Day 16 - Loire Valley

Here I am, sitting in a period armchair by the window of T & T's room, overlooking the clearing sky (we hope) above the beautiful park grounds of our chateau, being served a digestif of kir, from a tray, a night-cap after a big day out in the Loire Valley. Sigh...


Unfortunately, I have again taken so many photos that I have run my camera flat, so won't be able to post photos until tomorrow, but take my word for it, this area is gorgeous.

After breakfast this morning, we went into Tours looking for a laundromat and Ikea. We found Ikea and spent a good couple of hours happily in homewares heaven. We took a lot of photos to provide inspiration for a few "honey I've had a great idea" moments when we get home, and bought a fab lampshade for our dining room that comes packed down in a wee box no bigger than a book end. I can't wait to get it up when we get it home.

We got a surprise to see that it was already the middle of the afternoon, so flagged the laundry and drove down the valley to Villandry. The brochures showed that this was not only a beautiful chateau, but that it also had beautiful gardens, so it seemed a good one to include on our visiting list.

Oh my goodness, it was incredible! The chateau itself was certainly lovely and interesting - particularly the furniture and decor - but the gardens were glorious. Mum and Lyn, you would have been in seventh heaven. There were at least a dozen distinct and different gardens, over at least 3 different levels - a herb garden, a kitchen garden, a labryinth, a lovers garden, a sun garden, a stream, a small lake with swans, it just went on and on. I will never complain about my keeping my standards or edges in trim again! The kitchen garden on its own was amazing, a fully fledged vege garden where everything planted also served an ornamental function.

Unfortunately, it was still raining on and off, but we had brought umbrellas from the chateau, so were able to wander happily without there being too much of a crowd along with us.  Apparently they change the gardens entirely every 4 years, but to keep you going until tomorrow, I found a couple of interweb photos of two of the gardens that look like they did when we were there today (blue sky excluded, of course).

After a couple of hours or so wandering about we headed back to Amboise, where we changed cuisine and went to an Italian restaurant that had been recommended by our hosts here. Another delicious meal - and really good sangria (although the waiter seemed really surprised when Toni and I ordered a second one each, I guess French girls limit themselves to one glass?!). We are winding down now and hope to have a good sleep as we have a bit planned tomorrow. We will go back to Amboise after breakfast to look through the chateau there, then to Leonardo Da Vinci's house (cool!) and then finish the day and into the evening at Chenonceau, where they have a night tour. I will try to remember to save some battery so that I can upload photos with tomorrow's blog.

Big smooches to everyone at home, we are having an amazing time, but it will be great to see you all again too. I will go down to the drawing room to send this off, then head up to our turret. Catch you tomorrow. xx