Kisses of Joy

We drove a lot again but there was the coolest thing when we got to Caen, the Aunties took  Kathy and Dean to a museum there to learn about D-Day. D- Day was the beginning of the end of the war for the Germans, and the statue at the museum was of a sailor kissing a nurse as they got the news that the war was over.  

Think about how happy it made you when your daddy got to come home, this is sort of the same. Then we went to Pegasus bride, 

it was an important bridge for the Allies forces (we will talk about that tomorrow) to be in charge of.  Then we went to our B&B, a B&B is  sort of like a motel, but you stay in somebody's house.  

This was quite a house, it is Very old, over 500 years.

  I have found a picture of what the people who lived in the house for you to see, can you imagine wearing a dress like this?  

Or having your hair done like this?  Auntie and Gogi had a room with windows like Rapunzel. 

Princesses Dancing

This morning Kathy, Dean and Auntie did laundry while Gogi got some beauty sleep.  

They were pretty funny i the laundromat, they acted like they had not ever done laundry before!  I wonder why!

Then this aftenoon, we got to go to Chenonceaux Castle  IT is retty interesting, Diane Du Poitiers, who was a little too good friend of the king lived there because he let her, but he died and his wife, who had been very jealous of her, kicked her out to another castle.

We have gto admit that Diane is cuter than Catherine, but maybe she was nicer?

So there is a Diane Garden and a Catherine Garden.  

Chenonceaux is still breathtakingly beautiful.  

We all went in and had a look around, but Aunties favorite part is the ballroom and we all danced like princesses and Princes.  

 Auntie's favorite garden, the Cathering de Medici garden is still lovely this time of the year, the Diane Du Poitier, is not quite not so lovely, 

but where Auntie and Gogi  hung out quite a while waiting for sunset.  AND they got to see balloons flying over.

Leonardo and the King

Auntie was much happier with Breakfast today!  Croissants, Jam, All the coffee everything she wanted, as well as eggs and bacon for Kathy and Dean.  We were all happy and Auntie  even snuck out a goodie for Godi!  Off we went to Amboise.  Uncle Joey was there before with Gogi and Auntie, you will have to ask him about it!  Do you know what we have in our laps?

It is a very fun place and we liked it a lot.

We got to have chocolate and caramel crepes for a snack.

 Then we went to the castle, King Charles and Leonardo were such good friends that the King had a tunnel built between their houses so they could visit anytime they wanted!  The Kings castle is where te round building and chappel are, can you see them?  What a long tunnel, but nice in the rain and snow!

Then Leonardo died the king buried him in his own chapel ( church).  

Look at the beautiful window over Leonardos grave.

Can you see the gargoyle?  Do yo know what a gargoyle is for?

Can you see the antlers on the steeple of the chapel?

After all that enjoying we were hungry, Auntie had Tartare de Boeuf and she was very happy,does it look good to you?! 

And a goodie of course

Back to La Roserie for a hot bath and bed!

The Longest Day

Today we are going to the Loir to see some castles.  Gogi and Auntie were sorry to leave the lovely mountains, though the B&B guy was rather crabby patty!  

Everyone stopped for Pizza that we got to eat outside! IT was like a pizza picnic!

It felt like we were in the car FOREVER today, like going from North Carolina to Indiana! 

Auntie thinks this guy looks like the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz, have you seen that movie?

We left our B&B and got to go to a very cool hotel. 

We did get to stop a play some.  

La Lavandou

We were in the car a VERY long time today before we got to get out and when we did, we were at the Beach!  

IT was so fun, there were rides, 

Auntie took us on a Ferris wheel, 

and we got to feed the pigeons 

and there was a Restaurant there called Chez Mimi (the house of Mimi), 

Auntie got to wear her new dress that she bought in Arles, 

and we got to have a kiddie cocktail with Gogi.  

It was just an excellent day!!  

Christians, Lions, Theater and Water

Arles was on our agenda today, we were sure happy,because yesterday Gogi had a headache all day yesterday and we stayed with her.  But today she is better and we are SO glad!  On the way we stopped at McDonalds for a coke and look at what is in the Happy meals in France!

Arles has old Roman ruins.  At one point in time Rome was a very powerful place and had gone to way and conquered many places, including France. Ruins are old things that are falling apart.  

So we got to see an old arena, there the Romans did pretty terrible things to other people.

 They were not Christian and were afraid of this growing group of people so they were VERY mean to them, that is often how it is when people are afraid.  Anyway. The Romans would put Christians in the arena with a Lion and usually the Lion won.  The other thing they did was to have chariot races in the arena.  Now they have bull fights.  Ask auntie what that is next time you see her.  This lady sang and sand with her dog at her feet.  Look at her feet and tell Mimi what you see.

Then we got to see an old Ampitheater.  A long time ago there were not movie theaters, or even TV!   The Romans entertained themselves by putting on plays.

 And they put on plays in this ampitheater.  

 Can you show Mimi where the people would sit?

 We all had pizza for lunch. It was pretty good for French pizza.  Then because Kathy wanted to see the sea, we all drove to the medeterianin sea. 

 There were many boats and kitty's there.  

The last thing we did today was see a very old (ruined) Roman aqueduct.  An aquaduct is somthing that carried water for a long ways.  

What kind of tree is this?  Can you see the Olives?

Gogi did not want to leave and she scared Auntie by climbing on top to get a good view.  And she took us with her too!