Last Day in Paris

Saturday, July 26, 2014

  
Today we took a day off from sightseeing and just hung out.  It was kind of nice to not have to rush somewhere on the metro, stand in line, and read French signs.  The kids played with their electronics, Grandpa worked on his pictures, and GG played Monopoly. 

For lunch we walked over near the Metro Station to a little creperie, where we all had dessert for lunch.  Our crepes were large, thin pancakes topped with ice cream and fruit and chocolate or berry syrup.  GG had a salad and Grandpa had a galette, which is a buckwheat pancake, thicker and not as delicate as a crepe.  His galette had potatoes, ham and eggs in it.

After our crepes we walked along and stopped at a patisserie where we ogled the pastries and bought out their entire stock of 5 Napoleon Squares, called Mille Feuelles in French.  After walking around a bit we went back to the apartment and supplemented our crepes dessert with sandwiches and fruit.

Grandpa used his last metro ticket to ride over to the car rental agency and brought back our rental car and found a parking place around the corner from our apartment.  GG did her last shopping trip (groceries) in Paris because the stores will not be open tomorrow, Sunday.  More salami, bread, fruit, and some chicken for dinner.  She asked us what we wanted for dinner and we said chicken and pasta, so that is what she made.

After we took our showers and went to bed GG washed 4 loads of towels and the washer and dryer were running far into the wee hours.

Sunday, June 27, 2014

We were up bright and early (for us) in the morning to get ready for our departure and the next leg of our trip.  All of the kids were very helpful, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming and packing.  GG did 6 loads of sheets, cleaned the kitchen and dining room and Grandpa worked hard too.  We had the house pretty clean and shiny when the Delamare son, Martin, arrived about 9:45.

We finished up a few last things, toted all of our luggage and some food things and a lot of bottles of water down to the car.  Our car seats 7, but there are about 4 inches of trunk space, so were were crammed in pretty tightly.  We said goodbye to Martin and we were off, on a quiet Sunday morning, to see a new part of France.

Even on a day when everyone is sleeping or in church it was challenging for Grandpa to get us out of the city and onto the right road.  GG had her road atlas out and she felt that Grandpa’s phone was not directing us correctly, but she had to try to be quiet and let him drive.

Pretty soon we were out into then country, with farm fields, and suburban houses and little villages and forests lining the road.  Everything is pretty green compared to California because it rains here sometimes in the summer.  We stopped in a little village at the church near a creek for our picnic lunch and a little rest before continuing on our journey.  Grandpa did a great job of driving us safely and we arrived at the Loire River around 2 in the afternoon.

We next stopped at the Castle of Sully-sur-Loire. This is a chateau that GG and Grandpa have never visited before. 

 This is a true castle, with a water-filled moat and spires.  It was built by Henri Behune, the right hand man of King Henri IV in the 14^th century. 

The family had to sell off most of the furnishings in 1942 and in 1962 the estate was acquired by the government.  Since then there has been a very active effort to reacquire the furniture and décor and they have done an admirable job of furnishing the chateau.

 

We visited the tomb room where the Duc de Sully and his wife are buried.  There are statues of the two of them, looking pious with their hands folded in prayer. 

Then we visited the great hall, a huge ballroom, painted red.

And then we saw the king’s bedroom, which was done all in sky blue and very pretty.  Every chateau had to have a royal bedroom ready for the king, just in case he decided to stop by.  Henri IV never did come over, but his son stayed a few days.

The kitchen was actually three rooms, one very large for the workers, and a small one to butcher meat and another to store fruits and vegetables.  The cooking was done over the open fire in the enormous fireplace that had a giant kettle hanging from a spit.

We also saw the lady’s bedroom suite, which included a bedroom, a commode and an office.

We walked through a number of receiving rooms and offices and guardhouses, parlors and the dining room.  All of the rooms were nicely furnished.

When we finished at the Chateau de Sully it was time to find our Chambre de Hote, le Poterie.  GG and Grandpa stayed here 9 years ago and the hostess, Madame Charles, was so cordial and generous, so they made arrangements for us to stay with her a couple of nights while we explored the chateaux of the Loire Valley.

Madame Charles warmly greeted us and showed us our rooms.  There is a very nice sitting room with a tv and a little kitchenette and a dining table.  There is also a nice patio for outside dining, overlooking some of the farm fields.

The boys had a great time playing with the farm dogs while GG and Grandpa got settled and rested a bit.  We went out to The Boutcherie for $15 hamburgers and then it was back to our lodging for showers and bed.

‘