Rape Cheese

Yes, it's an actual type of cheese and it is molding in our refrigerator, accompanied by the infamous purple lettuce, tomatoes, more cheese and whatever else that is or has developed (I dare not look in further).

Chateau de Chantilly!

We took the bus to the small town of Chantilly where this great chateau is known for its interior Musee Conde, which is acclaimed as one of France's greatest art galleries next to the Louvre. The "Painting Room" itself contained Poussins, Raphaels, Delacroixs and the like. I appreciated that the structure and placement of the items in the rooms remained as they were when the chateau was inhabited, but it was a little overwhelming; so much great art stacked tall and wide, all right next to one another in a huge barrel vaulted hall. I felt that if you had taken one single painting out of that room and placed it in a space of its own, it would be a striking sight, demanding all of your attention.

We had a brief guide-led tour of the interior apartments of the chateau that was cut short to break for lunch before the horse show, thankfully because I was lightheaded cross-thinking, "What if I fainted in a chateau? In the 'monkey room' of Chantilly, perhaps?" That's my own fault for not eating due to sick non-hunger, though my body wanted food enough (dinner Nutella and this morning's double grocery hunt for apple and Special K does not count for substance).

Lunch and coffee was amazingly good and so cheap - Marian got a combined sandwich, eclair and water bottle for about € 5,20. To be honest, I'm not sure if the food was really good itself, if it was just my hunger or maybe the two combined (probably the latter).

{Journal Note: Sandwich bread was 1/2 of a baguette; mayonnaise!; huge mug of very good au lait for € 3,10}.

We meant to walk through the gardens in the afternoon but it started to torrential downpour. I'm really going to miss an average high of 65 degrees.

One of our assignments here is to make homemade yogurt (without a yogurt maker) from the recipe in French Women Don't Get Fat. When we came back to the apartments, we cooked and attempted; the yogurt will now be sitting for 8 hours under a desk lamp.

http://www.youtube.com/user/FriendsOfMireille#p/u/16/O2N9xlnyeso

We shall see the turnout tomorrow.