Tour tours, or perhaps Tours Tour

Tour Tours or perhaps...Tours Tour?

Whatever it is, the tour of Tours was a wonderful new experience!   As much as I love doing my favorite things, it is always nice to add a new experience, something outside my comfort zone.  Who knows it could become something I would like to add to my favorite places to visit, or simply somewhere else to say I've seen.   Last trip was Chamonix, beautiful.  This time the chateaux of the Loire Valley 'called my name'.  

Years ago when I was teaching elementary school, I used to teach about the world.  I wanted children to be intrigued and familiar enough with the world to want to travel and experience far away places.  Poor things, they sat through some travelogues that I thought were informative and beautiful.  That included one on France.  Many beautiful places and maybe that is where the desire began, to someday travel around the country in a car with someone who spoke French and could drive us everywhere.  That long time dream didn't come true, but I have had bits and pieces of it come true...I've had a driver twice and seen some beautiful countryside.  I've been on buses in many parts of France, so I've gotten close to my dream, but maybe one day it will come true and I will have a lot more time to wander the countryside and the charming villages tucked away.  Someday...perhaps, but if not, oh what sights I've seen anyway...

Back to the travelogue...there was the most amazing castle built over a river, simply magnificent.  I watched the video year after year in amazement.  Never, never, never had I ever dreamed I would see that castle!  And here I was, planning a trip to the part of the country where that castle stood!  I did a lot of research and finally I had the new adventure planned!  And it included a trip to the very castle in the video!  I truly believe that my life the last 7 years has proved that ANYTHING is possible!  

Finally the day arrived when I would be getting an early taxi to Gare Montparnasse, for an early train to Tours for a morning tour of the chateaux. A lot for a day, and as always I was sure it would not be long enough to get the whole experience, but a taste is better than nothing.  There were several chateaux to choose from, but there was no question that I would be heading to Chenonceau, the chateau across the river!  Imagine that...

I travel alone now, and make the most of it.  I love traveling alone most of the time, making my own decisions and being able to go at my own pace without inconveniencing anyone else.  I can't walk as far or as fast as others and always feel badly if anyone has to adjust their pace or plans for me.  

If you have read this blog for a while, you might remember the amazing encounter with the lady from San Francisco who I helped with ideas for the Greek islands and actually met when we were in the same place at the same time on that trip.  It was a delightful encounter and we stay in touch.  Well, after sharing my itinerary in Paris, she contacted me and let me know that she would be there at the same time...absolutely amazing! 

I love traveling on trains, such ease compared to airports.  I get so excited when I am in the train stations now, it always seems to represent how far I've come...to myself.  I used to be terrified to walk into the large areas with trains lined up by numbers and letters, and try to figure out anything.  Thanks to repeated experiences with Cesar, I learned how to do things, and now I'm close to being a pro at it.  No more fears or needing to hold on to anyone, just the thrill of the journey to come.

My friend has not had the opportunity to travel with an experienced train 'guide', so she asked if she could join me on my journey to Tours.  I know she is as independent as I am and I know she would be fine wandering on her own along the way if we wanted to do our own things.  It was going to work out perfectly, as so many last minute things do.  I changed my mind many times in my planning, I won't even go into all of the ideas I had, so when my final itinerary was planned, I only had a couple of days to get everything in place.   She was able to make it work too, so there we were meeting at a train station in Paris a year and a half after meeting in Greece...

Things went great, we found each other easily in the early hours of the morning at the station and before we knew it, we were on the high speed train to our Loire valley adventure.  I thought I'd done enough research and thought I knew what to expect on the day, since it was a holiday.  Seemed like many things there would be open, but that was not the case.  As always, the only choice was to make the best of the situation.  

We arrived on time and had plenty of time to cross the street to the tourist office where the vans were waiting to whisk us away to our chosen destinations.  We were the only two for the 1/2 day tour.  I am not a good guided tour person, too independent and not always so interested in The information.  So I chose a tour that basically got us to two places and we were on our own...and one of the castles did not interest me so I opted to wander the village instead.  Charming!  Not many stores were open, but we came across one filled with local products, and the owner was so helpful and even showed us the picture of his little girl as a baby used on many of his labels.  A delightful store to explore.  We tried some macaroons from another store, they were as tasteless as the rude owner had been.  The hour there passed quickly and soon we were in the van headed to what for me, would be the highlight of the day...the castle over the river!

Our driver got our tickets and soon we were making the trek up to the house...through the gift shop...found a couple of things I just had to have...later.  As we were walking up the tree lined path it began to rain, and of course i had left my raincoat in the van.  I shared my friends umbrella part of the way, but rain doesn't bother me so it was fine.  The grounds were lovely!  At least it wasn't hot, I do hate heat.  Rain is okay with me, I just didn't get many pictures because of it.  I'm hoping the few I did take turn out nicely.  

