Wednesday, July 28

Bob and Jackie "mapping" (top). Versailles (middle). Garden at Versailles (bottom).

Today we were up early. At the pastry shop by 7:30am. We took a coach to Versailles and had self-paced guides through the Kings' Castle of Versailles. The Castle is gigantic and has been restored to an amazing show of opulence. The many gardens outside were full of beautiful colors and were manicured to perfection. We coached back to Paris and saw many of the sights from the coach that we had visited. We also came through the tunnel where Princess Diana was in the fatal crash.
Upon arriving back in Paris we found a cafe where J,B&J had wonderful salads and John had a warm ham and cheese. We all finished some shopping and touring and are preparing for a final dinner in Paris. We will be home soon to show the hours of video and many pictures to all who wish to watch. Love to our family and friends.
(Rob-Janyce had a nutella and banana crepe this afternoon to end our stay!)

Tuesday 7/27

Jan and Jackie enjoying breakfast (top). Bob and John in front of the Musee d'Orsay (bottom).

Today started with a wonderful breakfast at an organic cafe. Wonderful food and healthy, too!
Then off to the Musee d'Orsay to see the impressionists' art work. Beautiful works by Monet, Cezanne, Charbot, Van Gogh, Renoir, Manet, Degas...........Back to the hotel for a short rest and then out to shop.

Monday 7/26

Veda saying goodbye (top). Audrey and Rusty in the back seat enjoying the car's vista roof (bottom).

This morning we enjoyed our last breakfast at the B&B outside of Bayeux - Le Moulin de Hard. It was hard to leave the lovely country setting, the wonderful croissants and breads, the six types of homemade jams, homemade yogurt and the relaxing atmosphere. After the fairly short drive to Chartres (about three hours), we turned in the car and hopped on the train to Paris. John and Bob enjoyed the hills and valleys of France while on the train. When we arrived back at our Paris hotel home we relaxed for a few moments and sipped some champagne which was left for us in our rooms by Walter, the concierge. We then headed out for a very nice dinner and found some great restaurants for the next two evenings.
Tomorrow more sites of Paris......Love to all family and friends!

Sunday 7/25

Paddle wheel outside our B&B (top) Bayeux Cathedral (bottom)

We started another day with a lovely breakfast and were joined by a nice young couple from Vienna, Austria. Then off in a slight drizzling rain to visit the German bunkers at Longues sur Mer. These bunkers were still intact as were their guns. We saw how thick the concrete was with most walls about a meter thick with steel reinforced concrete.

After leaving this site we traveled east to Arromanches. There we toured the museum which explained through diaramas, films and displays how the British built a harbor and transported supplies and munitions to the troops who had taken the beaches. There was a downtown market going on which we walked through. We didn't buy anything there, but have some reading to do from the books we bought at the various museums.
We came back to Bayeux and lunched on healthy desserts (Jackie-chocolate crepe, Janyce-chocolate, banana crepe, John-banana split, Bob-salad?) at l'Insolite. Then we walked over to view the 1,000 year old tapestry of Bayeux, which told the story of William the Conqueror (going from a bastard child to William the Conqueror). This tapestry had to be repaired after the French Revolution when the people tore it apart.
Back to our lovely B&B for a nap (or to read) to the sounds of the stream outside the window and the baahhing of the sheep. After refreshing, we went back to Bayeux for a wonderful 2 1/2 hour dinner at Le Pommier. Pictures were taken of all courses.

Friday and Saturday 7/24&25

D-Day Museum (above) German Bunker (below)

Friday: We drove from Amboise to our bed and breakfast near Bayeux - Le Moulin de Hard. On the way we visited Madame Darraux (Sylvie's Mother - Sylvie is a friend and colleague of Jackie's). She was wonderfully hospitable and showed us her home and served us some treats. She lives in a home on a farm with fresh air and the wheat had just been harvested the day before. We then all went to lunch at a cafe for truck drivers just down the road. We tried all sorts of wonderful French home made food and had a wonderful time laughing and enjoying a very family type welcome. Back to the car and on to our new home at Le moulin de Hard. We were greeted by our hostess with beverages which we enjoyed by a stream overlooking flowers and the pasture. We then did a reconnaissance tour of the area to check out tomorrow's touring.

