Chateau sighting and hanging with Leo Davinci!

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This past weekend I took a short visit with Katie and Kelly to Tours, a city between my town and Paris. I love highspeed trains, the ride only took 45 minutes! We just stayed for one night but we packed in a lot of fun times. Tours lies in the beautiful valley of the Loire river and is a jumping off point for visits to chateaux in quaint medieval towns. We went straight to the small town of Amboise, about 10 minutes from Tours. Amboise is small and intimate with cobble stone streets and sidewalk cafes, chocolatiers, boulangeries, and chapels. I felt like I had traveled back in time as we climbed the pathway to Chateau d'Amboise. http://www.chateau-amboise.com/ Originally built in the 15th century, the castel has goen through extensive renovation and deconstruction throughout the centuries. Only 1/5 of the original consruction remains today. One of my favorite parts of the visit includes the Castle's chapel which lies separate from the main building and across the courtyard. Inside the tiny chapel's walls is Leonardo Davinci. Apparentl in the lqst years of his life Leo became a member of the French court of the chateau and spent his time there studying urban planning and architecture. His small and modest tomb is in the floor of the chapel with one single rose laying on top and simply reads: Leonardo Davinci. It is quite a secret and tucked away place...I did not expect to pay a visit to Davinci's tomb!

To keep up with the impromptu theme of "Davinci Day" we walked up the hill nearby the castle to pay a visit to Leo's residence in Amboise. I hear it is pretty cool inside, full of inventions and some sketches of Davinici's...but the admission price was a little too luch for us and theouse was closing soon. I think I will have to pay another visit to Chez Davinci.

After visiting the Chateau and Leonardo we worked up an appetitie. We satisfied the cravings by visiting a chocolate shop which to our luck was passing out free samples during a demonstration! To make it even better, we spent some time in a small wine shop that gives free tastings of locally produced wine and cheeses. We walked away with some fabulous bottles of red and rose wine and the most amazing goat cheese I have ever tasted!! While we waited for our train back to Tours we enjoyed some hot chocolate at a nerby cafe and people watched. I am constantly in awe of the rich history and culture that is in France. People walk by this huge chateau from hundreds of years ago and it is just as natural to them as walking by a shopping mall for us. I could sit at a cafe in France forever just gazing at castles and french folk on bicycles carrying their freshly baked baguettes home for dinner!

The next day we visited the Old city of Tours and attended a church service at Saint-Gatien's Cathedral. The beautiful building illustrates many different architectural styles that span over time from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Acting as one of the most significant sites for religious pilgrims to rest en route to Compestelle, the Cathedral has seen the likes of many Kings, crowds of travelers, and Joan of Arc.

Tours is an easy city to get around and provides a much needed break from the small city where I live. The many cafes, bars, museums, shops and large student population has sparked my interest. It has all the perks of Paris but without all the hustle and bustle. I plan on returning to Tours many more times!!

This week I start teaching!! Bon Courage to me! Hope all is well for all of you... sned me updates on how you are doing!

Until next time,

Shelly

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Photos

Center of Tours
The expostition center, Hotel De Ville

From the ramparts...
the Chateau d'Amboise

Chateau d'Amboise
I shall call this: Castle from the bush.

Katie and Shelly...
with the Loire and Chateau in the background

Look there's Leo!
Who needs the Davinci Code?

More chateau
with shelly, kelly and katie

Relaxing in the gardens
I would give anything for this to be my backyard! We tried to clib this tree and were unsucessful...

Kelly and I had our own crusade...
in the Chateau gift shop!

Chez Davinci
Tom Hanks check this out... we know where Leonardo lives!

Stoppping by for a visit with leonardo
I had to return a painting he gave me

The detailed sculptures on the Door
I was a lot more impressed with the ornate architecture of this cathedral than Notre Dame.

Comments

[anonymous]

Wow Bula, another amazing adventure in your travels.. Now I want to visit Tours too. There is soo much cool stuff to see in France man, what a contrast to you time in NZ where it is just moutains and bush to look at and history that dates back to 1850. Good luck with your first week of teaching girl. Love Ngaire

[Auntie Debbie!!!!!]

I can hardly believe the architecture!
wow!! thanks so much for keeping us up-dated on your travels! your are sooo blessed and I will have hoards of questions when you come and visit here. Yes, to the Chateau Duck (** Love you, shelllyxxxoooo

[Christian]

so jealous!
hi shelly love! i am so jealous about your adventures in france... i have to work :-( hopeto travel with you soon! we have to figure something out! anyway, it looks like you are having heaps of fun! keep me posted and send you old friend an email from time to time, will you? ;-) love ya! christian

[Mommie]

Oh my!
Tours is beautiful, Shell! I see why you plan to be a repeat visitor. The Chateau is gorgeous, the cathedral, very impressive! You've actually stood at the foot of Davinci's grave, yes Mr. Hanks would be envious, I'm sure! Keep having fun, sweetie, all eyes are on you! Love to Kelly, SWAK! M

[Brenda]

The Loire Valley
Shelly, lovin' your latest adventures. If I were there I would do exactly the same things! Keep up the pictures and notes, they are so historic and funny too! By the way, when you get ready to come home, I would love some sweet white wine from the Loire Valley. I first drank some in Paris myself when I was young, and then a French friend recommended them again a few years ago. Write me at [e-mail] if you can bring back some wine. I will of course pay for it! Have a wonderful time! All my best to you, Brenda.

[Carynn & Alonso]

:) !!
SHellllyyyyyyyyyyy! It's Alonso and Carynn here- reading your blogs. They are really fun and entertaining! Did you get my blender from Leonardo's? I let him borrow it ages ago and he never returned it, figures. Well, can't wait to hear more! Wish we were there :( (Alonso) Try to go to le football (soccer) game!!! The most famous team is Paris Saint German. We love ya! Keep having fun! --Alonsito and Carynnie :)