In Dijon now and it rains and rains
 

Please tell me what to do for someone without car. I am staying at Coco's flat. Let me tell you, it is very good experience. Her flat gives me a home feeling. She is such an attentive landlady. However, I still have to do my own things. I checked out all the touristing things to do in the centreville. What else? It is supposed to rain for the next few days.

Ask coco - no one knows more than she on the Dijon area! Take a train to nearby Beaune, lovely wine town or to Nuits Saints Georges - smaller wine town with famous Burgundy wineries. Lap up the Dijon mustard. If all else fails get soused on Burgundy wine.

You didn't research things to do on Fodors before leaving?!

I read somewhere that there are 8 museums in Dijon. Do they have tours? I could spend hours in a museum with a tour guide.

Any cooking classes available? Wine tasting?

We are going to do Beaune tomorrow. I realized now that when I come back here, I need a car. I thought that there might be other suggestions.

Go to Autun and visit the splendid Gothic cathedral and the medieval town. Drive up to Vézelay and see the historic basilica there; it's one place where the pilgrimmage to Santiago de Campostelo begins. The ancient abbey of Fontenay is also interesting.

Topping for more suggestions..

I spent 2 weeks in Burgundy a few years ago, and never ran out of things to do.
However, I had a car, which is probably necessary to get around to all the wonderful places to see. I loved the south Burgundy area - the Maconnais and Beaujolais areas. The scenery is so lovely. Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.

I took a day trip to Dole. Lovely little non-touristy town. I also trained to Besancon on a very rainy May 1st holiday.

Your main problem is the rain. You might think a car would make things better. However I personally don't think being stuck in a car due to rain is any better then being stuck without a car. It's still rain. You'd have to park your car and get out eventually.

Use a rain coat, umbrella, the trains whatever it takes. Get out and get on with enjoying a vacation.

For me a rainy day in France is magnitudes better then a beautiful day at work. :-)

We spent some time in Besancon and enjoyed it. It's only 1 hr by train - with frequent departures.

Sue4
We're spending 2 weeks in Beaujolais and another 2 weeks in Burgundy this Sept. Are there any "hidden gems" that are not in the Michelin Green Guide? What was your favorite restaurant?

Stu Dudley

Thank you Indy. I just finished reading your report again. I will check the train schedule for Besancon for Saturday, rain or shine. Will report back after Beaune trip today.

Hi everyone :-)
I'm going to meet gg by the food market in a few minutes. Just to say the weather changed dramatically today, much more sun and it shouldn't rain, what a relief!
She is not sure she wants to go to Beaune now as she's been there before, so we'll tell you where we've been later! :-)
coco

I love this, this is such fun when people post about meeting like this..Looking forward to hearing more :D

Georgiegirl,

Please tell us about Coco's rental flat. We met her last year (delightful!), but were not able to tour the flat as she had a n American honeymoon couple staying there. We have seen the pictures on her website, but I'd like to hear from someone who has seen it in all its glory.

Hope you have good weather for the rest of your trip!

:-)

Just to commiserate: in northern California we have had rain for 29 days so far, and more is forecast.

Well, the sun came out and all Dijonais(hope I spelled it right) came out in droves. I had to get out and could not wait for Coco to come and pick me up. Also, I need to know how long it will take me to walk to the train station since I decided on Indy's suggestion of Besançon visit. (15 minutes from the flat) So I called and told her to meet me at Les Halles. It was a real market day with a lot of stalls outside hawking their wares. I was buying the ingredients for the ethnic meal I was planning for her family. It was a success. Pascal enjoyed the food so much that I was invited back Saturday night for French meal.
After much discussion, we decided on just a promenade en voiture down the grand cru route. The sun was so strong that it was very hot in the car. About 2pm, I told her that we need to look for food. We decided on stopping at Nuits St. Georges and see whether there was anything decent. I am not foodie. Give me kir and rosé with some bread and cheese, I am happy. We found a place that offered formule of 11.50 euro. The food was okay and too much. We could not finish our meals.
Coco went to the loo. As usual, I asked the conditions of the loo when she came back. I decided against it but I had to go. As we walked back to the car (btw, I was amazed that she does not believe in locking her car. she said that if they want it bad they will break it anyway. what an attitude) we found a pay toilet. With 30 centimes, I went in but could not flush the toilet. As I was coming out, Coco aimed the canera at me. What a sight. She wanted to see what the pay toilet looks like. So we had a tour! As soon as we closed the door, we heard the cleaning process started. We took another way back to Dijon. There was nothing unusal to report except that I had a good time with her family in the suburb of Dijon.

Nukesafe, this is for you.
The flat is wonderful, spacious with quality amenities. Comfortable queen size bed, lots of windows, nice bathroom with tub. The commode is in another room by itself. Big enough for 2 people (the flat). Nice kitchen stocked with enough food to make your own breakfast: eggs, cheese, yogurt, fruits, water, juice, milk and so on. Enough appliances needed to cook, if you want to do it on your vacation. I just made coffee and boiled some water for tea. The best part is free internet usage and free phone calls within France. Cable TV has all the channels you care for. I got to tell you this. I told Coco that she needs another waste basket for the Americans and if Indy books the flat, better give him the third one, LOL. Did I miss anything? Oh, the location is good, very quiet even though it is in the centreville. It is across the street from Musée Magnin.

I'm glad you like myhomeindijon gg :-)


On your report you didn’t mention that we got lost several times on our way to Dole! (in St jean de Losne where I failed to turn on the right road) we even drove through the pedestrian streets in Dole, what a shame! I promise I only drank a tomato juice as apéritif and had water (une carafe d’eau s’il vous plait!)
I surely will go back to Dole to visit it quietly and take pictures it is really lovely (We had to go back to Dijon so we didn’t have a walk there) Thanks indy for the suggestions !

Gg, now you said I went to the loo in Nuits, I have to say that you slept in the car on our way to Dole and back to Dijon ! But everybody here knows it is because of the jet lag, not because of the Chablis you had for lunch ;-)

Tomorrow when gg comes back from Besançon we should meet all together at the railway station with cchottel (15min between their respective trains) and then have a walk around (where gg hasn’t been yet..) and later, a raclette all together at home.

Oh gg, I forgot to thank you again for the great meal we had at home, did I tell you you had the job whenever you wanted? :-d

coco and georgiegirl I'm glad it's working out. And nice the weather changed for the better too. I know how hard it is for me to motivate myself during bad weather on vacation. But once I'm out the door and in the elements I start having fun with it. No matter if it takes an extra kir! :S-

Coco! Driving on the pedestriann streets in Dole. (I really should figure out how to but the circonflex on the "o".) Shame! Next thing you know you'll tell me you "borrowed" the "rue de la biere" sign I wanted my picture taken with. :-)

Being a geek at heart I loved the little museum in Louis Pasteur's home.