Was it really that long ago? - driving the tram in Tours.

Did you know that the trams in Tours have now been running for over 12 years? When I visit the city I still somehow, see them as a new innovation! I recall being in the city just after the started and was so proud that as the first Scot to use them I was allowed to drive one for the short journey over the Pont Wilson bridge, a memorable experience! 

Awash with wine...

Went up to Tours yesterday to visit 'VitiLoire' where over 150 local producers were allowing you to sample their wares. Their tasting booths were set up right in the city centre, on the Boulevard Heurteloup , Station Square and in the garden of the Prefecture.

You paid €5.00 for your tasting glass and off you went...

we tried to be discriminate about choosing which wines we tasted, going for some Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé  as we have another road-trip planned for there later this month.

We also selected some nearer home so as we might pop in as we drive around the region.

We had 'lunch' from one of the stands within the 'gourmet village' dedicated to the gastronomy of Touraine. 

As we made our way through the booths we noticed that there was a great variety of 'tasters'. The guy above being part of a ' stag' weekend no doubt...either that or his partner had sampled one too many!

There were also the lucky people who had obviously just arrived at Tours' station (luggage gave them away) to be met by the sight of  hundreds of opportunities to get an early introduction to the diversity of the great wines of our region. We wondered also if you bought the glass on the Saturday did it cover you for the two days...or maybe they changed the colour of the writing...on talking to a charming local who actually lived on Boulevard Heurteloup he dispelled any thoughts of any 'control' showing us the glass he was using from two years ago! Said he pops down for his aperitif to the largest cellar in the region when it rolls into town...I liked him!

For ease of access we headed up to the end of the tramline (Vaucanson) at the airport from where we were taken straight into the heart of the city  and back for €2.70 return.

The old and the new...

We had to go up to Tours on Tuesday so we took the opportunity to ride the new tramway in the city - good fun - simple things eh!

The system was only inaugurated on Saturday (you can see video and pics. here) with much pomp and ceremony, so it's all brand-spanking new. We boarded at Place Jean Jaurés an area which is not new to trams...

Source wikmedia

The new trams at €433M will certainly have cost more than the ones above but the city hopes it will regenerate some of the outlying districts of the city as well as take cars off the road by providing an inexpensive option. The fairs are attractive - we bought an all-day ticket for €3.70 and although the ticket machine is fairly straightforward, with an option in English, there was a young man on hand in case there were any teething problems.

The trams run around every 8 mins so you don't have long to wait...

...and once they do arrive, are very comfortable.

We rode in both directions getting views over the river Cher to the south and the Loire to the north...more tomorrow!