Novotel Orleans La Source

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

... for campsite directions. One gentleman tells us there are none around the area and another man gives us directions to one on the outskirts of town. That was a wild goose chase!<br>All we could do was travel south to the next town (Orleans) an hour away and hope for a hotel.<br>Feeling really ****** *** we set off and after 5 minutes came across a wonderful sight, a tent symbol on a sign pointing left. Yipeeee.<br>Half an hour ...

... br><br><br><br>  <br><br> This place is monstrously huge!  I think it's about the biggest chateau in France. <br> At one point Napoleon gave this to one of his buddies... must have been nice eh?<br><br>

If yesterday was about meandering rivers through green pastures filled with quietly grazing cattle, today is very much about the high plateaus with vast arable farms; not at all the familiar patchwork quilt effect of French farming of the past. But one thing that will never change about France is its size. It is a huge country and the combination of the landscape and the long, straight roads at this height produces an effect not dissimiliar to other big ...

... 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

Hello from... not Paris! It was an adventure today as we journeyed from the city for the first time. We left our hotel at Porte d'Orleans pretty much first thing by taxi back over to Orly Ouest - the airport on the south side of the city -- less famous, maybe, but th eone we flew into. There we picked up our Peugot (sp?) from National rentacar, and headed on our way. We went down to Fontainebleau -- residence of French kings ...

... single night stay. Thanks Gareth !! We stayed at a small friendly site in Routhiauville, which we would recommend as an overnighter, it was very private, though with little English spoken. An early start the next morning saw us off to Orleans via Rouen. Huw does not like driving on the Payage roads, so we go along the A roads, which gives us a lovely view of the countryside. After my previous map reading, an investment in the way of a SatNav was well worth ...

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.

... Bourges and left by midday walking in direction North with the hope to reach the highway that goes in direction of Paris. It started well as a young man stopped to bring us out of town in a near suburb without having to stand still but just lifting the thumb while walking. There its been more long but we did get several ride that took the whole afternoon moving slowly from 10km to another 10km and coping with the rain. At least we ...

... lausa Raekoja ette. Seal tärkas meil mõte lüüa lahti rüperaal ja katsetada, kuidas on konnasööjate maal lood traadita internetiga. Ja oh imet, võrke oli lausa jalaga segada ja mõni neist täitsa turvamata. Üldiselt võib WiFi-hulludele rahumeeli kinnitada, et kui mitte tasuta, siis röövelliku viie euro eest tunnist saab Orange vahendusel ja pisut soodsamalt Wanadoo võrkudes traadita internetti kasutada vähemalt nendes Prantsusmaa linnades, kuhu me oma reisi vältel sattusime.