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Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Sunrise
This is the first sunrise I have caught since we came. The cows have all gone to be milked and I think that the only people awake are the dairy farmer and me.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Last day at La Giro
We have spent our last day here pretty much close to "home." This morning, we drove to Maulevrier to the Parc Oriental, the largest Japanese garden in Europe. It is truly an amazing place... so peaceful and lovely.
On the way back, we went searching for bubble wrap. Apparently, there is none to be had in all of France. My (Vicki's) best guess is that the French have not discovered the joys of popping it.
Tonite was our last aperitif outside and our last supper prepared by Mohammed. We sat in the back room, around a small table, and enjoyed the final cow parade as we ate and drank.
La Giro is truly a magical place. Gabi emailed that she has Giro lag rather than jet lag. That makes a lot of sense.
For those who travel to the Loire, this would be a lovely bed and breakfast with easy access to lots of nearby sites. We give it five+++ stars. Thank you, Reginald and Teresa, for a magical stay.
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On the way back, we went searching for bubble wrap. Apparently, there is none to be had in all of France. My (Vicki's) best guess is that the French have not discovered the joys of popping it.
Tonite was our last aperitif outside and our last supper prepared by Mohammed. We sat in the back room, around a small table, and enjoyed the final cow parade as we ate and drank.
La Giro is truly a magical place. Gabi emailed that she has Giro lag rather than jet lag. That makes a lot of sense.
For those who travel to the Loire, this would be a lovely bed and breakfast with easy access to lots of nearby sites. We give it five+++ stars. Thank you, Reginald and Teresa, for a magical stay.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Poitiers, Oradour, Limoges
A couple of days ago, the little nearby town of Saint George des Gardes held its annual Fete du Vent or Festival of the Wind. It was suggested that such an event was a natural place for me to be. (Please note that Dan, not Vicki, is the "me" in this post!)
So the Murrells, Delsin, and the Dalles walked into town, later joined by Debbie and Lilly, and found people flying, fun things to do, and food.
Delsin tried his hand at archery, assisted in sign language by a very nice man who spoke no English.
Vicki and I climbed the church towers with the kids - I was wheezing when I made it to the top.
On Monday, Vicki and I took off for Poitiers, where one of Vicki's distant relatives ("her people") was mayor. We visited Notre Dame La Grande, a masterpiece of Romanesque decor. This is a somewhat older building, built at least in part by the 10th century - and there are vestiges of Roman architecture that it replaced.
The most moving part of this trip so far was our visit to Oradour-sur-Glane. The original village was completely destroyed on 10 June 1944, and 642 of its inhabitants were massacred by a German Waffen-SS company. The town has been left as it was, untouched, as a memorial.
The church, where the women and children were murdered
The girls' school
After Oradour, we continued on to Limoges, as in Limoges china and enamel, very little of which can actually be found in a store there. I have to say that Limoges was not as welcoming or pretty as other places we have visited, but I did enjoy a tour of one porcelain factory. From Vicki: I had taken an Ambien, because our room was right on the street and a little warm. I slept through Dan's field trip. :( The process itself is pretty amazing.
Lunch was at a creperie in the old part of town.
On our return to La Giro, we stopped at le Puy Notre Dame, another pretty amazing church, parts of which date back to the 5th century. It is a pilgrimage destination and has a "sainte ceinture," or girdle that is thought to have been worn by Mary.
Last night, we celebrated the Dalles' 41st wedding anniversary with dinner, petanque, and cremant, a sparkling wine from the Loire Valley that is as good as any I have had from elsewhere. Congratulations to the Dalles!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (on which I cannot figure out how to do French accents!)
So the Murrells, Delsin, and the Dalles walked into town, later joined by Debbie and Lilly, and found people flying, fun things to do, and food.
Delsin tried his hand at archery, assisted in sign language by a very nice man who spoke no English.
Vicki and I climbed the church towers with the kids - I was wheezing when I made it to the top.
On Monday, Vicki and I took off for Poitiers, where one of Vicki's distant relatives ("her people") was mayor. We visited Notre Dame La Grande, a masterpiece of Romanesque decor. This is a somewhat older building, built at least in part by the 10th century - and there are vestiges of Roman architecture that it replaced.
The most moving part of this trip so far was our visit to Oradour-sur-Glane. The original village was completely destroyed on 10 June 1944, and 642 of its inhabitants were massacred by a German Waffen-SS company. The town has been left as it was, untouched, as a memorial.
The church, where the women and children were murdered
The girls' school
After Oradour, we continued on to Limoges, as in Limoges china and enamel, very little of which can actually be found in a store there. I have to say that Limoges was not as welcoming or pretty as other places we have visited, but I did enjoy a tour of one porcelain factory. From Vicki: I had taken an Ambien, because our room was right on the street and a little warm. I slept through Dan's field trip. :( The process itself is pretty amazing.
Lunch was at a creperie in the old part of town.
On our return to La Giro, we stopped at le Puy Notre Dame, another pretty amazing church, parts of which date back to the 5th century. It is a pilgrimage destination and has a "sainte ceinture," or girdle that is thought to have been worn by Mary.
Last night, we celebrated the Dalles' 41st wedding anniversary with dinner, petanque, and cremant, a sparkling wine from the Loire Valley that is as good as any I have had from elsewhere. Congratulations to the Dalles!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (on which I cannot figure out how to do French accents!)
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