Inter Hotel Terminus Orleans

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 ...

... we were quite at home in a campsite full of lovely chatty people.
Isn't it amazing how some things turn out?
We had such a great evening. We met Christelle from Paris, who spoke English very well and her two gorgeous children. Christelle's Mum was a delight and plied us with gifts - a bottle of wine, cheeses and homemade rhubarb marmalade. Thank you so much for making us feel welcome we so enjoyed your company.

 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 ...

... Internet or Cyber cafes are a bit of a rarity even in the cities, but I manage to find one close to the cathedral. Did I mention the cathedral already? Wow, they sure know how to build cathedrals in this country! And with the festival of St Jeanne just days away the whole place is decked out with massive brightly coloured flags. The old part around the cathedral contains a host of restaurants and bars where the atmosphere is excellent with a real ...

... tranquilamente de las pinturas, los tapices, los monumentos y las armaduras. Ahora, tras este breve paso por el hotel, nos vamos a cenar al centro y dar una vuelta para tomar el pulso a la noche bloisiana. Ya hemos ojeado un par de bares que tienen buena pinta. Mañana por la mañana nos despedimos del Loira y salimos rumbo a casa de la prima de Jaione. A esta hora estaremos ya casi cerquita de casa y los días se nos acaban... ayysssss.... ¡qué duro es esto de estar de vacaciones! :D

... a place where he lives... about 4 months or so after he leaves there. But it was fun to see INSEAD and walk the campus a bit. We thought of you, Kent! Then, we drove across the beautiful, scenic, peaceful (and flat!) French countryside, to reach our accomodation for the night here in Orleans at the Formule 1 (YAY Accor!). On the way we stopped at a supermarche (supermarket) to acquire baguette, cheese (camembert, chevre, and ...

... Herge` (of Tin Tin fame), so that he made Moulinsart almost completely in it's image. We went to a Tin Tin exhibition on the grounds as well. We are supposed to be in Spain by now ... but we are a little bit behind schedule. We're working on it, and should arrive there in the next day or so. We'll be sorry to say goodbye to France (although we will be back!) ... but it will be exciting to venture into another country!

After an exciting drive from and through Paris, guided by our trusty Tom-Tom that wasn't so trusty at the start since it was accidentally set to walking paths, we nervously arrived in the Valley of the Chateaux. We picked these to visit over 2 days: Chambord, Blois and Chanencaux.

October 18 That day PJ was giving a atelier in Orleans so we could get a ride with him in his tiny compact car... so we did! We got a nice ride in direction of Orleans enjoying the countryside view and the attempts to overpass a truck! Then once in Orleans we first settled by Joan of Arc statue to relax and stay calm while we were looking at a girl passing pamphlet over... after having had a short talk with her and getting one of these ...

Järgmiseks läbisõidu kohaks oli 112 600 elanikuga Jeanne d'Arci poolt vabaks võideldud linn. Orleans oli arhitektuurilt ja üldmulje poolest modernseim seninähtud linnadest. Vähem esines vanu saksa stiilis maju - pigem meenutas see skandinaavia stiili. Linna keskust läbib loogeldes Loire'i jõgi. Kuna oli pühapäev, siis oli enamik poode suletud ning jalutasime vaid läbi peatänava, tegime mõned pildid Jeanne d'Arci kuju juures ning suundusime tagasi auto juurde, mis oli ...