Saturday: Up early with the horses to a wonderful breakfast of breads, six types of homemade jams, tea/coffee, homemade yogurt and then off to tour Normandy. We started at a D-Day museum learning about the events and watching a video description of D-Day. We went to Utah, Pointe du Hoc (where the Rangers climbed the cliffs) and Omaha Beaches. There were memorials at all the beaches and we saw German bunkers and the tunnel system between them. We also went to the American Cemetery and walked all around it. It is a very awe inspiring site and one that reminded us of the real cost of war. We also went in the chapel where Mike and Rob (?) sang on their choir tour.
Tonight we had a lovely dinner in Bayeux and then walked around the Cathedral. As we walked by the front doors we stopped in and listened to someone playing the organ as we looked at the beautiful stained glass windows. We returned to the bed and breakfast where we enjoyed a bottle of wine, wrote this blog, and planned tomorrow's expedition.

Thursday 7/22

Picnicking before touring Chateau de Chenonceau on the Cher River (above)

We left without eating breakfast at the hotel because we figured we would find a great little cafe in Chaumont. Wrong... We basically woke up the owners of the cafe that we found and then proceeded to have coffee (?), hot chocolate (?), and toast with cherry jam and bees. Needless to say, we went looking for lunch very soon after!

When we arrived at Montrichard, we saw many beautiful cafes. Oh well... C'est la vie! We bought provisions for lunch (bread, cheese, fruit, quiche, butter, peanut butter, pastries, water, and a Coke for John). We found our way to the Chateau de Chenonceau and, after parking, had a French-style tailgate party. Fleur de lys! Go red, white, and blue! Then we toured the chateau, gardens, and the souvenir shop. It's truly a stunning chateau which spans the Cher River and it was built several hundreds of years ago.

With the full roof opened, the "kids" enjoyed the ride back to the hotel. However, before arriving at the hotel, we filled the car up with gas. It's amazing...you don't have to pay first or put in your credit card. They trust you!!

Back to Amboise for a bit of wine tasting (one was really yucky and we found one that was okay), and then on to dinner. Yum... Janyce really liked the tatin (the apple-caramel upside down tarte...you have to see it to understand). Tomorrow is a day of traveling to see Sylvie Lucki's mother (Mme. Darraux) and then on to Normandy. Adios amigos! Hasta manana!!

Tuesday and Wednesday (7/20&21)

J&J at Italian Rest. (top) daVinci's Home (middle) Our Hotel (below)

Yesterday we got up and took the train to Chartres where we picked up a rental car - a Peugeot 5008. Bob hopped in and had those six gears shifting smoothly in no time at all. At one point we had to back up and it's hard to figure out how to get the car in reverse so the guys just pushed it (sorry no picture of that one!). Bob has even figured out reverse now so he can get anywhere. We stopped in a pretty little town for some lunch and then arrived about mid-afternoon in Amboise. We checked in, rested up and then went to dinner at a cafe nestled up against the Amboise Chateau. It was a lovely evening.

This morning we got up and had fresh pastries at our hotel and then headed out to Clos Luce (the last home of Leonardo daVinci). The home contained many quotes, replicas of his famous art work, drawings and furniture of the time. The basement and the grounds had mock-ups of his methods to move water, paddleboats, vision of a tank, a swinging bridge, and gears to move or shoot just about anything!

After having a quick bite to eat we did a little shopping and the shop owner was thrilled to be talking to Jackie in French. We left with some pretty things and Jackie has a new friend.

Dinner was Italian - salad, pizza, and spaghetti Bologonese. A bird flew in and sat next to us on the edge of the window - so cute! - and the people sitting next to us were very friendly. The husband works for a company based in Sweden, the boss lives in Downers Grove near Chicago, and he, himself, lives in the Netherlands! What a small world!! When we left, we walked along the Loire River and enjoyed the view at sundown.