A visit to Amboise.

 

They made us do it!

A good day out...

Early on Tuesday we had to go up to Loches so I could get a dodgy knee x-rayed (old age eh!) so decided to make a day of it. From Loches we took in a visit to Blere, which included a bit of wine buying as well as a walk through their Christmas preparations.

Then it was over to Chargé to pick up some sparkling rose from 'Plou et Fils' where they were well into the Christmas spirit.

We had booked lunch in Amboise at the 'Bistrot du Terminus' where you get good service and three course lunch with wine for 20 euros.  

 We also took a walk through Amboise which like Blere has been dressed for Christmas.

Wednesday for windows...on little trogo house.

 

Spotted on rue Victor Hugo in Amboise.

Welcome to July in the Loire Valley...

 

Amboise

Saturday on the streets of Touraine...in Amboise

 

Rue Nationale in Amboise.

Vendredi et une vue - Amboise

 

Looking towards Chateau d'Amboise from Clos Luce

From white horse to charcoal and an afternoon in Amboise.

Spent the afternoon in Amboise yesterday after stopping in at Bléré with the intention having lunch at 'Le Cheval Blanc' but failed to check their website before venturing out - they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays! We ended up along the street at 'La Charbonnette' which proved to be a reasonable second choice.

After lunch we took a walk up to the banks of the river Cher where,during the summer months, they create a little beach.

Then it was along to the cave to pick up some rose before continuing up to Amboise.  

  

As you can see from the top pick the town was probably not as busy as it would normally be at this time of year but it still felt a little uncomfortable with all these peeps,even with everyone obeying the wear a mask rule.

The queue to get into the chateau,the reason for our visit, was a little disconcerting and could have been made easier by buying tickets online and missing the wait.

It had been a number of years since we had actually been inside the chateau and this visit confirmed my view that what makes it worthwhile is the grounds and the views from the ramparts with the inside of the chateau itself being a little underwhelming.

Outnumbered...but in a good way!

The ladies at Amboise

For the last few days in the Craig household the males (me) have been slightly outnumbered as we have Pauline's sister Eileen and her friends Geraldine and Linda staying with us for a Loire Valley experience. We are trying to cram as much into to their time with us as possible,,,  

On their way to visit Chateau de Chenonceau

Queens of the castle at Villandry

In troglodyte cave for lunch

Amboise - Brocante Vide-grenier de la Pentecôte

We did not brocante at the weekend as we had two changeovers to to do at our rental houses,one at 'Les Balcons' on Saturday and we started one at the 'Old Walnut Mill' on Sunday (guests arriving Monday),we left Sunday afternoon clear to visit the 'Garden Party' at Le Grand-Pressigny

We did however visit the very large annual Amboise brocante which is held on the Monday after Pentecost on the banks of the river Loire. As it was a national holiday it seemed that everyone had the same idea! Parking was a bit of a nightmare but we managed to find a spot up a back street that was still within walking distance.

It was a glorious day weather-wise and the trees on part of the river bank offered welcome shade.

There was the usual rich melange of 'treasure' on offer...

...even a boat with its own porthole!

...

a rather 'kitch' kitchen unit

this handy suit for the (k)nightshift

 and this item for the trained eye.

Leaving his Mark on the Loire Valley...

Enjoyed having son Mark over for a visit...took him to Chenonceau which he hadn't visited on previous visits.

Also stopped off at Amboise for photo opportunity with Leonardo.

Two deep thinkers together.

The view.

Slipped over into the Vienne to take in the night spectacular at Futuroscope.

Finished of his visit with lunch at the 'Auberge du Vieux Port'in Marie. 

True to his passion for improvisation Mark did a show immediately after arriving back in Edinburgh last night...as in straight from airport to venue!