Post script to Lin Sue and Bill's trip to Langeais, France

I forgot to include any information about Langeais and why it typifies why we love small towns in France.

The chateau is really beautiful and is run by a private foundation. The rooms have been lovingly filled with great furniture and the displays focus on the marriage of Anne of Bretagne (age 14) to the 21 year Prince Charles. There was also a photo exhibit from the private collection of the foundation's founder that included images circa 1800 of exotic places like India, Egypt, Syria, and Japan. One photo of a Japanese family in their garden looked like it was out of "Pacific Overtures".

Anyway, we had lots of time to kill before our train back to Tours so we went to the local Cultural Exhibition. The gentleman who ran it was so excited to have us there, he gave us a walk through of some of the more entertaining exhibits. The theme was 'tricks of the eye' and so you got to ask 'is it a frog or a horse?'. It was fun. He gave a small card/coin trick show for the people in the gallery that was very amusing as well. We had a great time.

Lin and Bill get to Langeais

Sorry about the radio silence-Lin Sue's Blackberry hit a blind spot for a couple of days so we couldn't post anything.

After we caught the belated train from Tours, we were able to make the connection to Langeais. [Info about the town and the castle at: http://www.casteland.com/puk/castle/centre/indreloire/langeais/langeais.htm] (They held the train at Tours, thank goodness.). The town was very picturesque-- lots of planted flowers and little parks to sit in. Bill and I picked up some fresh strawberries and potato chips (come on of course Lin Sue needs chips!).

We studiously avoided the very retentive fellow traveler who kept asking about the return train to Tours. She was alone and seemed to be trying to catch our eye as though she wanted to join us. (We're not that friendly, however. Oops). It's terribly lonely I think to travel alone.

We returned to Tours and decided to get a quick dinner at Hippopotamus as it was threatening to rain. Bill had "the worst barbeque ribs he's ever had in his life". While Lin shared her steak.
:-)

See you later!

Bill in Langeais, France 2005

Bill in Langeais, France 2005

Lin Sue and Bill return to Amboise, France 8 years later

We got up early this morning, picked up egg mcmuffins and coffee and grabbed the 9 am train to Amboise from the Tours station. Once we arrived, we headed over the bridge towards the Chateau d'Amboise.

Something's happening because the banks of the Loire River are completely submerged. A good hunk of the stone levies (?), or whatever they are called, are under water. We are truly hoping that our hikes do not require many trails alongside the water.

Amboise is still quiet and gorgeous. We walked along our favorite streets and located the patisserie where we had once breakfasted every morning. There was official looking sign that proclaimed it to be a boulangerie artisan. The woman who has served us was not there and the breakfast table was replaced by a large display area but otherwise, it looked the same. How nice for us!

The weather looked a little dodgy and we were hoping that it didn't pour. All seems well so far but we prepared.

Returning home proved to be traumatic.

The train we hoped to take was approximately 1 hour and 15 mins late. We wandered a little more and had a great time.

April 23, 2005 Lin Sue in Langeais

Info about the castle and the town at: http://www.casteland.com/puk/castle/centre/indreloire/langeais/langeais.htm
Going into Chateau Langeais

Lin Sue on the Chateau Langeais grounds April 2005

Lin Sue on the Chateau Langeais grounds

First Day in Tours

We arrived in Tours without incident and were able to check into our room early. Thank goodness. Despite all the light filling the room, Bill and I crashed for a couple of hours before venturing out into town.

Le Grand Hotel is directly across from the train station so it's definitely easy to navigate. We went back to the brasserie that had previously offered chevre chaud salad with lardon. Unfortunately, we were too early for dinner and it was not immediately obvious on their menu. We instead wandered to the next place. The young waiter was very funny and while he did give Lin Sue a hard time by pretending there was no Peach Melba to be found (Don't tease Lin Sue like that!!!) we had a fine time. We returned back to the hotel and crashed

Medieval Buildings in Beaugency, France

Threatening Clouds in Beaugency, France

Bill having a picnic outside of Chateau Langeais

Chateau Langeais