Hotel La Sauldraie Salbris

Our final chateau - Chambord. Everything about Chambord is done on a grand scale and on apporaching the chateau one is awe struck by the size, not only of the chateau but the grounds which cover 35sq kms! Inside has over 400 rooms, some bare conrete walls, some with renaissance art hanging on the walls and several had the full works - tapestries, furniture, frescos.

The history of the chateau was also very interesting as it was home to whom would have been next ...

Next stop Cheverney. This chateaux had less of a grand opening as it was able to be seen from the road, however the size of the grounds impressed. One would not have guessed what lay inside. We were wowed by Chenonceau but by Chevereny we were blown away. The detail of the rooms were simply overwhelming and at times hard to take it all in...just check out the photos we have uploaded on this page.

... of the streets, a bunch of us met back at the square to go to dinner. We eventually split into three groups, so I ended up having dinner at Le Comptoir de Paris with Yvonne, Bert and Linda. Yvonne and I both had bavette (akin to sirloin), which was very tasty and considerably cheaper than last night's beef! I figured since the guy actually brought the chalkboard to our table and even explained some of the dishes to us, that it was safe to order. Linda was brave ...

Paulo Coelho was notthe first one to mention contemplation this year; my very best friend has shared a lot of thoughts coming from contemplation. I guess it is the main difference between her and me that she can, at least mentally,
hide herself from the world she involves while I am too attentive. She
will be a real saint; for the great spirit of withdrawing from
trivialities and seeking some personal meaning of her own life. Indeed,
I have thought ...

 From Chenonceaux we plan to drive about an hour east, to the town of Chambord with it's magnificent chateau.  Got kinda lost on our last visit here, bringin' a road map and google directions this time ...

Aprés l'indépendance de 75, Manuel Pinto da Costa est élu président. Il est le leader du MLSTP, organe politique du CLSTP militant activemnet pour l'indépendance de ST.
Manuel Pinto et son premier ministre Miguel Trovoada suivent une doctrine Marxiste-Léniniste avec comme exemple Cuba et L'Angola voisin. Ils vont nationaliser l'économie, controler tous les pouvoirs de l'ile et ...

... colonisation portugaise qui va durer jusqu'a l'indépendance du pays le 12 juillet 1975. Entre temps l'esclavage sera aboli en 1875 et l'ile va connaitre le pire massacre de son histoire: le 3 Février 1953 à lieu le "massacre de Batepá". Le 3 février un officier à été tué à coup de machette et la répression qui a suivit a été particuliérement violente; on parle de plus de 1 000 morts (travailleurs dans les champs de cocao ou bien Forro ...

... br>Cela vient en particulier dut fait que les vents du Sud ramménent les nuages qui ne peuvent plus continuer leur route vers le Nord du fait de de la topographie de l'île. En effet, l'ile a connut une période volcanique importante; le point culminant se situe à 2024 métres et cette petite île posséde pas mois de 4 sommets supérieurs a 800 métres!!

... Composition: archipel composé de deux iles principales (Sao-Tome et Principe :) ainsi que de quelques ilots. Localisation: à 300 km a l'ouest de côtes du Gabon, au milieu de l'atlantique. Pour trouver l'ile sur une carte suivez la ligne de l'équateur et vous tomberez dessus!! Langue: Portugais. Sao-Tome est une ancienne ...

... house, surrounded by a moat on three sides with a fairytale roofline and the staircase described earlier. One day I'll get around to adding all my photos ... I spent the rest of the day riding to more chateau, and just enjoying (sorry wrong word), looking forward to laying down and resting after a 50km plus ride... but still it was very nice.. it was good to do something a bit different. The next day I caught a train to Paris....