Day 4
Set off reasonably early for the flight from Saumur to Amboise, following the Loire with loads of detours to look at the chateaux that Mike & Geoffrey had listed with a lot of slow & low flying, but no pictures, well not on my phone, but loads on Jane’s – which I haven’t downloaded, arriving after almost 2 hours to cover probably less then twenty miles as the crow flies.
Geoffrey has set out our welcome at the airfield, so by the time we were checked into the hotel, I was more than a little peckish. Huh – the Ibis cheap was bloody hours walk into town (though mainly down hill) so hit the “Rue de Bars” which was in the shadow of the chateaux, trying to find Tim & Kareema – who had been there hours & hours, before settling down for the usual drinks & food, followed by a stroll along the river which developed into a stroll across the river, which as is mentioned elsewhere developed into a great evening of drinks beside the river with a view across to the chateaux (great cocktails with everyone trying everyone elses). As the evening moved through dusk to moonlight the chateaux just kept changing, with the night & full moon coming up behind it , and its own changing light show.
Finally a taxi (twice) was summoned back to our luxury Ibis.
And so to bed.
Day 5
Another drag by foot down the hill to the town & a fond farewell to T&K as they were zooming off home.
So we hit the chateaux – splendido – highly recommend, you go & see it for yourself (or check it out in Google Earth). Followed by a light lunch (omelette, salad and frits was popular – washed down with pinache, the local equivelant of either a shandy or a lager top depending on the bar man).
Then UP the hill. past troglodyte dwellings in the cliff side to the house that Leonardo Da Vinci spent his last few years, so museum & bits of him, then back to town, where a jolly hour was spent wandering the length and breadth looking for a suitable restaurant, only to end up back at the “Rue De Bars” (so we got to see all the town). After that nobody wanted to come with me to the cocktail heaven.
And so (via two more taxis) to bed.