The drive to Cluny took us through woods and fields and many small villages. We saw many small herds of charolais cattle, the husky white beef cattle that are named after the region. We flew past the cattle so fast that none of my photos turned out. I found this one on line.
We were not in time to tour the Cluny Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in 910 (yes, 1101 years ago!), but we were taken by its grandeur. It is undergoing renovations to bring it back to its former glory. I wish I could take credit for this photo, but it came from a brochure.
The abbey was only the setting for the highlight of the morning --- meeting Bernard and Fabienne. Bernard and I (Kathie) had been corresponding for several months via email, leaning heavily on Google Translate. Bernard was delighted to have found the descendants of his ancestor who emigrated to Louisiana in the mid-1700s; Lloyd and I were delighted to have found a cousin who had researched the Daubard family in France. Bernard and Fabienne live near Lyon, southeast of the ancestral villages; we were coming from Dijon, north of the villages. Where to meet? Cluny was a good mid-point, so the entrance of the abbey became our target.
Bernard's gracious wife, Fabienne, and her daughter, Elsa, also came to greet us.
We very quickly got past the nervousness of communicating. We knew a little bit of French, and they knew a little bit of English. It worked. We had lunch in the courtyard of a nearby restaurant. Here is Elsa with Lloyd.
After lunch we set off for a hotel Bernard had reserved for us in Commelle Vernay. Fabienne drove our car, so Lloyd had a chance to enjoy the scenery without having to mind the road signs. We enjoyed more wooded hills and green valleys as we drove through the beautiful Loire Valley.
We arrived at La Domanial in the late afternoon and checked in. The view from our window was of the Loire River, which runs behind the hotel. This photo is from their brochure. The next two were taken out of the window of our room.
The party was to begin at 8 pm. Bernard recognized our weariness and sent us off to our room for a little nap before the festivities. In no time at all, it seemed, we were dressing for the party.
While we rested, Bernard and Fabienne and other family members organized a party to be remembered.
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