Day 16 - Beaune

Continuing from earlier today, after we took our little siesta, we went to visit the famous Hospices de Beaune. We entered a huge square surrounded by Medieval building, from literally 1446. It made me feel like I was on set for Sword in the Stone. The buildings were amazing and each room had a function for helping the sick and the poor during that time.

There was an apothecary used to make medicines and garden to supply those herbs, a huge kitchen with a double fireplace and cauldrons which you can imagine bubbling over with hot stew, rooms with painted ceilings and tiny beds for the sick to rest. At the end was the famous painting of "The Last Judgement". It blew us away, along with medieval books in glass cases filled with beautiful scripture. It was an awesome experience.

Afterwards, we decided to try a wine tasting, after all we are in Wine Country! Oddly enough, we had a difficult time trying to find one that was open. Most likely because it's their off season. So we went to a wine bar and decided to have our own tasting. We met a family, who spoke very good English and had been there already for 7 hours! They let us in on a secret that the very bar we were in was closing down for good on Tuesday, so their bottles were extremely cheap! So we ordered two bottles - one white, one red. Both are normally 70 euros and were marked down to 20, and they were good! But we both agreed we were blown away, which was what we were kind of expecting.

Following the lead of our friends, we stayed for 3 hours, drinking wine and having great conversation.

All in all, our first day in Beaune was wonderful. This charming town has been an amazing refresher and our walks have been picturesque.

There are no plans set for tomorrow, as it is Sunday and a lot of places close down, but the weather is going to be sunny and warm!

Happy Travels my friends!

Keely