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[PLEASE REMEMBER THAT ALL UNDERLINED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THIS TEXT ARE 
ACTIVE LINKS TO APPROPRIATE WEB SITES.  JUST CLICK ON ANY ONE OF THEM!]

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SPONSORING THIS ISSUE

Finding a hotel in Paris can be daunting - where do you begin?
A click on the link above will take you to EasyToBook's Paris pages where you 
will find a selection of fine hotels all offered at the lowest prices available.
EasyToBook also offers hotels in other cities in France and Europe. 

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  Château de Prauthoy 
in the
Champagne-Ardenne

A stunning classical jewel from the 18th and 19th century is Château de Prauthoy, centrally located between the vineyards of Champagne and Burgundy and near the historic sights and charm of Lorraine and Franche-Comté.  This bed and breakfast offers beautiful guest rooms and suites with air-conditioning and a just-completed apartment for three to five persons.

The heated swimming pool and small pond are just two of the attractions on the grounds of the estate.  More surprising might be the 'grotte' ~ an incredibly realistic recreation of a cave complete with stalactites and stalagmites ~ which is also the intriguing route to the château's wine tasting room!

Château de Prauthoy's location provides guests with a wide range of things to do and see in a variety of landscapes. For example, in Burgundy one can easily visit Dijon and its fine Musée des Beaux Arts, or Beaune and the historic Hôtel Dieu, or perhaps follow the Burgundy wine route from Beaune to Dijon.  In Champagne enjoy visits to and tastings at the famed vineyards and Champagne houses.

Guests will enjoy the opportunity to have dinner at the château with prior reservations, and, of course, breakfast each morning is included in the room rates.  Don't hesitate to learn more on our web site about this amazing château and imagine yourself as a guest here in 2009!

                        1. s'inquiéter                  a - to break
                          2. déranger                    b - to disturb
                            3. rêve                     c - to knock, to tap
                              4. toquer                      d - to worry, to be upset
                                5. pousser                    e - to dream
                                  6. casser                     f - to push

This newest member of our web site, Domaine des Faures,  is an inviting bed and breakfast on an organic farm in the popular Dordogne region of southwest France.  The warm honey-colored residence offers guests several en suite guest rooms, an apartment and the possibility to rent the entire property by the week between April 1 and December 26, 2009. 

Open all year as a B&B, guests will find the swimming pool delightful, the surrounding meadows very peaceful and the small herd of organic cattle a unique touch.  This property is one of our 'green' members, focusing on protecting the environment.

The guest rooms are simply decorated and very comfortable ~ and air conditioned for those who want to visit in the warmer months of the year.  Your host and hostess have renovated the property to a high standard incorporating geothermal heating and hiring local artisans to ensure that the renovation was in keeping with the historic nature of the building which was a former bastide.

If your destination is southwest France, you won't want to miss a few nights or more at Domaine des Faures!

Le Mans!  Just the name conjures up images of sporty little cars racing around a track for 24 hours!  Well, you can do the same following a 200-kilometer drive along scenic routes, ending on the Le Mans circuit ~ go any number of laps from 4 to 24! But, you won't be driving just any car ~ you'll have your choice of a Ferrari 430 or 599 GTB, a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera 530, or perhaps a Porsche 997 GT3! 

This three-day package of fun, exquisite accommodations and fine cuisine can be yours.  Visit our Special Offers page for more details and then contact info@chateaudelabarre.com for available dates and prices.  You will be glad you did!

For those of you who are more inclined to want to experience a Renaissance Easter, including a visit to Leonardo Da Vinci's Loire Valley home, Château de la Barre has just the package for you!  This 5-day adventure begins with a Champagne welcome on Thursday, April 9 and ends with a delightful brunch on Tuesday, April 14th.  In between you will visit the gardens at the magnificent Château de Villandry, tour Chenonceau castle, enjoy dinners at Château de la Barre as well as a unique Renaissance Gala dinner with musicians and magicians, attend Mass at a cathedral, go to market in Le Mans and tour the picturesque Loir Valley including the troglodyte village of Trôo.

Do contact Château de la Barre today  info@chateaudelabarre.comto make your reservations for this exceptional 5-night stay in an historic family residence. 

                        1. grenouille               a - intersection, junction
                          2. laverie                   b - receipt
                            3. sommeil                  c - laundry
                              4. croisement              d - skirt
                                5. quittance                e - frog
                                  6. jupe                       f - sleep

This is a simple, make-ahead recipe that is so delicious your family and friends will think its preparation was quite complex!

You will need 2 pounds (900g) of green asparagus, peeled, 1 medium onion thinly sliced, 3 cups (750 ml) of defatted chicken stock (heat first, let it cool and then skim fat off the top), 1/2 cup (125 ml) of plain yogurt, a pinch of celery salt, and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

Cut the asparagus into 1 inch (2.5 cm) pieces.  Place in saucepan with onion and stock, and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Put the mixture into your blender or food processor and purée.  Push the mixture through a sieve or strainer to remove any fibrous pieces.  Transfer back to the blender and add yogurt.  Season with celery salt and cayenne pepper and process until well blended.  Check the seasoning.  Refrigerate for two hours before serving.

This recipe, in small portions, will serve four.  Bon appétit!

Quiz 92 - 1d, 2b, 3e, 4c, 5f, 6a
Quiz 93 - 1e, 2c, 3f, 4a, 5b, 6d

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