Les Chateaux de la Loire

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Tonight we are in Orléans after a busy day of chateau-seeing! We had an awful night last night at the hotel in Saumur. We had the window open and we were reading with the lights on and as we were about to turn them off and go to sleep, we noticed a bunch of tiny gnats flying around the lights. We started to try to squish them all but there was no way! Then Ken looked up and there were thousands conglomerating in the corners of the room! We went downstairs and called the concierge and he came over and told us that in that area of the Loire those little gnats are everywhere and you can't leave your windows open and the lights on or they will come in. Wish he had told us that BEFORE!! Anyway, he came into the room and cleaned out the vast majority and gave us a fan for the room for the night as it was horrendously hot....especially with the windows closed! Neither Ken nor I slept well. When we went for breakfast in the morning the woman concierge told us that if the lights are off you can open the window. Wish she had told us that BEFORE!! Anyway, all's well that ends well 😊 We started our chateau visits at the Saumur chateau. Beautiful and in an excellent position on a very high hill. The chateau itself was closed for "travaux" (works) and so it was a quick visit around the outside. We then drove east along the Loire to the Chateau d'Ussé. This was a gorgeous chateau and we were able to go inside to most rooms. It's quite amazing that every chateau owner was expected to have a room set aside for the king in case he showed up with his court. There was also a chapel on the property and a very cool (literally) "cave" - wine cellar. Also, there are two 200 year old cedars of Lebanon on the property that were gifts to the chateau owners. The gardens of this chateau were designed by le Notre - the man who designed the amazing gardens of Versailles. Next we drove on to Azay-le-Rideau. First we had a nice lunch and then walked to the chateau. This one we just got a couple of photos of and then drove on to Chenonceau. This is an amazing chateau with gorgeous gardens! It first belonged to a private family until King Henri II gave it to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. It certainly has a female touch to it. Very beautiful gardens and very "light" handed decorating. When Henri died, his wife, Catherine de Medici, booted Diane out and added her touch. The chateau spans the Cher River and it's really stunning. We were able to see most of the rooms and we were duly impressed. It was such a HOT day! it was 32C and very humid. Getting back to the car and the air conditioning was a relief! After Chenonceau we drove on to Orléans where we are now. We went out and just as we left the hotel it started raining a little bit. We were going to walk to dinner but we thought the car would be a better idea. Good thing, too, because just as we got about 2 blocks away, the skies opened up and a big "orage" began. Thunder, lightning and sheets of rain! It lasted the entire time we were trying to find a restaurant. To our delight, just as we found a nice restaurant, the rain stopped! We had a pizza dinner and I had some delicious sangria! Cold and refreshing after sch a hot, hot day! After dinner we walked around Orléans a bit and now we're back at the hotel. As soon as I try to whittle down some of the 94 (!!) photos I took today, I am going to run a cool bath and relax! Off to Paris tomorrow!

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