Saturday, 10 October 2009

06/10/09


Day 28 – October 6
First and foremost, a very Happy 50th Birthday to my little brother Nick. Hope you had a fantastic day, although no doubt you were working, but all our love and best wishes anyway!
Peter was a star this morning and got up early and walked into the village to get bread and croissants. You may recall that he did this frequently at first, but the novelty soon wore off! In all fairness we haven’t always been in the right place for him to be able to walk, so I am being a little unfair!
We walked from the aire to the chateau at Azay le Rideau. This is one of the prettiest fairytale type chateaux in that it is all round towers and turrets, and is set on the river which was diverted around it so that it appears to be set in a moat.
We went from Azay to Villandry, but took the garden-only tour here as this was what we (or rather I) really wanted to see. Each section of the garden has been restored to the true Renaissance period style and is intricately laid out and planted on colour themes, water gardens and kitchen and herb gardens. It is best viewed from the second floor terrace where you can truly appreciate the planting and the immaculately trimmed box hedging and topiary trees. It is absolutely lovely now, so must be amazing when all the summer colours are in full bloom.
Surprisingly for the number of visitors this area attracts there seem to be relatively few aires, so we are enjoying our second night of France Passion tonight – no further explanation! (Clue – Sept 26th)
The gas is holding out so far and we have only a week to go so it looks like we’ll probably make it. We are meeting up with Lynn and Irvin on Thursday, so may have to sponge meals or showers off them if it runs out – or go without!
I can hardly believe we are nearly at the end of what seemed like such a long trip.

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