Back in France

Just quick update. Yesterday we left sunny Italy and the Mediterranean and drove through the Alps - through the long, long Mont Blanc mountain tunnel - tunnel phobes beware - it is very long. We saw lots of snow and a huge glacier and ended up here in Beaune. In Italy people either yelled at their spouses or mumbled to themselves as they walked away from the table: Here in France they love to insult you to your face. A really common retort from the staff is to answer a question with a sneer and an imperious "Of course!!!!" Yesterday it happened twice. The first time was at our snooty hotel (but we have a bathtub so all is forgiven). I asked the front desk clerk if the hotel had internet. She looked at me like I was the snail that had given her indigestion at lunch and she sneered "of course!" and went back to whatever she had been working on. Thank goodness kelly takes no guff. she waited about 5 seconds and said "so where is it?" Then we were touring some wine cave and Bob asked the guide if he had ever eaten at some little restaurant we are going to today. Guess what he said . Of course (you americaine idiot). -ok he did NOT say the last part. But he said it with great condesension. sp. Today we are off to see how they make cassis and maybe ,make our own mustard and then go to that little restaurant. trip is almost over - just 3 more days and then we all retreat into our own cones of silence: please excuse all the typos. the french insist upon using their own keyboard with all the letters in different positions from the rest of the u.s. and italy, anyway.