I so enjoyed Windsor castle, but I wasn't so interested in this 'home'.  We entered and it was mobbed with people...not the way to enjoy the setting.  Too many people were crowded in every part.  All I really wanted to do was to walk over the part that crossed the river, and that I did.  It was unbelievable that I was standing in a castle over a river that I'd seen so long ago...an unimaginable happening.  And quite pleasing, to say the least.  Both of us were fine escaping the mass crowds inside.  There were beautiful gardens on both sides of the chateaux, and I'd have enjoyed them if it weren't raining.  I was very slow on the walk back.  Sometimes I wonder how I do what I do, so much walking certainly is difficult for me.  

We were back in the van a bit early and soon we were headed back through the countryside to the town.  Neither of us regretted only taking the 1/2 day tour.  Now we would have time to head to the old town where we were told things would be open.  We took a taxi and enjoyed walking around the square, but it seemed the only things open were restaurants.  We came to a place and two men were eating what looked like a delicious meal.  I kindly asked what they had, and they didn't seem to mind our inquiry.  It was a burger, but with chicken, and topped with goats cheese and boysenberry (I believe) jam.  Well it looked and sounded delicious so that is what I ordered...and I have to say it did not taste as good as it looked, but I am very glad I tried it so I would find that out.  I like the hamburger I got in Denver that has green chilis, peanut butter and raspberry jam on it, much better...but when in Tours...

After lunch we started wandering, a charming town but not much was open.  As we wandered it started raining, and quite hard...camera back in bag, darn.  We had a few more minutes before needing to have someone call us the taxi to return to the station for our train when a cute little white and blue train came down the street.  I thought that must be the tram I'd heard about.  I'd heard it would be working on the holiday, then heard it wouldn't be when we arrived...but it appeared this was it after all.  I motioned for it to stop and The very kind, very cute young man driving took pity on two ladies in the rain and stopped to let us board when I asked if that went to the train station.  It was very cold and I was very wet and it was very nice to climb inside for a dry, but cold, drive to the train.  We were told to sit in the second car so we would be in the English narrated area.  I'm not sure what it even said, I was just pleased to have squeezed one more experience into our day.

The wait for the train was luckily uneventful.  We boarded and waited to leave.  As I sat there, police after police walked by, bulletproof vests on, and guns showing.  That was a bit unnerving, I'd not seen that before.  So when the young man came by to check my ticket, I asked what was going on.  He said there had been a man causing problems in a car ahead of us who had been taken off by the police.  I wished I would have known the whole story but he was not going to tell me anymore, so that was that.  There was a kind lady across from me, traveling from the burgundy region to Paris for a conference for german teachers.  We had a nice discussion on the hour long high speed train two teacher's with cultural education stories to share.

I do have to say that our image is quite skewed to many Europeans.  There seems to be a concept of extensive violence in the US.  I guess when you think about it, they hear a lot about all the people fighting to keep their guns in spite of all the violent shootings, and almost a wild west setting is perceived.  It makes no sense to many in europe.  Interesting to hear and think about what others think of us.  I do enjoy the variety of conversations one can have on a train.  And I seem to be lucky to enjoy many.  (right now I am writing this on the train from Paris to Amsterdam and unfortunately I am next to an American man...and he is not interested in any exchange...fine with me, I just feel cheated having a 3 hour train trip and no stimulating conversation...wish I could request a European seatmate!). But, hey, it gives me time to catch up with my blog.

On arriving back in Paris, my friend and I ventured outside the station trying to decide how to travel to our hotels.  There were big threatening dark clouds in the sky, and I decided the metro would be best.  There was a crepe stand outside but I just wasn't hungry then so I passed the opportunity to enjoy my favorite kind of crepe, a simple one with sugar, perhaps later.

While people watching and making the decision about heading to the hotel, I saw the perfect dog...a couple and their daughter walked by with a lively white golden retriever puppy!  Beautiful pure white!  I just fell in love with 5 month old Happy!  She was a doll!  I chatted with the parents, the father spoke very good English because he was an attorney who worked with NY attorneys.  I told him how expensive that beautiful breed was in the US and he shared that they had paid 900 euros for her.  I've seen so many in Europe I really had thought they were cheaper.  Good thing they aren't cheap, I would be coming home with one for sure!  And I don't think it would be welcomed by my two best 4 legged friends!  So happy departed and so did my idea of getting a puppy in France!

A long walk led us to the metro that was a straight shot to my hotel.  My plan was to drop off my things at 'home' and then head out to see the sparkling Eiffel tower.  It is so beautiful to see!  I was heading toward the exit of the metro and people walking in were drenched and shaking their heads at me as I was heading out into the pouring rain.  Now that I finally figured out the right exit from the #4 metro, I actually end up less than 10 steps from the front of my hotel so I didn't worry about getting on my raincoat for the short trip in the pouring rain.  

I had woken up at 3 AM, still not totally adjusted to the time change and it appears I was quite a bit more exhausted than I'd thought.  I sat on the bed and realized I was hungry so I had a bit of bread and a small individual container of peanut butter...quite Parisian, no?  I was so exhausted I repacked my travel bag for the evening, but decided to rest...set my alarm for an hour...and at 8 PM when it went off, I couldn't move...so much for the view of the twinkling Eiffel tower! 

 My day was over...