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People met on my backpacking 217 - A fantastic recollection of sipping cognac in Cognac

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My first trip to Europe (1983) was simply "skimming the surface." It really disappointed me. The next year, I took a 21-day Eurail Pass to Paris and other rural places that caught my interest. One of them was Bordeaux, which was well-known for its wine. But when I landed in Bordeaux, I became much more fascinated about Cognac.

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Actually, I only knew 'Cognac' as the brand name of the finest wine. But Cognac was the name of the province there. Transportation there was really inconvenient at the time. I took alternating trains and buses. When I got to a certain point, an endless vineyard unfolded. It was Cognac. It was spectacular.

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I got off at the bus stop. Was ambiguous. Many people stared at me as if they were meeting Asians for the first time. It was an atmosphere that I didn’t experience in Paris. Fortunately, I met a young guy who spoke English fluently. When I informed him, "I am a traveler from Seoul," he was startled and welcomed me as if it was his first time meeting a Korean in person.

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He led me to the rooftop of a government building just outside the city. Many people came because of the stunning surroundings. Compared to Brandy Cognac's prominence, the panoramic view from there revealed a relatively ordinary city. He demonstrated the river of pure water, which was an essential component of Cognac.

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However, Cognac was also the home of historical figures. The two representatives were French monarchs Francois I (1515-1547) and Jean Monnet (1888-1979). Monet was a French economist, administrator, and diplomat. His biggest achievement was that he was one of the founders of the European Union.

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*One of Francois I's finest successes was to cordially invite Leonardo da Vinci to France from Italy. That is why the Mona Lisa arrived to the Louvre today. Without his enthusiasm and understanding for culture and art, France wouldn’t have the reputation as a 'nation of art' that it has today. Of course, there is no guarantee that the 2024 Paris Olympics will go place.

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*Another comparable example is the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. The museum's building (the Winter Palace) was massive. Of course, collection was out of the question, so I'm shocked. I went there with my wife on a hiking trip (2003). *However, just as the Louvre was founded by a great king, so was the Hermitage Museum here. Yekateria II was the Empress of the Russian Empire from 1762 until 1796. She commanded the Russian Empire during its golden period.

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As such, the ultimate leader determines the fate of a country and its people. This is also the reason why we must choose a decent leader now. We need a leader who can view the future with long-term vision, such as wisdom, openness, and insight. This portion usually reminds me of Pres. Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee.

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*Before I left Cognac, he bought me a bottle of Cognac. I didn't inquire about the cost, but it was common there. We drank a cup of Cognac and broke off. Every time I saw wine after that, I remembered the Cognac I had sipped in Cognac. I gave him a landscape postcard of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

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Thanks for reading.

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