiche Lorraine - in the very region of its conception!
We had only intended staying one night here, but out kind hosts invited us to stay on and as we were really enjoying their company and the beautiful countryside and as our alternative was to head to the city, we gratefully accepted. The next day we had a drive to Lac des Corbeaux and walked around this picturesque glacial lake where Francois showed us how to look for amethyst on the shoreline, and on the way back Francois dropped the three of us off on top of the mountain and we walked back along paths past La Vierge (another huge statue of the Virgin) perched on top of the hill.
The path took us through grassy countryside and finished just near the F&G's driveway. What a lovely balade. Francois cooked guinea fowl - pintard - for lunch (the first time either of us had tasted it) and there was delicious smoked salmon entrée. We have given this establishment six stars!
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