Loire Valley

Sorry armchair travellers, but the wifi in the current hotel is so poor that I simply can’t upload photos so none yet for yesterday, a and until I find better wifi somewhere potentially no more photos for the next two days.

This morning it is grey skies again but where we are heading forecast is 21. So on the road again, and heading south to follow the valley of the Loire. Not a lot of breathtaking scenery on the 2 1/2 hour drive to Anjou, just lush green farmland and lots of trees. short stop in Anjou, but long enough to admire the fortified castle (outside only), and grab a coffee in a little bar. Fun facts for today, did you know that the reason castle walls often had rounded towers at the corners was specifically to stop the baddies from attempting to break holes in the wall at the corners, which were the weakest points? And did you know that the reason most spiral staircases in said castles have the widest part of the step on the left, is because most people are right handed and so if the baddie actually breaks into your tower and is coming up the staircase to pillage you, you would be at the top of your staircase, heading down, with your sword in your dominant hand, the right one, and the baddie would be disadvantaged using the narrow part of each step having to cross his right hand holding his sword across his body. And that’s why when we drive our cars, we keep to the left. The Yanks and Europeans have got it wrong...

Back in the coach and we get to the busy little village of Saumur where we go to Bouvet Ladubay cellars for a tour of their premises plus champagne tasting! We had the process of making champagne explained to us, which was really interesting. Now I know how they get the bubbles in each bottle. We then had a tour of their cave cellars which are now UNESCO Heritage listed (like nearly every other structure in France, so it seems) and they are amazing. The premises no longer bottle or store the champagne here, it is purely a tourist site) so some artist whose name meant nothing to me was commissioned to create what to all intents and purposes has made the caves look like recovered ancient ruins. It was quite interesting and cleverly done. Not a big fan of the sparking wines, but I took one for the team and tried all four offered. I’m good like that.

Back on the coach again and then into the city centre for our lunch stop. Karen, Glen, J and I found what looked like a reasonable restaurant and sat outside for our meal. I had pasta carbonara which was nice, along with the mandatory glass of white wine. A mad rush to find a supermarket to stock up on some goodies for planned happy hours then back on the coach as we head to the Castle of Usse. The fortified chateau was built in 1455 and underwent various transformations until the 16th century when it was more a country chateau built more for comfort of the residents, than safety. It certainly was an impressive building and along the outer ramparts a number of rooms were set up to tell the story of Sleeping Beauty. I was a bit underwhelmed with these depictions as I was expecting more Madame Tussaud style figures instead of the more store clothing mannequins used, however the thought was good and the children that were there seemed to enjoy it. The gardens were lovely but I’d had enough of wandering about the chateau so bought J and I an ice cream so that we sat near the coach until it was time to board and head for our hotel.



Our home for the next two nights is Chateau Rochecotte. It’s quite lovely and our room is nice, very French provincial, but the two single beds jammed right next to each may prove problematic, as it may prove too tempting to simply lean over and smother J in her sleep should the snoring become too much to bear. Our ensuite on the other hand is huge with both a shower over the full bath, plus a second stand alone walk in shower. Hip, hip, hooray. Suppose I could always drag a mattress and pillow into the bath if I want my own room.


Enough of this nonsense though. Am very frustrated that I can’t add any photos for you, seeing as some of you seem to enjoy the piccies more than the dialogue, but it is time for bed so you will just have to come back again later for more. Good night.

Back again for another try to at least finish ramblings for the day. J and Glen are wine officionados. (I just drink it.) so when we were at the champagne tasting, they each bought some bottles which meant it only fit and proper to plan to drink them! After we arrived at our chateau, a quick change of clothes and then off to Karen and Glen’s really big room as it had four chairs, and we had our first happy hour that involved champagne plus the nibbles purchased from the supermarket earlier. It’s all a bit of a problem that none of the rooms have fridges so yesterday afternoon J was at least able to get 1 bottle placed in the cooler on the coach where the driver stores all the bottled water! Our next happy hour will require a few buckets of ice from reception, I fear. Anyway we had a nice but brief time with them and so it was back on the coach for our optional dinner in Loire at a traditional family owned restaurant that Shona had raved about. Our group were at 2 long tables and I sat at the end of one so no fear of being anywhere near AH. Funnily enough K and G were telling us about the crazy people in the room next to them. Guess who? LOL. The meal was really disappointing. My salmon starter needed dressing on the lettuce and the roast chicken was moist but boring. Dessert was a nougat glacé that consisted of ice cream with a few crushed nuts and a couple of glacé cherries mixed in it, with a biscuit crumble on top. No free flowing wine either, and I reckon my white wine was watered down so this certainly was my least preferred optional event. At one stage while the desserts were being given out, J, K &G were waiting on their apple pie when the wife of the chef comes out and tells them “Impossible!” I tell her to check the list as she clearly isn’t going to give them apple pie, but when she starts calling out names, thankfully theirs were the first ones on the list so they got their pie. I was waiting to see if she was going to snatch away a plate from someone if they had taken the wrong dessert, but it all somehow worked out. It was the best part of the evening, Fawlty Towers style. Back on the coach after much kissing of everyone’s cheeks by the chef and back to our rooms for bed. So ended our day.