Blois et Amboise

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So, why Blois?
The name Blois is pronounced better with a question mark at the end. We were looking for a mini week-end away from the city that wouldn't be too expensive last minute. Blois is in the Loire Valley, between Paris and Tours. I went with my friends Dani, Alyssa, and Sean who are all in the Gonzaga Program as well. We left Paris early Saturday morning by train and arrived in Blois two hours later. It felt incredible to walk off the train and think, "well, now what?" We found our way into the main town which is situated right on the river. Cute shops and chocolatiers filled the streets. The town was small and we ate lunch across the river looking back at the chateau and played frisbee in the park.
In the late afternoon we set off to find our hostel. We headed towards the only Pierre street located on the map which took us about an hour by foot to the very northeast corner of the town. After hopping a fence into a quarantined old-folks home to where the hostel should have been, we realized we had gotten BLOIST. Fortunately, we were able to catch a bus, avoid the bus police, and find our way to the hostel. For dinner that night we walked back into town and ate at a small crepe cafe where we were able to watch the owner make our food in the kitchen that took up the other half of the cafe. The crepes were thick and seasoned and the salads were tossed with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes.
Early in the morning we headed back to the train station to head to Amboise. The previous day on the train a woman in our compartment recommended this town which is just 20 minutes away from Blois, towards Tours. We walked across a bridge over the Loire river to a beautiful view of the city. Along the river there was a huge Sunday street market filled with cheeses, fresh bread, buckets and buckets of paella, and cheap clothes. We bought some warm, fresh organic bread and some goods from the supermarket and had a picnic underneath the castle. Before leaving we were playing frisbee in a park when all of a sudden a groups of people showed up to launch hot air balloons. Three took off right in front of us and over the river, they were huge!
I loved traveling without an itinerary. It made the days feel long and my cleared my mind. Traveling outside of Paris and seeing the countryside was beautiful. I'm now heading into my third week of classes and keeping busy. Hoping to buy a yearlong student Louvre pass for 15 euro, which gives unlimited access and you can bring a friend for free!
Love you!
Bisous!

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Photos

Blois
train station

Through the leaves
leaf was attached by a spiderweb

Walls
these houses were built into the castle walls

Leonardo da Vinci
This is the mansion that he lived the last 3 years of his life in.

Comments

[Anne]

Great Pictures
Kaitlin, Your pictures are great. You have a real talent for photography. I'll look forward to following you throughout Europe for the next year. Anne (your mom's co-worker).

[Papa]

Blois!
The sond and lumiere show began with an exclamation not a ? Beautiful pictures. Looks a little different from Tukwilla...