DAY 263

Friday 30 March 2012

Nearby the bowling alley 

We woke up in the parking lot of the bowling alley and successfully got Wi-Fi outside the closed building. This allowed Nicole to check some e-mails, and find out that she had been accepted into Camp Kesem! Since she was too old to be a CIT (Counselor In Training) the UCLA staff had worked with the National Camp Kesem board to create a position for her as camp photographer and blogger. Nicole was as jubilant as Dian and Charles were proud.

A recreation of an old village. A little hard to tell,
but this was a treehouse 

Foie gras ducks

 Driving the five hours to Clermont Ferrand where the Trappist monastery was located, we got a bit lost and asked a woman for directions. It turned out she spoke perfect English (her husband was English) and she was able to give us good directions because she bought products from the monks all the time, including their famous cheese. She was a little surprised to hear we were staying there, because not many people do, and she wished us a good visit.


A natural stream curved near the monastery which complemented the simple yet tranquil landscaping and architecture of the inner walls. The buildings themselves were rebuilt in the 1800s in a colonial style, but were on foundations from the 12th Century. We were greeted by Father Basil who, being from America, spoke perfect English and was able to show us the layout. He asked if we had had lunch and we wisely admitted we hadn't. He checked with the kitchen staff, who then brought out a "modest repast" of fish, pasta, apples, coleslaw with tomatoes, Bordeaux wine, bread, apple juice, 3 of the monks' self-produced cheeses and a French specialty fromage blanc (rather like plain yogurt or sour cream, but very rich and creamy). Let it be said: the French know how to do it, even the monks with their humble lifestyle.

Father Basil pointed to our rooms

Guests are asked to fold their napkins back into the slot corresponding to their room

"Hey, if one of the nuns did it during dinner, why can't I?"

 We parked our van in the inner walls next to two blooming cherry trees, and took the opportunity to look through the picture gallery of photos from the monastery. They even had a room showing a 45-minute video on the monks' lives, inside the cloister and the chapel. Charles could walk around these places if he wished, but women were not allowed anywhere near the cloister or where the monks did work (in the fields or barn).

Brothers working. The monks' age ranged from early 20s-80s, with many young men.

From the video 

Model of the monastery

 Dian and Nicole rested in two wonderful rooms that had been prepared by the monastery housekeeper, fit with sinks in every room, a comfortable bed (pleasant surprise there), and lovely, hot showers. Charles went to vespers.

 Dinner was eaten in silence with two other guests (nuns?). Classical music played softly while we feasted on sweating blue cheese, swiss and brie, quiche, soup, fromage blanc, fresh bread, the monastery's own wheat germ (and wheat germ with chocolate), and of course, Bordeaux wine.

We took a walk (although we could have rolled just as easily) along the river and saw what we think were several otters at different times, which Nicole tried to capture on film (successfully...barely).

Reflection of the trees

Got it!

We went to bed early for the next day's 6:45 AM service.