Friday, December 10, 2010

Pink Saturday and thinking of a Chateau from long ago....

Bonjour Bloggerettes!   Welcome to Pink Saturday hosted by Beverly at How Sweet The Sound.  While looking through some old photos desperately looking for pink, I found this one of a Chateau in Belgium. Did I tell you that  I once lived in Belgium?  That was many, many years ago, but I remember it well.  I first lived there in a little village called Estinnes.  I lived in the Chateau Rouveroy.

This is how the Chateau looks today.  It really hasn't changed much.
                     
My room was on the second floor, second window from the left.
As you walked through the massive metal front doors you were greeted by an actual suit of armour and lots of stuffed birds and flying creeping creatures.  I found out later the owner's deceased husband was a taxidermist. 

Every morning I would be awakened to the sound of small trucks delivering fresh bread or fish.  Fresh food was very important to the Belgians.  Even those who lived in the city had gardens and raised chickens.  There was no such thing as a super grocery store. 
                                      

The Chateau was owned by a lady named Alice who claimed to be from a line of dutch royalty.
She was quite eccentric and I loved everything about her.
She took me under her wing, taught me some french and some dutch.
And she taught me so much about the country and its beautiful people.
She also taught me about the many different wines and liquors that the french love to drink on a regular basis! LOL!


If you are still with me, then bless your pea-pickin heart and if you are bored to tears then that's okay.  I still will love you.


I was so fascinated by the Chateau and sometimes I would go snooping around the corridors and hallways trying to get a peek into the other rooms.

One day while snooping around the place, I went up a flight of stairs that looked to lead to an attic.  However,
there was a huge padlock on the door.  I was so scared that I ran down the stairs only to bump smack dab into Dutchess Alice.
She very matter-of-fact told me that the area was "off limits."
Trust me, I never went there again but I always wondered what was up there.  Guess I'll never know.

Oh, the stories I can tell.

Alice would often take me to the markets in France where she
would buy cheese and wine.  She'd let me help with parties and wedding receptions in the bar and dining area.  This was how  I learned about the
customs and personalities of the Belgiques.



This was the back of the Chateau  and further on were horse stables.
There was also some midevil torture chamber areas that were really, really creepy.

I wish I had photos of the inside but I don't.
I read that the chateau was remodeled a few years ago and is mainly used for weddings and parties.  Alice is no longer there and a new family bought the chateau.

I lived in Belgium for over a year. 
It still holds a special place in my heart and allowed a young girl to see the world and broaden her horizons about life and european culture. 

I hope to return someday.  There is something so intriguing about the european lifestyle.  It is so richly steeped in beauty, history and art.  Now when I think back I realize that I was greatly influenced by the culture and art that inspires me to this very day.

~~hugs~~

34 comments:

Unknown said...

oh my sissie...i totally LOVE this post! How wonderful it must have been for you as a younger woman to have that experience! truly..what wonderful memories for you! I have traveled to Belgium myself and it is a beautiful country. thank you soo much for sharing this special time in your life with us!

Debra@CommonGround said...

What an amazing experience this must have been! I want to hear MORE!!! And yes, you need to go back!
xoxo,
Debra

GardenOfDaisies said...

Wow! What a wonderful experience! Living in Belgium, in a gorgeous chateau for a whole year, learning about the food, wine, people, art and customs! I hope you do get to go back someday.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Sissie, that sounds like an amazing experience. You are a lucky lady! Love this Chateau!

BonjourRomance said...

Bonjour Sissie,
What a beautiful chateau, and so many stories. Those old places can be a bit spooky. It must have been a great time for you under Alice's wings.
And no, we're not bored, we would love to hear more.
I'm sure you will get back one day,
Mimi

Bring Pretty Back said...

How lucky are you!!!!!!!
Have a pretty day!
Kristin

Jane said...

What a wonderful experience! The Chateau looks like a wonderful place to live. How fun to learn and explore with Alice. Such a great way to learn about another culture.
Thoroughly enjoyed your post.
Jane

LuLu Kellogg said...

What a wonderful place to visit! I really hope you will get to go back and visit one day.

Love,
LuLu~*xoxo

Unknown said...

Girl, You've been around!! What a lovely experience for you! It all seems so romantic.

Have a great weekend!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Wow! Sissie, what an amazing experience you had! I have always wanted to wander through a chateau but to live in one would be even better. Talk about a scope for one's imagination! You must go back sometime! Happy Pink Saturday.

Christmas blessings,
Sandi

Unknown said...

Wow Sissie , thanks for sharing that experiance and memory with us , what a neat place to live !I hope you get to return someday , it's fun to revisit and see what changes have been made. I loved this post.
Sharon

BrushedByAnAngel said...

What a great adventure you must have had. It is wonderful to live outside the states and to learn so much about other cultures. Happy Pink Saturday, Sissie.
Brenda

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

My Husbands family came from Belgium...Interesting post Sissie...
Loved seeing all your Holiday Decor.
Soooo pretty!
Love those bottle brush wreaths from Big Lots...Picked up a couple last year,
Right up our alley!
Happy Holidays girlfriend.

Kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

That is fascinating Sissie! HOw many people can say that they experienced what you did! I wonder what was in that room with the padlock??? ~Hugs, Patti

Lynn-Teacupstitches said...

My goodness Sissy what an exciting time in your life to have lived in that fabulous house! I hope you jot down more memories as you remember them and share again in another post!
Were you an exchange student?? Thanks for sharing the story - and NO I was not "bored to tears" for even one second and wished the post was longer!! You have me wondering and intriqued by what was up in that attic too!
Big Merry Christmas Hugs,
Lynn

Daphne Nicole & Lynda Cade said...

Oh Sissie, what a wonderful experience... thanks so much for sharing it with us!!!
hugs~~ Daphne

Sonya Badgley said...

Wow Sissie! I would have loved to be able to do that too! Thanks for sharing your experience. I would love to go to Europe. Especially England. I know, some people think that's weird. My ancestors are from there and I don't know why but when I watch an english movie, I always feel at home. Does that make sense? The countryside and the old homes. Just everything about it. Maybe some day...
Feel free to share any of your experiences from Belgium. I promise, it doesn't bore me!
Blessings,
Sonya

Denise said...

Sissy,Now you have us all wanting to know more.It was almost like reading a good book.Please tell us more of your story.Why were you there ,how old were you? ect... or just write the book and let us know,we'll all go out and buy it. Denise

Tara said...

How fascinating! I would love to go exploring too. Too bad you got caught! I would love to live in a European village where you bought your food fresh nearly every day and could walk from one end to the other. Lucky you for having had the experience. Happy Pink Saturday!

Catlyn Berry (Cizz) said...

Sissie, that is fascinating! I agree, write the book and we'll all buy it! It's such a gorgeous chateau, I can't imagine living there!

Hugs'
Catlyn

Gypsea Nurse said...

What a great post! And what a fabulous place to have lived! Thanks for the insight!
Enjoy your weekend!
Hugs~
Cat

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Hi Sissie, haven't been over here in a while. Days are just flying by! :/

I have no doubt that your year in Belgium was extraordinary. The wine and the cheese would be enough to draw me in. LOL!

The Chateau certainly looks very intriguing and such a wonderful place to spend time. Wishing you the happiest of holidays. :) Tammy

debi said...

What a beautiful chateau! Thank you for sharing you wonderful adventure with us!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

This was absolutely fascinating, Sissie! Especially the padlocked door!!! You're blessed to have been immersed into another culture. Truly blessed.

awal.ny said...

Sissie that was a great post. As much as I like the pictures I love to read the stories of each person. How did you get to live in Belgium? Europe is a mystical place to Americans. I went on a college trip with my sister to England and it was wonderful. We tried to stay away from the tourist areas and ended up in several places that only the locals went and I am so glad my mother gave us the gift to go. Thank you for sharing more stories, I would love to hear more.

Olivia said...

Hello sweet Sissie! I adore your story...this is a once in a lifetime experience you had. I would love to travel to Europe. Your adventure sounds exciting, minus the creepy upstairs locked room and torture chambers. LOL
Happy Pink Saturday
Hugs,
Olivia
ps Stop by and say hi! I am having a giveaway!

Sue McPeak said...

Now we know!!! How Sissie came to say OoooLaLa! What a wonderful experience with life lessons learned at an early age. I'd have been picking that lock!!!!

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Well THAT put some pink in my Saturday! What a great tale! I'd love to hear more. I bet you could do a whole seperate blog about a year in Belgium! A PINK SATURDAY right back at ya! Jacqueline

GwendolynKay said...

Sissie,
This was so interesting. Not at all boring. I imagine it was a very romantic life. Maybe there was a ghost behind the locked door. Boo!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Your friend, Gwenny

The Charm of Home said...

Sissie,
This was wonderful! I totally enjoyed reading about your time in this chateau. How wonderful that you had this experience. Very lovely place to have lived.
Sherry

Anonymous said...

Sissie, what a wonderful experience to add to the flavor and stories of your life!
Blessings,
Diane

Something Nice and Pretty said...

Wow, what a wonderful experience for you! I hope you do get to go back someday and yes, I do wonder what was locked in the attic. Believe me I wasn't bored at all, hope you tell more about it♥

Donna said...

Oh my gosh, Sissie, what a wonderful opportunity you had! That chateau is amazing! I loved hearing your stories, and would love it if you share with us in the future more of them! Were you going to school there? I've never been, but I would love to some day. I would be in serious trouble if I lived in a country that was famous for their chocolate!! I, too love the European way of life. The history, food, architecture and art. And of course all the great food and wine! The Duchess sounds like quite a character!

Jennifer said...

Just found your post. Guess what? We live in this chateau now! Guess where our apartment is? That old attic! Now a beautifully remodeled apartment! I could tell you all about it. There are 7 families total in the chateau and the surrounding buildings which have also been remodeled. Great to read your post! Jennifer

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