France Day 2 (Saturday): from Chartres to Loches

France Day 2, a set on Flickr.

We headed into Chartres again on the morning of Day 2, and this time we went into the cathedral. On our approach to the grand edifice, we encountered a small medieval fair nestled in the twisting streets of the town. Tradesmen in costume were exhibiting their work. There were stalls for stone carving, leather work, wool (yarn), chain mail, embroidery, the works! At the end of the road was a beautiful white horse with BIG feet that the kids enjoyed petting and feeding hay.

France Day 1 (Friday): Crossing the Chanel

We left Oxted around 6:00 in the morning and drove to Dover while listening to the audio book “Carrie’s War.” We got on the ferry and quickly ran to get seats in the cafeteria area upstairs. While the kids took off to explore, we adults had some of the breakfast we’d brought and tried (not very successfully) to get forty winks before disembarking for France. When we got off the ferry in Calais, we went to the nearest Carrefour supermarket to stock up on provisions, including a seemingly unlimited amount of bread, cheese, pate, and Bonne Maman strawberry jam. Then we drove for several more hours until we reached Chartres. After dumping our stuff at the hotel, we headed into the town to walk around and find something to eat. We took some photos outside Chartres Cathedral and then meandered through the medieval streets at our leisure. We enjoyed a pizza dinner at a small restaurant

where I ordered my first ever menthe a l’eau – I’ve been wanting to do that since 8^th grade! When we got back to the hotel, the twins and the parents and I walked over to the nearby McDonalds for flurries and a coffee. A nice American ending to a multicultural day!

Holiday in the Loire river valley of France

Last week, the English family I am staying with took me on holiday with them to the Loire river valley in France. That’s where all the chateaux are. We rented a gite, or small cottage, which the seven of us called home for our ten-day stay in the French countryside. I’ve broken down the trip into the seven days we spent site-seeng. Any other days were spent travelling, swimming, walking around Loches, or just chilling at the gite. Hope you enjoy these pictures and my reminiscences my first ever trip to the land of Descartes, Joan of Arc, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Richelieu!