The French connection

Our first French-speaking guests arrived yesterday and left this morning. The couple and their 17-year-old son are from Dordogne region in France. They only spoke French, so I was the cook and the tour guide this time around. Although I still speak French to my parents, when I slip into English... they understand me. I didn't have that luxury with our guests. It certainly was great practice... and I somehow managed. They were lovely people. They happen to be landlords of four beautiful stone houses in their village, which they rent out. If anyone is looking for a place to stay in France, let me know and I'll hook you up. Kevin and I can't wait to visit France again one day.

For our French-speaking readers, here is what our guests wrote in our guestbook:

Cher(e) Anne et Kevin,
Nous vous remercions pour votre charmant accueil, votre sens du service et votre grande hospitalité. Nulle doute que votre petite entreprise sera une vraie réussite! Nous avons de la chance de vous rencontrer. Le paradis existe vraiment, n'est ce pas? Si vous venez en France visiter la région du Lot, Dordogne, Midi-Pyrenées, c'est avec grand plaisir de vous accueillir avec des produits comme le foie gras, les noix, nos fromages, etc.

À bientôt et bon courage pour la suite,
Pascal et Paola

Loose translation: (my father is the translator, not me)

Dear Anne and Kevin,
We thank you for receiving us with such kindness, your sense of service and your hospitality.. No doubt that your little enterprise will be a real success! We consider ourselves lucky for meeting you. Paradise really does exist, doesn't it? If you come to France and visit 'our' region, it is with great pleasure that we would receive you and share our local products like 'foie gras', nuts and our cheeses, etc.

So long and all the best
Pascal and Paola

We continue to be amazed at how wonderful our guests are. It makes running a B&B a pretty great experience. Now, gotta run and get the guesthouse cleaned up and ready for our next guests... coincidentally, we are receiving another couple from France on Thursday. It's nice that we can offer this extra little language service... now if only my Spanish was as good!