Les Chateaux

We spent yesterday out and about seeing various chateaux and gardens in the Loire Valley. First stop was Villandry and it had the best garden we saw - actually about seven.

(You can click on any photo to enlarge.)

This was the kitchen garden:

This was the ornamental garden:

Here are some other photos of the chateau and gardens:

When we returned to our car, some oaf (being polite) had parked behind our car. We got no help from anyone on staff, so Vicki figured out how to back out. There was literally less than an inch on each side of the car. We left a somewhat satisfyingly sarcastic note on their windshield and moved on. (From Vicki: You all will be relieved to know that it was Dan, not I, who wrote the note, so it was civil. Besides, I don't know many bad words in French... but I am learning.)

Just so you know things aren't always exemplary here for us, we had a less-than-stellar lunch in Vouvray and experienced a somewhat rude waiter. (The plat du jour was a chicken-fried piece of turkey and some boiled zucchini. Really? And I still would like to know why the others got a lovely-looking pie while we got an eggo waffle with powdered sugar.)

In Amboise, we visited the home of Leonardo da Vinci. There were models of many of his ideas/inventions - he would be amazed/delighted to see how many ways his ideas have been implemented today.



One of the most beautiful - and most crowded - of the chateaux was Chenonceau, which was built over the river Cher. (It was a gift from Henri II to his favorite lady, Diane. However, she was kicked out by Catherine de Medici, Henri's wife, once Henri kicked the bucket.)

The keep at Chenonceau is a remnant of the medieval fortress.

Perhaps my favorite chateau is Azay-le-Rideau.

This is one of its stairwells.

And how often do you see a chandelier in a boat?

After we left Azay-le-Rideau, we headed to Chinon, which is where, according to legend, Joan d'Arc waited for an audience with the Dauphin so that she could convince him to fight the English for his throne. Once she was received, she picked out the Dauphin, who was "hiding" as a member of his court, even though she had never seen him or a painting of him. The fortress is pretty ominous; I can only imagine the courage and fortitude that Joan, as a 14-year-old, had to approach both the fortress and the Dauphin.






We then sped past Montreuil Bellay on our way back to La Giro. We had to get back in time for a July 4 apertif and dinner! (God forbid we miss a chance to eat!) Mohammed made BBQ chicken and potato salad... yum.)


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