Mirela's Excellent Adventure Through Europe:

Kristin and Patricia:  The picture of the grapes was taken at the Rothschild winery.  My boyfriend is a wine aficionado and connoisseur.  He has a culinary arts degree and has been teaching me about wine and food.  Although I am not a wine connoisseur, I know what I like when I taste and smell it.  My family used to make a rich and wonderful red wine in Romania.  Kids are allowed to have a bit of wine and beer.  It is not illegal.  We were not given full glasses, only sips, or they used to combine it with "sifon" (like club soda or mineral water - called a "spritz").  Good red wine brings back pleasant memories from my childhood, memories of warm gatherings with friends, good food, lots of animated talk, joke telling and fun.  Although I had not expected it, I became quite fascinated with the wineries and the science of making this "Nectar of the Gods". 

I plan on going back to Bordeaux and taking some wine classes, which they offer in Bordeaux.   The French are such lovely and interesting people.  They talk a lot and it's not chatter; they delve into all sorts of deep subjects with regularity.  They are animated, passionate and warm.  I love their language, their food, their temperament, their wine, their customs. 

The French love Americana.  They love Marlon Brando.  I was on another trip in Cannes, France, in July 2004, when he passed away and the French were very sad about it and paid him such loving respects.  It was impressive. 

I got carried away here...  Thanks for bringing it up in me!  Love those grapes too!

Chris, welcome back!  I missed you too!  Will you be back for the chat on Wednesday?

I saw that invite on my blackberry and although I have a page on Facebook, I have no clue on how to work it.  I have it on my to do list for this week; I'm having my assistant teach me how to do it. 

Kristin and Patricia:  I took the picture of the dusty bottles of wine at one of the wineries we visited because I thought it was quite a feat to have bottles from 1937 to 1945, when World War II ravaged through Europe.  They had wine in the vault from the late 1800's on up.  Remarkable!  Some of those bottles are too expensive to comprehend...

BTW, I forgot to mention that we caught Woody Allen filming a movie in Barcelona while we were there.  I think the movie just came out, or is coming out.  Here is a picture of it.  Woody is the one in the blue shirt with the hat on.

We actually had to come back later that day and take a picture in front of the fountain, where hours earlier, Woody occupied it with his film crews.

Larry:  Happy Anniversary!  I love Asheville!  I've never stayed at the Richmond Hill Inn.  I'll have to check it out.  We usually rent a cabin in the mountains by Lake Lure. 

You'll have a great time.  You are visiting the Biltmore, right?

Here is an upcoming travel blog for you - St. John:

Susan:  Thank you!  As an inveterate tomboy, I knew something was up when the boys stopped wanting to fight me and started being so nice...

Barcelona 1989...  swings...  just how old were you?

I am feeling ancient here; I was trekking through Europe in the early eighties as a young woman discovering the world.   My boyfriend...  he was swinging in the playground at that time also...  I feel OLD!