9/15/17 AIX!

Back in Aix!  The drive down from Montlucon was pretty long, but motorway all the way.  We shared the driving, but John drove into town.  It's very tense and the traffic is quite heavy at the best of times.  Many one way streets, temporarily closed streets, blocked for various reasons streets, and NO parking!  When we were close to the car rental office, I got out of the car and walked down the street to see if I could find a place to park in the vicinity.  The traffic was backed up enough that I had plenty of time to look!  Luckily, the rental garage right on the street was open with just enough room to pull the car in without blocking the entire sidewalk.

We had so much with us to unpack from the car.  We brought food with us from Amboise as well as a printer and a scales and a few things we picked up at the markets up north.  We were not able to check into our apartment until the following day due to my misreading of the European calendar - the week does not start with Sunday as ours does. It starts with Monday.  If you fail to take note of the actual dates, you are a day off.  Mea culpa!

The car rental agent called us a taxi and we managed to load everything and then - on to the hotel.  Walking, the hotel could be reached in about 10 minutes.  Driving, it took us about a half an hour due to the heavy traffic.  We stayed at a hotel on the Cours Mirabeau called the "Bastide du Cours" that is located over the sidewalk restaurant of the same name.  John went in to check-in and I waited on the curb with all our stuff.  I looked like Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies! Then it started to rain - so sad!  Good news is the hotel was just beautiful and our room was fabulous! And we are in Aix - how tough is that?!?!?

The next day we had breakfast in bed and went off to meet our landlady, Corinne at the apartment (Aquae Sextii).  We managed to get everything over there in two trips and started to enjoy!  Great place.  Same building we stayed in when B was with us two years ago, but a one-bedroom instead of two.  We will be here until the first of October, then move to our two-bedroom apartment at the other end of the Cours until the end of November.  Except for short trips, only one more time to unpack and re-pack everything. Yay!

Here are a couple of pictures of the area in which we are staying.  There are also many stores - Sephora and the world's most beautiful Apple Store - within a block, not to mention a coffee shop downstairs, hundreds of cafes, bakeries, and boutiques, all within easy walking distance.  I will take more pictures soon.  It is hard to describe in words - seeing is better.

Saturday morning market:

Living Room at apartment:

Le Fontaine de la Rotonde:

Our stove - already showed Candy - makes very excellent food!

We have a painting of this fountain on the Cours at our house in Green Valley:

Strolling the Cours:

9/14/17 Montlucon

Woke up this morning feeling restless so decided to leave Amboise a day early and break up the long drive to Aix-en-Provence.  We did a quick search on the internet - "Last Minute Hotel Deals" - and found a small hotel in Montlucon that looked nice.  It was just a three and-a-half hour drive down south from Amboise on the motorway.  Toll roads are a breeze now that we have a credit card with a chip!  In the past we would have to take a plastic bag full of change and pray that the line behind us at the toll booth wasn't too long.  We love the French, but they are extremely impatient drivers.

Montlucon was a bit larger city than we had imagined.  John was thinking cozy little country inn, but it turned out to be located in the center of a pretty big downtown. It was, however, quite charming and very comfortable.  I wish I had taken a picture of the back entrance where we were told to park.  You had to drive down a mostly pedestrian street, stop at a gate in a stone wall, and then drive through the VERY narrow gate into a cobble-stoned courtyard.  It took three tries just to get through the gate.

The hotel - LeGrenier a Sel - was really lovely.

It could very well be a cozy little inn in the countryside!

A little oasis in the middle of the busy city.

The door to our room:

We took a walk around the older part of the city, window-shopping and then stopped for a bite to eat.

For B - yet more cat figurines.  The French LOVE their cats!

We were two of four guests staying that night, and in the morning we had the dining room to ourselves for breakfast.

Our table:

For my sister Carol - beautiful vintage doll clothes:

After breakfast - back on the road to Aix!

9/13/17 Chateau Amboise

Today is the day we tour the Chateau Amboise.  It is windy and a bit cold and the forecast calls for rain. Perfect weather for viewing this castle.  From our cottage it is about a 10 minute walk.

Steps from street to entrance of chateau:

A big "thank you" to Dr. Smith for making it possible for me to do this:

Chateau Amboise:

Great Room:

Reception Room:

Beautiful stained glass windows that line the length of the main hallway:

Firewood basket to end all firewood baskets:

 Coat of Arms - Francois I (the salamander):

This is a little plaster detail on the ceiling of the main hallway.  John thinks the head of the figure looks like Bozo the Clown. Now that I take a good look...

Chapel where Da Vinci was laid to rest:

Frieze over door of chapel:

Max 2013:                                                                   John 2017:

View of Village of Amboise from wall of chateau:

After a tough afternoon of sightseeing, stopped by Bigot for a snack:

Then took a walk down the pedestrian street for some window shopping:

First I've seen of this shade for Le Creuset.  I LOVE it!

These dishes are made in the region.  They are gorgeous!  The ones pictured are bottle coaster size (about 5.5 inches in diameter).  Every design under the sun.  Could kick myself for not picking some up!

9/12/17 Villandry Part 3 - The House

From Wikipedia:

"Jean LeBreton, Controller General for War under Francois I constructed the chateau around an original 14th century keep where King Phillip II of France once met Richard I of England to discuss peace.  The chateau remained in the LeBreton family for more than two centuries until it was acquired by the Marquis de Castellane.  During the French Revolution the property was confiscated and in the early 19th century, Emperor Napoleon acquired it for his brother Jerome Bonaparte.

In 1906, Joachim Carvallo [Spanish Physician] purchased the property and poured an enormous amount of time, money [his wife was the American heiress Ann Coleman - steel!)] and devotion into repairing it and creating extremely beautiful gardens.  In 1934, Chateau Villandry was designated an Historic Monument.  Like all the other chateaux of the Loire Valley, it is a World Heritage Site.

Still owned by the Carvallo family, the Chateau Villandry is open to the public and is one of the most visited chateaux in France with an average 330,000 visitors a year."

And voila!  Here it is:

The drawing Room:

Carvalho Family Photos:

The current owner - Henri Carvallo:

Card Table in Game Room:

Beautiful Inlaid Chess Set - all those tiny pieces!

John..."Wonder where they get all the fresh flowers?"

He's such a kidder!

Detail of ceiling:

Saint Michael:

Saint Francis:

Amusing story:

Not so amusing painting:

Really creepy!

"Now where's the staircase?"

"Oh, there it is!"

Blue Velvet Bedroom:

 Note: Covered wicker bathtub in right alcove.

Green Velvet Bedroom:

Guest Room:

The Nursery (very beautiful and peaceful feeling room):

Child's Room Toys:

Note: Bunny on child's tea set shooting bird!  Mmmmmmmm!

Puppet Theater:

Prince Jerome Bonaparte's Bedroom:

Wooden Model of House:

To the tippy top!

Color-coordinated couple!  

It was a great way to spend the day, and we really chose well for our chateau visit.  Nothing could compare to this!