Family in France! Day 5 - Tours, France

Today we went to Tours, where I studied French for 2 months in 2008. It was really, really bizarre at first for me to be back, but then it was simply wonderful to walk around and tour the city with everyone. We spent the first few hours walking around the town and shopping at the market, and the last 6 hours were spent driving through the countryside (with a tour company) to two castles that we visited.

Newly arrived in Tours - in front of the Town Hall

Later I asked everyone what they liked best - here's what they said:

Dad


"The flower market was real nice, there was a wide variety of goods. Met a vendor who made some jewelery, which we bought some of.

Flower market in Tours - exactly as I remembered it.

 Bought some lunch from a guy who handmade our food – very good.

Explaining / translating all our lunch choices to Dad

Went to the river, which was big and scenic. I would have liked to spend more time there, maybe eat lunch.

Walking along the river in Tours

Saw where Katie lived, very nice spot, overlooks a garden, which we walked in. Beautiful place to stay. Katie said hello to her former host-brother, he seemed kinda shy. (Nobody else was home).

Then we went on a tour bus, nice and scenic ride, you could sleep if you wanted to but I didn't. Went to the castle “Chambord.” That was a huge castle. If you've got the money and time, anyone can build one. This one was built originally as a hunting lodge but the guy didn't even spend that much time in it. We walked around all 4 floors, took pictures, very beautiful. You don't get to see that every day, you gotta travel to see those. Well worth it.

Chateau Chambord

Got back on the bus and went to the 2nd castle which was built over a river. It was more interesting, more to see even though it was smaller, which made it more homey. It was old, it's cool to think of it as, 500 years ago, they walked where we're now walking. This whole region is interesting because it's where all the nobles and royalty used to live and now we're here.

Chateau Chenonceau

Then we got on the bus and went to back to Tours and had dinner at an outdoor cafe and went back to Paris. Wonderful day. "

Pasta-y dinners with the train station just there in the background

Anica

"The first castle...it's like they were expecting a war, the walls were so thick, so much stone. There was also a little hill with a chapel. But they actually built the castle in the middle of a flat land, it was so huge.

Dad, Anica and Pipi walking around Chateau Chambord

I especially liked the small castle, it was beautiful. I liked the entrance and the little channels around it, the small apartments, a rose garden on the right side and a maze garden on the left side. The area around the castle was so relaxing. During that time, if you wanted to go somewhere to escape the hustle and bustle, that's the place to go. "

Taking a picture from the inside of Chenonceau -
that's Pipi and Anica in the middle walking along the path

Pipi

 "I liked the flower market – it was a variety of stuff, it wasn't garbage, it was nice stuff. Bought a few things. The thing is is that it was clean and neat and orderly. You didn't have the hussle and bustle of Paris, it was a more relaxed atmosphere. A quiet, slow place there. It was more traditional, like I was expecting, got away from the tourists.

Of course they found the only booth selling knives and other kitchen cutlery...

It was nice seeing the place where Katie went to school. Seeing the look on the little boys face when Katie said hello... Those casltes...that first one was huuuuge, I just can't believe people lived like that. That second one with the moat, that was unusual. "

Pipi in front of Chenonceau (over the water!)

Donna

"The second castle was my favorite, it was very beautiful. It had an interesting story – the King Henry gave this castle to one of his “ladies,” Diane. It wasn't a large castle but it was very beautiful. When he was killed, his wife Catherine de Medeci (sp?) kicked Diane out and gave her a different, smaller castle.

Dad and I in one of the staircases in Chenonceau

Unflattering photo but Dad and Donna really enjoyed the windows

One of the many beautiful rooms in Chenonceau

Also, I liked seeing the apartment where Katie lived and where she went jogging in a park every morning.

It was so strange to be back after 3 years,
and wonderful to have my family with me

It was nice seeing her talk to her former host brother, who noticed she spoke a lot better [I knocked on the door just to say hello for a moment]. Oh and I loved the market, too.

Donna trying on hats in the market

Got to see where Katie got her food from – same guy still there! Excellent, excellent food. We had a real French grilled cheese, the best I ever had [called “Croque-Monsieur]."

Katie
 
It was basically a really wonderful day, and so special to share this place with them. I give them all a lot of credit for being able to keep up with the itinerary I created, which I suppose does require a bit of fitness - Donna is starting to joke I should start a weight-loss tour guide company, and I'm thinking it's not such a bad idea... I promise I will get them all home in one piece though!

In Place Plumereau in Tours

 Love from all!