Futuroscope favourite?...

'Arthur' was easily the best experience...kids must love the cute little guys - we did. Followed interestingly enough by one of the oldest attractions 'Dynamic Vienne' which  takes you on a whirlwind tour of the region in everything from a caddy car to formula 3 racing car.

Back to the Futuroscope...

 We had a beautiful sunny day for our visit to Futuroscope yesterday...here are some pics as a taster of our day out - more later, off to do a 'changeover' at 'Les Balcons'  

The future's looking...

Pauline and I off to a free day out at Futuroscope today courtesy of the park. Will probably have to endure some heavy 'selling' of the facilities before we are let loose but will live with that...

Awesome?...

Got a little surprise yesterday when the mighty google.com sent back a photograph I had uploaded on blogger - the result of which you can see above. It was created, or converted, by their 'Auto Awesome' app (no point in understating it!!). Love them or hate them, you have to admire them.

Langeais chateau under wraps...

Visited Langeais yesterday before heading over to brocante at Rouchouze. As ever looking good under a surpringly blue sky...'Méteo' had forecast a rather different day. Took this shot of the chateau as one of the towers at the front is currently covered over due to works...which is a shame for first-time visitors. Though there did not seem to be many around!

 We had travelled up via Azay-le-Rideau so it meant crossing the Loire on one of our favourite bridges, the suspension bridge that connects the town to to south bank of the river. When crossing it always think it looks a little 'Disneyesque' but still love it!

Church on Sunday...Vallères

Sometimes the churches we 'stumble' upon just by choosing a new route are the ones that prove the most surprising...like the church of St. Médard in the small village of Vallères on the.D39 between Azay-le-Rideau and Villandry.It is another church that has evolved into its present form over the centuries. The first church built in the 11th century was destroyed and replaced by a new one in the 12th century - of which only the bell tower and apse remain.

The current vaulted nave and side aisles are the work of a rebuild in the second half of the 19th century,making the church look rather grand for such a small village. Apparently the villagers still say behind the 'churches' (plural) as there actually used to be two identical 12th and 13th century churches separated by an 8 metre gap -why? I don't know - but one was the parish church (dedicated to St.Médard) and the other 'for devotion' to the Virgin Mary - this was sadly ordered to be demolished in the 18th century due to its poor condition.

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There is a wonderfully ornate baptismal font and pulpit set into one of the pillars.

Where's Joan?

Here she is placed on the altar of another lady as if as an afterthought!

At the base of her statue is the word 'reconnaissance' - is this perhaps referring to her late acknowledgement as a saint?

If  you choose to take this route you should take a look.

       

Flower power in the Loire Valley...

Le Grand Pressigny is hosting this year's 'Comice Agricole' (agricultural show) - an event that brings together the villages of the 'canton Grand Pressigny' - Barrou, Betz -le-Château, La Celle-Guenand, Ferrière-Larçon, Le Grand Pressigny, La Guerche, Paulmy, Le Petit-Pressigny and Saint-Flovier. The ladies (and some men) of the village are currently busy making 8000 paper flowers for the garlands that will adorn the village for the spectacle.

The theme for this year's event is the 'forests of Touraine' and it will take place over the weekend of the 16th & 17th August. It culminates on the Sunday afternoon and evening with a procession of floats, majorettes and marching bands then evening entertainment during dinner and finally a fireworks display.

These pictures and video below are from the last time they held it in Le Grand Pressigny, back in 2008

                   

We took them from the 'Jullet' balcony of 'Les Balcons'

On yer bike...

If you are a cyclist then this weekend you want to be around Saumur as not only is there the 'La Fête du Vélo en Anjou' - a weekend when, according to the local tourist board, 20,000 cyclists (and roller bladers!) pedal (and skate) their way along 120 km of 'reserved' roads on both banks of the river Loire between Montsoreau and Bouchemaine - but also the annual 'Anjou Vélo Vintage' in Saumur itself.

(Credit: Coralie Pilard)

The Saumur event promises a nostalgic look at the bicycle up until 1985 (don't know what happened after that) along with all things retro. Last year we popped over just after the event to see what they had been up to...we are not cyclists but it looked as if the town really gets behind the event in a big way..

View over Barrou...

Took this with the setting sun behind me, that's Lesigny in the background, looking surprisingly close...but then I suppose it is!

