Monday walk around Paulmy...a walk of light and shade.

For yesterday's Monday walk David took us around the village of Paulmy with much of it on the former railway track.

On a lovely morning the walk, through bright sunshine and shade was just the right tonic to take us away from the current situation which is affecting all of us in different ways. It is always a good opportunity to catch up with people although,as is often the case, the walk is over and you realise that there are many friends you hardly spoke to - but then there will be other walks! 

BTW big shout out to our walk leader David who passed the French hunting license test recently - no mean feat!

Another walk in the park - Sunday stroll through Descartes gardens

Took Eileen for a walk through the public gardens at Descartes yesterday which were back looking their best. A lovely walk and then joined friends in the evening for a lovely dinner to help celebrate a birthday...another good day! 

The Barrouda triangle...

Started yesterday off with a walk up behind the village to let Eileen view the  the Barrouda triangle - the villages of Barrou, centre, Lesigny to the left and Maire to the right. Set us up well for a lovely lunch and get together with friends in Le Grand-Pressigny. Spent the evening with our neighbour in Barrou putting the world to right and learning that snakes can't reverse and cows can't climb stairs...among other things!

At home day...

We spent yesterday in Barrou where Eileen treated us to a very good lunch at the restaurant ( Les Tilleuls ) - great choices and great value - 3 courses + wine €13.00 if you haven't tried it recently then you should.

Then it was back to the Old Walnut Mill to prepare the courtyard for the evening's apero guests. The evening's guests meant Eileen had an opportunity to practice her Italian as it was a night of three languages around the table,French,Italian and (a form of) English.  

Booking a revisit to Montmorillon...

After our walk over the viaduct on Wednesday we headed over the border late afternoon to show Eileen the pretty town of Montmorillon in the Vienne.

Referred to as the 'Book town' or 'Cité de l’Ecrit et des Métiers du Livre',its situation, on both sides of the River Gartempe, makes a stroll through its narrow winding cobbled streets, lined of course with bookshops, a joy.

The sisters spent quite a bit of time browsing through many of the delightful little craft/art shops that tempt you in with street displays and window charm while I went off looking at the churches.

It is worth heading up to the 'Motte castrale' (Castle butte) or Virgin rock,the curious tower built on a rocky outcrop  and the former site of an ancient castle, the tower overlooks the town offering great photo opportunities.  

Walking the talk...the viaduct at Le Blanc

On our last visit to Le Blanc back in July we said we should make a point of  returning and doing the walk over the viaduct. Yesterday we were joined by Mike and Liz (and Eileen) to do just that!

Before heading off, we had lunch on the terrace of L'Aristide restaurant in the town - a good way to set yourself up.

As the walk follows the route of the now disused railway line we started out from the old railway station. This was a station that once employed 120 people and had 40 train arrivals daily,yet today rests as a memory of former glories. 

The view as you approach the viaduct.

We didn't need to be told!

Because the viaduct sits a bit away from the town itself, the views aren't (imho) as good as I expected - but impressive none the less!

Reaching the other side you arrive in a natural tree tunnel before arriving at the option of taking the road back into town or continuing along the rail track -

Arriving in the lower town we became acutely aware that we had a fair walk uphill to get back to the cars at the railway station so Mike and I did the chivalrous thing and left the ladies to take a refreshment in the town centre as we continued our uphill march with me addinga bit of distance (just what we needed!) due to my decision to take a shortcut that wasn't

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.