Thursday, 10 May 2012
Wed 9th Bordeaux city
Fine weather at last and much warmer though Michelle and I still needed coats. Yesterday we visited Chateau Cherverny located near Bois which is lived in by the current owners. We had a superb self guided pamphlet to guide us which included random interesting facts such as people in the 16th century slept sitting up as the lying flat position was reserved for the dead! Each room was beautifully dressed. Greg and I took many photos of beds - not sure was freud would say about that! But they were so amazing. Another thing we are all in awe of are the massive tapestries which decorate the walls. An army of skilled workers must have spent months ot even years creating these master pieces. There was also a kitchen garden and kennels housing over 100 french hunting hounds.
In the afternoon we toured Chenonceau Chateau. Built in the 16th century it spans the river Cher and has 2 magnificant french style formal gardens. During WWII one side was in the occupied zone and the other side was in Vishy France. The Resistance was able to use the south door to pass a large number of people into the fee zone.
Thurday. Raining on and off all day. Today we spent the day travelled to Bordeaux. The scenery has finally changed fron canola and barley to grape vines. Of course we ate more pastries - after all there was not a much else to do. Tomorrow we plan to visit the city centre. Michelle also has a dental appointment to see what can be done about her broken tooth. That will be an adventure in itself - though definately one she could do without. Hopefully the dentist will have some basic english that is better than our french!!!
Fine weather at last and much warmer though Michelle and I still needed coats. Yesterday we visited Chateau Cherverny located near Bois which is lived in by the current owners. We had a superb self guided pamphlet to guide us which included random interesting facts such as people in the 16th century slept sitting up as the lying flat position was reserved for the dead! Each room was beautifully dressed. Greg and I took many photos of beds - not sure was freud would say about that! But they were so amazing. Another thing we are all in awe of are the massive tapestries which decorate the walls. An army of skilled workers must have spent months ot even years creating these master pieces. There was also a kitchen garden and kennels housing over 100 french hunting hounds.
In the afternoon we toured Chenonceau Chateau. Built in the 16th century it spans the river Cher and has 2 magnificant french style formal gardens. During WWII one side was in the occupied zone and the other side was in Vishy France. The Resistance was able to use the south door to pass a large number of people into the fee zone.
Thurday. Raining on and off all day. Today we spent the day travelled to Bordeaux. The scenery has finally changed fron canola and barley to grape vines. Of course we ate more pastries - after all there was not a much else to do. Tomorrow we plan to visit the city centre. Michelle also has a dental appointment to see what can be done about her broken tooth. That will be an adventure in itself - though definately one she could do without. Hopefully the dentist will have some basic english that is better than our french!!!
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Camper now well set up. Michelle and I enjoyed power shopping to set up our little home away from home. The boys just rolled their eyes as we loaded all the 'essential' items into our trollies. After a trial run in Wales we have headed to France -crossing at Dover (after checking out Dover Castle). We travelled down to Normandy and stopped at the fishing town of Dieppe. We explored their Catherdral and wandered the streets salivating over all the delicious patiserrie and delicatesan items - all beautifully displayed. From there we headed southeast travelling past fields of golden canola that seemed to shimmer- wedged between bright green barley with alien like wind farms dotting the horizon. In Rouen and Orleans we visited spectacular gothic cathedrals and ate more patisseries. Today we visited our first Chateau - Chambord. Built by Francis 1 as a hunting lodge - the builders obviously got carried away as it has 426 rooms and 282 fireplaces. Francis reigned for 32 years but only spent 72 days at this chateaux. Nice to have so many other homes to stay in.
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