Paris, Normandy and the Loire Valley continued
Picking up from where I left off last week:
Upon our arrival in Mont St Michel, we found a charming village with great little shops and eateries, tree lined avenues, and a stunning view of the island all lit up for a glorious evening spectacle.
The next morning, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast (as usual) and off to the Mont we went. Did I mention it was drizzling? There’s nothing like climbing to the top of a medieval fortification when the stone steps are nice and slippery with light rain. Luckily, we all made it to the top, no falls, no injuries although a couple of participants did decide to turn back.
The climb was well worth it when we stood in awe of that glorious cathedral and took in that amazing view. We got a great firsthand look inside the life of a medieval monastery complete with menus and regulations, such as complete silence. It wasn’t a life for the faint of heart up at the Mont.
We moved on the next day to Chateaux Country, our favorite part of the trip. First, the incomparable Chambord. Built by Francis I, with over four hundred rooms, this hunting lodge gives you an excellent peak into the lives of French nobility.
Then on to the world renowned Chenonceau. The Ladie’s Chateaux as it is lovingly called. We had plenty of time for a wine tasting, to peruse the gardens and the Chateaux’s themselves. It was a perfect day, thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.
Then back to Paris where we ended the official tour with a great dinner cruise on the Seine. We were entertained by a wonderful singer and onboard dancing. We parked just in front of the Eiffel as it demonstrated its “glitter” performance at 11PM. It was the perfect way to end the perfect tour, except for most of us it wasn’t over.
The following two days most of my group stayed and participated in more tours. Several of us had a private tour of Marie Antionette’s Hamlet and Trianon which was incredible. I’ve wanted to see it for years and was so glad to finally find the time to spend a day there.
The next day we had another private tour, this time of the Fontainebleau and Vaux le Vicomte Chateaux’s. These are both just a short drive from Paris into countryside that will take your breath away.
We concluded that we preferred Fontainebleau to Versailles and were happy to have seen them all.
I had some very sophisticated travelers with me on this tour, and every single of one of them said it was a wonderful tour. I heartily encourage you to add Paris, Normandy and Chateaux Country to your own bucket list.