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Published: September 25th 2012
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Saturday, 8
thSeptember
Our friend, Ian Binks drives us to Luton Station to enable us to catch a train to London and connect with the 8.50am Eurostar to Paris. It's a breeze and Eurostar is in Paris at 12.15, then the Metro to a station around the corner from our hotel in the 11
th arrondissement. The hotel is close the Bastille and we quickly settle in, walk around the immediate area, and have a meal. I mention this because, I select a charcuterie from the menu and must say it was amazing; a cornucopia of meats and cheeses.
In the evening we have tickets to the Paris Opera, Richard Strauss, Capriccio. The seats are in the Premier Loge and have a pretty good view of the stage. However, we are directly behind a fussy little man that turns around every time either of us makes a move. It's hot in the Opera House, and to sit completely still for three hours is out of the question. Anyway, he tut's and turns, and we just try and ignore him. The opera is in German with French sub-titles, and I understand absolutely nothing! But still, it is a great experience, and to
see an Opera at one of the great Opera houses of the world is another box ticked on the bucket list..... And, did I mention the ceiling painted by Marc Chagall!
Sunday, 9
th September
A train to St Denis, followed by the ethnic market. Clothes, and food, but no bricante. Caroline bags some cheap t-shirts she feels can be thrown away at the end of the trip; we have lunch, and then spend the afternoon exploring the basilique where all of the French Kings and Queens are buried.
Monday, 10
th September thru Monday, 17
th September
It's time to pickup the Peugeot, and our friends from Russell, the “Ackers - Ed and Wendy” at Charles De Gaulle airport, then we're on the road to the Loire Valley. Our house swap in the Loire is not actually a swap, but rather a home-stay. The four of us are living in the house with the French family, in addition, there is also an Italian couple from Pisa. And then, the grown children come back from Paris during our stay, and spend time. Wonderful people, and having met all of the family, it has been a pleasure to
spend time with them. All of this, and only one toilet, although each of the bedrooms have their own showers.
During the week we visit all of the major chateaux in the Loire Valley, and also partake of patisseries in most of the cake shops along the way. As Sept. 12 is our anniversary we have lunch at a restaurant suggested in the Online Michelin Guide, in the town of Blois. It's an excellent meal, and is reviewed in Caroline's food blog. The many chateaux that we visit during our “Loire Week” are mostly in exceptional condition and furnished with elaborate wall tapestries, paintings, and antiques. Although, there is an occasional one that requires a heavy dose of R&M.
One of the chateau worth a mention is Chenencou, which I think is the most beautiful. Built above a bridge on a river Cher, it was built on the site of an old mill sometime before the 11th century. In the early 1400's the chateau was burnt down because the owner was plotting against the King. It's owner kept his head, and immediately started to rebuild the place. Then, in the mid 1500's, Diane de Poitiers, mistress of Henry
Leonardo De Vinci's Tomb
In a small church, in the grounds of Amboise Chateaux II of France, also ruled this fine castle. However, the chateau's real owner was the French crown. Finally, in 1555 Diane took possession, but after King Henry died, his vengeful widow and regent Catherine de Medici forced Diane to exchange it for a lesser chateau (poor Dianne!). Catherine then made Chenonceau her own favorite residence. This is just a snippet and a small part of the intrigue going on behind the scenes of Chenonceau.
My highlight of the week, is a balloon trip that begins in a field outside of Chateau Chenoncau and finishes about 35-40km away next to a field of grape vines. Caroline has decided that this is an adventure that I can share with Ed and Wendy, but minus her. There are 15 passengers and 2 pilots in the balloon, and after take-off, soars over the Chateau Chenoncau, fields and farms of the Loire. Looking across to the horizon there are 4-5 other balloons having the same experience. Our balloon rises through the cloud layer into direct sunlight. At the highest elevation we are 2000 meters above the ground and you can see the shadow of the balloon on the clouds below. After an hour's flight
we are looking for a landing site, and our close proximity to high voltage power lines gives me some concern, but we finally veer away and even brush the tops of trees as we come in quite fast on our final descent. It's a bumpy landing, but we're all right, and it has been an adrenaline rush.Yes, this is definitely a highlight for me and I think that Ed and Wendy will put it on their high-point list as well.
On Monday 17
th Sept we leave our hosts in the Loire and start our 600km plus drive to Uzes in the South of France.
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Ed
non-member comment
I read. I like.
Great story and some weirdly fascinating pics (e.g. "get in the car")