Inbound: Part Two

The next afternoon I was off by train to Blois to visit with my good friend Bette, who lives in the town of Villebarou. This visit was a much-needed opportunity to get some rest and to catch up. Bette also makes sure that I have my fill of pork products, enough to tide me over for the six months in Egypt!

In Bette's garden (she asked me if she should paint the flamingos pink and I advised against it!):

Pastries from Feuillete:

We did make a day trip to Chinon, which neither of us had visited before. Had lunch in town and then toured the fortress. In town I stocked up on doors:

It's a lovely old town but the fortress is fascinating! Great views over the Vienne River:

At the fortress there was a fascinating exhibit about Jeanne d'Arc (600th anniversary of her birth):

Of course, Chinon is famous for its wines:

On our way back to Blois, we stopped in Amboise for a gathering of Loire Connexion, but this post has gone on too long, so to be continued in Inbound: Part Three...

Happy Halloween!

Inbound: Part One

I flew out of SFO on Sunday afternoon, September 30 and arrived in Paris in the late morning of Monday, October 1. Because of a physical problem, I had a wheelchair and "driver" at both ends! It was a good thing, especially on the CDG end. Delta/Air France flies into Terminal 2, and now into a new section. A lot of walking and you have to take the CDGVAL metro to get to passport control and baggage claim. My wheelchair assistant was phenomenal--he managed to wheel both me in the wheelchair and a heavily loaded baggage cart with amazing skill!

I stayed at the usual place--Hotel de la Porte Dorée in the 12th--and received their usual warm welcome. After a bit of a rest, I went to my customary first-dinner-in-Paris brasserie/restaurant--Les Cascades. Here's a view I took after dining:

On Tuesday, I wasn't up for much, and many of the museums are closed, so I made a brief visit to Bercy Village and the Parc Bercy:

The next afternoon I was off by train to Blois to visit with my good friend Bette, who lives in the town of Villebarou.  To be continued...