Days 14 & 15

I’m putting a couple of days together at the moment as being with Kerry and KT is not so much of a travel blog, and more of a time with family, so perhaps not as interesting to all readers.

Day 14

13 October 2022

Today we headed for Chinon, after the usual slow start. This is not a negative! It is great to slow down and live the life. Chinon is about 30 minutes away and has a fort overlooking the old town. Very impressive it is too. We first went to the open air markets for supplies, and then wandered through the old town.

It has plenty of character, but there is something lacking. There are too many closed shops and it has a down at heel feel about it. Found a great firm of lawyers, who I assume do a lot of Court work.( see below photo)

Lunch was at a café, and we agreed before we went in that a light lunch was in order, given that we planned a big meal for the night. So, 4 courses later we emerged stuffed full !

Net stop was in Fontevraud, to see the Abbey. First we had the pleasure of one of Kerry’s back road experiences, it so good to see sooooo much countryside.

The Abbey as been there for something like 900 years, and it is amazing. It has recently been restored. For 150 years since the Revolution it was used as a prison, only decommissioned in 1963. There is no evidence left of those times, and it is hard to imagine that the interior had 4 floors added to accommodate all the prisoners.

It is also the resting place of Richard the Lionheart, his wife and his Mum and Dad. His Dad was Henry 11 (King of England) and his Mum was Eleanor of Aquitaine ( Queen of France and then England). For most of it’s life it was an Abbey populated by Nuns, who got to pray 8 times a day and got to eat twice a day- what more could you ask for ?

There is also a gallery attached with pictures donated from a private collection covering many periods of French art. The owners/collectors must have had a heap of money as the collection is vast with well recognised artists and also includes sculptures.

We were getting very foot weary by the end, but it was great as there was so much to see. Back home to briefly get ready to go out to dinner. It was an 8.30 booking, and it was in the local “big” town Azay Le Rideau. It was a terrific meal, but boy, were we ever stuffed full. I don’t think I can remember what feeling hungry is like.

Day 15

14 October 2022

Happy Birthday to Kerry.

We started with a trip to the local boulangerie for croissants and baguette, and then back for more food. It is just impossible to resist the baguette, with lashings of butter and vegemite !

KT headed out for supplies for tonight’s feast, and we just sat around and chatted with Ker. Eventually we got our act together and headed into Azay to the local Chateau. It is one of the prettiest around, in a beautiful setting with large gardens and on an island. Picture perfect.

The weather has turned a bit bleak, with showers, but it hasn’t deterred us from our main aim…eating and drinking.

By the time we returned KT had the meal well under way, a fantastic Cote de Boeuf for main. We then ventured out to the local seafood van, which comes once a week from the coast. We bought some Coquille St Jacques (scallops) and some oysters. It is a great game trying to guess the varieties of fish on display and relate them to what fish we know.

Ker and KT’s good friends, Dave and Sue, joined us for dinner. A slap up meal in the dinning room with the fire on, a beautifully set table by KT and lots of good wine.

The menu was nibbles and oysters and champagne in the kitchen, then into the dinning room for scallops with black pudding; the beef with turnip mash (yum) and broccoli; then the cheese course and finally the dessert of apple tart which KT had made from scratch, which looked and tasted amazing. Finally, an after dinner drink and into bed at about 12.30am. Washing up tomorrow.

I hope Ker enjoyed his special birthday.