La Roche Posay brocante...

Visited the brocante on Sunday at La Roche Posay...bit boring with stuff we've seen many times before but it was a lovely sunny morning so the short walk around was pleasant enough. 

This would be a really handy thing to have (not) but my budget wouldn't stretch to this!

Away the 'reds'

When taking this shot of colour just off the D31 spotted a lone splash of red...

...isn't this the away supporters end then?

Another 'Taken in Touraine...but where?

Find out here

At the drop of a hat...

Enjoyed Friday night's soiree at the restaurant here in Barrou. Willie and Sandra had brought back 'No Lies' for their second show here in the village  Willie presented me with a present...the chance to sing with the band...

here am I giving it the 'Michael Stipe' stance for the chorus of Toto's 'Hold the line'

Then they asked me up to join them for the Kink's 'You really got me' - great fun -lovely people.

Here is a video clip of them doing Alanis Morissette's - Ironic

A day to myself...

Yesterday was the first day since Pauline went over to her mum's (it will be 3 weeks on Tuesday) that I could do something by choice rather than necessity. It was a good feeling but my choices were not very exiting - morning coffee with my friend and neighbour David then tidied up our own house as have been living like 'single bloke' as after cleaning other houses is difficult to find the motivation to do your own place - that and being tired after heavy manual work, I am getting on a bit! Did a washing and hung it out and then went into Chatellerault for my weekly shopping. Treated myself to a pair of old people's trainers from 'Decathlon' helpful assistant wanted me to buy colourful jazzy pair but I explained that I was nearly 60 and didn't think them appropriate, he assured me that old men in France wear them...must look out for them. Did a bit of weeding in the garden and then its off out to the music night in the bar. Exiting day or what...choices eh!


The 'Day to myself'' reminded me of a lovely song of the same name by Clifford T. Ward. The song is also rather poignant being so close to the events at Normandy recently.

I maybe should not admit this but 'Home thoughts from abroad' by him was the first album I ever bought and his song of the same name remains one of my all-time favourites.

'Fete de la Musique'

Free music where you are in the Loire Valley

Saturday 21st of June is the 'Fete de la Musique', the annual music festival here in France where musicians are asked to provide free live music in a variety of venues. The tradition inaugurated by the then French Minister of Culture in Paris in 1982 continues to reinvent itself with free concerts with everything from hunting horns in the private gardens of the prefecture in Tours to a free afternoon and evening of music in Azay-le-Rideau

Check your local tourist office for what is on near you. or check out whats on in your department here

Our weekend of music actually starts tonight at the bar here in Barrou with live music from 'No Lies' a  very good group Willie and Sandra brought over from Nantes last year and who are returning tonight.

 Check out what's on locally here: 

http://www.tourainedusud.fr/docs/manifestations/newsletter-f-te-musique-2014.pdf

Changeovers and moving mountains....

Put in 8 hour shift yesterday at Les Balcons - 'changeover' - previous guests left before 8.00 am so good early start. They left it in good condition but still needed the time to do it on my own - don't you think bed-making is so much easier with two people?.

Another one at 'Le Bourg' tomorrow - this is what the courtyard there looked like on Monday morning...so had a bit more than general cleaning and preparation to do - you should have seen the back terrace!!

Taken in Touraine...but where?

Find out here

Expect the unexpected...

Warm-up

Went along to Yzeures-sur-Creuse on Saturday night with friend Cally to listen to 30 members of the Symphony Orchestra of the region giving us a programme that included (thankfully) some Mozart among others. Made me want to revisit 'Amadeus' but unfortunately its in our rental house!

Here is a small sample of what we had the pleasure of listening to.

                   

Sunday market, plus...

As well as the normal very good Sunday market at Descartes there is also a brocante - so you can make a day of it! Sadly I'll be working. There are also brocantes at Betz-le-Chateau and Abilly (Jam Festival)

It's the little things...

It is 'Father's Day' today back in the UK - I would not even have known but for this card received from my son Paul, who is so thoughtful when it comes to things like this (actually on many levels). I have never been 'big' on the hijacking of 'Mother's Day' (they deserve it) for fathers but would have to say that this hit the spot when it popped in my mailbox on Saturday. Michael and Mark are lovely too but not so great when it comes to card sending!