Chateau de la Motte d'Usseau Chatellerault

... flowers and some crazy-looking gourds which I think may have been zucchini. It was very peaceful.

For lunch we set up a table on the grass near the coach park; Rolinka had done some shopping earlier in the day. She made up a salad of lettuce, lentils, tomato, corn, onions, yellow peppers and pine nuts with balsamic dressing. There was also goat cheese, salami, ham, pickles, a strong black radish, and bread. Everything tasted really good, and the sun even came ...

... the place, and it tends to look more like an ugly dragon than an amphibian. Also on display were costumes from operas that were performed on the grounds this year. I especially liked the costumes for "The Imaginary Invalid" by Molière. Everything looked as though it would have been disgustingly ornate in Francois's time, but surprisingly the chapel was quite plain and pleasant.

The view from the roof was a good one because you can see for several miles ...

... and Jan of my concurrent adventure and a welcome was extended for me to come and help out. It sounded like a nice time, so I figured why not? I shot them an email, I was invited, I shlepped out to Chinon (which is in the middle of nowhere) and here I am 15 kilometers away from Chinon. Thus, I am 15 kilometers from nowhere.
For the past three days I've earned my keep by--guess what?!--painting! Yes ...

We spent our last ten days of travel at the family farmhouse in Coussay, reunited with the French family and introduced to the brand new and shiny swimming pool which was constructed whilst we were away. I managed to try the swimming pool 2 minutes after arriving, and we managed to ...

... of some pretty unusual buildings surrounded by a proliferation of cheap touristy hotels.
Undettered we paid our money and got there early. It's good to be pleasantly surprised sometimes. We had a fantastic day and only left at 10pm.
Basically it consists of a series of buildings housing different audio visual experiences ranging from Imax theatres, 3D experiences, 4D experiences and culminating in a fantastic evening show with amazing light and sound effects. We ...

... firmly down under an oak tree and refusing to move (she is a poodle cross pekingese, so small). I tried to give her a drink from my hand having brought a litre and a half with me - 1l for me, 1/2l for her - but she thought I was mad for thrusting my hand under her nose, but then frantically licked the drops of water I trickled on her tongue and round her chops and look confused. It took 3 more attempts and some well travelled Cheddar ...

Even though the weather is starting to slowly go to hell we are taking the road to Chambord, one of the biggest castles of the area. A little background: it was the summer house of Francis the 1st so the expectations are quiet huge. We are all surprise by the size of the thing.... it is way too big for one person alone. The rooms are amazing and for the times quiet comfortable, but to top it all it features "the staircase" the one ...

14/06

How exiting will today be? We are going to the resting place of Leonardo de Vinci the "Clos de Luce". He was put there by the king of France and receives an annual income to make sure he would not need anything. The castle itself has nothing special in the way of architecture or stunning gardens but, the inside is full of the original furniture ...

13/06

Today marks the first full day of castle visits and I have set an ambitious program for the all family.... we will see what happen. 1st on the list is Rivaux, this is not a particularly big place but the gardens are simply to die for while the castle is average as far as castle goes. The garden on the other ...

12/06

We made our way from the hotel by 8am to arrive in Azay-le Rideau before lunch time so we could do a spot of shopping as we are staying in an apartment. But when we arrive there we found that the reception was not open before 4pm so we went to have lunch and visit the local castle which is right in the ...