No, we're not eating our way through France!

Blois, France:  no, we're not eating our way through France, but I just finished eating the most sumptuous meal I've ever had at Les Baquettes Rouges ("the red benches") in this old town on the Loire River...the roasted angle hair pasta on prawns was amazing.  But I digress.  Our primary purpose for coming to France was to visit Alex, get acquainted with Florise & meet their French family.  We spent a couple nights in Gee, at the community where  they live & will return at the end of this week to see them again & participate in a big family gathering.   While there, we stay in Alex &  Florise's yurt while they sleep in a travel trailer.  

Alex & Florise's compound

Alex took us for a walk along the quiet country road that fronts his home

Florise parents compound is called La Pinellerie or "The Pines"

Alex & Kate enjoying a simple lunch shortly after our arrival

The first night there, we had the most wonderful meal!  Nine of us were gathered around Florise parent's table & the squash soup with cream was to die for.  But I digress.

A delicious meal to welcome us to Florise's family

Exploring the ramparts of Chateau de Angers

Alex & Florise recently started jobs working in a nearby nursery.  Since they work M-F, we decided to explore the Loire River Valley this week & visit some castles.  We rented a Honda that's similar to our Fit so it's easy & economical to drive.  Kates's been a great navigator! We appreciate having our own "wheels" & independence.  We chose Blois because it's in the center of the Loire River Valley.  We're staying in tiny quaint hotel ("Cote Loire-Auberge Ligerienne") with just 7 rooms.  The hotel was built in the 16th century & is the oldest auberge in Blois.  Today we visited Chateau de Chamborg, probably the most "over the top" castle of many in the area.  Tomorrow we'll check out, then drive to Amboise where we'll visit Le Clos Luce, the manor house where Leonardo Da Vinci spent the last years of his life at the invitation Francois I, the king of France .  We may also visit Chenonceau, a castle that spans the Cher River & if the weather is sunny, we might rent bikes & go for a ride.

Before we left Gee, we took Alex & Florise to eat at a riverside restaurant where my salmon was delicious.  Alex enjoyed steak tartare.

Steak tartare

Along the Loire River

 And least you think we're just eating our way through France, we have enjoyed many picnic lunches on park benches as we travel, thought the French cheese, crusty baguettes, yougurt, & fresh fruit finished off with a pan au chocolat makes even an informal park bench picnic meal pretty special.

Picnic lunch on park bench along Loire River

We did spend 3 nights & 2 days in Paris but I'll try to describe that experience in a subsequent post.  Guess that's all for now.