The Owl's Path

Dijon is a beautiful city. I have worked out why it seems so old to me - there are no trees in the streets. They are in fenced off parks (and maybe courtyards, the walls facing the street aren't necessarily house walls but lead into courtyards that people drive into).

There is no hop on hop off bus here, instead there is a walk called the owl's path. It takes you past many of the historical sites, following little triangles in the footpath (and with the help of a gps guided app).
It was a nice way to see the town.
A lot of places are shut on Mondays and those that are open seem to close 12-2pm.
I stopped at a patisserie and picked up some rolls and an apple tart before coming back to the hotel. I ended up falling asleep. I'm finding one day a week I need half a day to relax and recharge.

I'm eating in the hotel restaurant tonight.
I decided to have the house aperitif which I think is a mix of a local white wine and orange perfumed ginger syrup. It is nice but like most alcohol for me, I drink it for the experience rather than the enjoyment.

It's been interesting to compare the breakfasts in the different hotels in London, Pertisau/Insbruck and now Dijon (I self catered in Munich).

The english breakfast was all about the hot food - two types of eggs; sausages (meat and vegetarian); bacon, lots of bacon; hash browns; baked beans and I'm sure there was more hot food. Both white and wholemeal sliced bread as well as rolls and some pastries.

The Austrain breakfasts had multiple types of wholemeal/multigrain/rye breads (not sliced), rolls, one type of egg available and one made to order (bolied or scrambled) and sliced white bread for toast. The pastries and flavoured breads (chocolate bread covered in chocolate) range was huge.The cold meats and cheese range was huge and cut up salad items were also available.

The french breakfast this morning had one small loaf of dark bread, the rest was types of white bread and rolls. No sliced bread. Croissants and pain au chocolat were the only pastries (I think). Small fluffy pancakes were also availabe.
The only eggs available were scrambled and they were delicious, so light and fluffy.
A small range of cold meats, no smoked salmon which was available in England and Austria.

The food tonight has been exquisite. I tried to choose french foods although I did pass on the steak tartare. If it had been an entree size I may have tried it.
I started with a ham and asparagus terrine. The ham wasn't sliced thinly but had been slow cooked and pulled off the bone. It was served with some type of foam with mustard seeds through it.
Main was roast guinea fowl and asparagus. It was okay but a bit gamey for me taste.
Dessert combined some of Dijon's specialities - blackcurrent sorbet and gingerbread served on a meringue. Very nice.

I just watched the steak tartare being made at the table. At first I thought they were making a dressing for ceaser salad and putting semi dried tomatoes in it but when he started piling the dressed "tomatoes" on the plate into a large mound I realised it was the steak tartare.

I made myself use some french phrases tonight: "table for one", "speak english", "bill please". I couldn't manage full sentences but it is a start.
I still want to use Ja instead of oui.

Photos
The owl at Notre Dame Cathedral, it lacks detail because people rub it for luck.
Owl path marker
Dijon street
Ducal palace
Ham and asparagus terrine
DessertRead more