I’ll fill you in on the title later, but go with me as it is a very cool trip…

Yesterday, Sunday, we had the opportunity to go to Versailles or take the day for personal time. I took personal time and hopped a train to Bouilly to meet my cousin, Anna Matheny Cartier.

Until yesterday Anna and I had only exchanged email and never spoken or met. She found me via the internet a few years back – using Google I guess – and since we’ve swapped a couple of emails per year. When I told her I had a free day she invited me to her home. Thank you Anna!

I can honestly say I think she has the coolest house I’ve ever been in. It is a traditional French farm home that was built in 1832. See the pictures I took and then pick your jaw up off the floor. It is a scene from a movie…

Anna’s husband, Jean, is a very talented photographer with a stunning body of work. Daughter Johanna (JoJo) and a son Pierre were there as well.  We looked at a few of Jean's collections including nature scenes from New York. He has more spectacular shots of the Bronx, Queens and Manhattan than I could believe…almost no buildings and all streams, waterfalls, lakes, swamps, trees and the like…just incredible. Who-da-thunk-it in NYC?

Anna and Jean met in New York and they moved to France when Jean was hired to document the remaining vestiges and people of World War One before they were lost forever. Jean later did similar work in Russia photographing the remnants of WWII. Very powerful and provoking!   Be sure to follow the link I've posted to his site. 

As fate would have it the man that escorted Jean across Russia when he was taking these pictures was visiting on the same day with his family. His name is Moussa and his wife Julie and son Alexis were both there too. So, we had our own international summit and I’m happy to report that we all love our kids. (You history buffs should know what I mean.)

Lunch was the best four hours yet...yes, I said four hours and it was cut short by the train schedule. 

We started with an aperitif in the courtyard behind their home. It was champagne, cheese bread, pretzels, and pistachios. It was here I learned that I had to either get married or get hung.

You see, the last drop of wine is a sad thing in France.  And when Jean poured me the last drop he expressed his grief by saying, “Sam, now you must get married or hung.” He then explained that one sad thing is followed by another and marriage and dying are two travesties on the same scale as running out of wine.  We all had a good laugh...

Another French tradition is that when you eat something new for the first time you get to make a wish. I learned this when the escargot was served, though I had eaten the little critters once before.

Anna's escargot (like the rest of the meal) was fabulous…brought to a slow boil eight times changing the water each time to cleanse the snails and then roasted in the shell with garlic, butter, and parsley. This was followed by barbequed rabbit in mustard sauce, potatoes, lambs leaf salad, and ice cream with berries. Of course wine was served throughout. Check out the pictures…

We talked for hours and I heard several jokes told in three different languages. Punch lines are universal.

I took the train back to Paris and reflected on a really good day…

I’ll tell you how the night and the next day went next time.

Au revoir for now.