During our Europe Adventure, Marion and I had the opportunity to spend Christmas in Versailles, France. We were working at the time in Switzerland. We took the night train from Lausanne, Switzerland to Paris and then on to Versailles
We arrived in Versailles and took a cab out Carol Renault's home. We were welcomed by Carole's mother, Mme. Renault, brother and a bounding dog. Carole's family lived near the Castle of Versailles for twenty years.
In the afternoon of Christmas Eve we decorated their tree. In the evening Carole's mother, put our shoes under the tree for 'Peré Noël' to fill up at midnight. At eight in the evening we dressed up in our best for a big supper. The table was decorated with four green candles, flowers and sparkling Christmas string, as the centre piece. Before each each person had three crystal glasses, one for water, one for wine and one for the 'aperitif'. Every dish was served separately. To start the meal we drank a toast, of a special French wine, to us, 'Noël' and Canada. The first course was twelve raw oysters with lemon juice which would be the second time I ate oysters raw. But this time they were good, as long as you don't chew them as you suck them out of the shell. We were told to just let them slide down our throats. All through the meal we drank red wine and ate fresh French bread.
Course number two was a special sausage made of mushrooms, milk and bread crumbs, eaten with lots of melted butter. Course number three a small mushroom and chicken pie. Number four, string green beans with butter; number five we had a variety of cheeses, Swiss, French and Dutch eaten with more bread. Marion's mother had sent her a Christmas cake, which Marion brought along. Carole's family has never seem a Canadian Christmas cake before so it was something new for them. Mme Renault served a fruit cocktail dessert with the cake. M. Renault, then brought on a bottle of champagne.
It took well over two hours to eat supper. Marion and I thought it would never end. We felt very full but very light hearted as we retired to the living room to relax and watched French Ballet from Paris on TV until midnight.
Then everyone brought in their 'Cadeaux' (gifts) and put them under the tree in the respective shoes. Later on we opened the gifts. Marion gave me two lovely make-up bags while I gave her a red umbrella. We bought Mme Renault what we though was a table cloth but turned out to be a pillow case. We ever rather embarrassed about it. So that was our Christmas Eve. When we heard Christmas corals on TV, we immediately thought of home.
Excepts Autobiography "Notes and Clippings"
