Day 38: Blois et Chambord

Here is another post from my journal:

Friday, 4 juin 2010
We toured Blois and Chambord. Francois I lived in both places and made his mark on both of those with architecture, an F or the salamander everywhere. Blois is a conglomeration of four different styles of buildings and architecture.

Chambord is a hunting lodge that Francois I only went to 27 times; his son Henri II used it a lot more than him. Chambord was interesting because of the lack of furniture. It helped to give more of a feel for what the castle would have been like most of the time. Yet juxtaposed with the empty room and ash-stained fireplaces there were a few decorated and furnished rooms that were definitely rooms for royalty.

Double spiral staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci

After wandering through Chambord, Grace, Judy, Ryan and I had lunch at a cafe. I got a galette with ham, egg and cheese, and then Ryan and I split a peach melba. It was sooo good! For dinner in Paris us three plus Mathilde went to a Senegalese restaurant. I got crabe farcie again and for dessert I got an ananas (pineapple) melba. It was so yummy! I think melbas are my favorite now.

Day 37: Azay, Chenonceau & Amboise

This is from my journal entry on Thursday:

Thursday, 3 juin 2010
Today we went to Azay-le-Rideau, Chenonceau, and Amboise. I really liked all of them, though for different reasons. Azay was in a little city/town, set on the side with lots of land and kind of built in the water. A queen or king never lived there; it was for a financier. It was more down-to-earth and liveable. Also I loved the path and trees around it.

Chenonceau was just simply gorgeous. And when I use "simply" I mean it had a simple kind of beauty. It wasn't terribly ornate or extravagant. I felt that I could comfortably live there. There were also pretty French gardens surrounded by wilderness. The novelty of being built on water also appeals greatly to me. The history and stories of Chenonceau also fascinate me. Maybe one day I'll write children's or young adult books about Charters and these castles and their history. That really appeals to me. :)

Amboise was the castle of Francois I and it is where Leonardo da Vinci spent three years and has been buried. The history there and the tie to Ever After and Cinderella is appealing (I guess that's my word of the day) too. I watched that movie tonight with Paris and Rachel. Unfortunately they didn't even try to make the Amboise castle in the movie look like the real Amboise castle.