BillB
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 633
- Location
- Luxembourg
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
- Dislikes
- Impolite people, yobbish behaviour, pretentious people.
That evening we decided, as a change, to have dinner at a restaurant we’d passed that day. It was called Le Relais d’Artemis and wasn’t too much of a drive from the hotel. We set out together, this being our last evening with our son who had to return to his business the next morning as they were expecting more people to rent their properties on Saturday and they had to prepare two apartments for new arrivals.
The restaurant, as is so often the case in France, was excellent and we had a delightful meal on the terrace. The service was friendly, the food was outstanding and I got the distinct impression it was family run.
We drove back to the hotel and sat on the terrace, having a couple of drinks before we said our farewells. We arranged with our son that we would come and visit the Ile d’Oléron for a week or two in April or May next year. We’re now hoping that the pandemic may be mostly finished by that time. Or is that a wish too far?
The next morning Jackie and I were discussing how to spend the day when she mentioned there was a chateau that we had passed a couple of times while driving along the Loire which sat high up on hills above Chaumont-sur-Loire. It looked spectacular and, we thought, worth a visit so we put its address into the GPS and headed off.
The GPS, for some reason, took us across country so we arrived on top of the hill and had to drive down to the chateau. Close to the top of the hill was a car park but it was a considerable drive to the chateau, which was about halfway down. There was nowhere to park close to the entrance so we carried on down. At the bottom of the hill was another car park. And this presented us with a dilemma - whichever car park we used we would be presented with an easy downward walk and a steep upward walk. We didn’t really fancy either option as if we used the uphill car park we would be faced with a steep climb after walking around the chateau, and the lower car park would necessitate a steep walk before even beginning the tour of the chateau. So we took the easy option and drove back to our hotel, had lunch and then went around the Chateau de Chambord which was just a short, level stroll from the Relais.
Despite its outer looks, which are astonishing, Chambord’s interior is best described as disappointing. One outstanding feature, however, is a double spiral staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci, who spent the last three years of his life in this area, and died in Amboise. The staircase is two spirals together and has to be seen to be truly appreciated. The reason for the disappointment felt by many visitors is because the chateau is the property of the state and though the French government pay for renovations and upkeep of the structure, they seem reluctant to pay for period furnishings, arms and armour. There are curtains and paintings but little else and a tour of the building is unsatisfying, to say the least.
We had dinner in the gourmet restaurant of the hotel on the terrace that evening. We have travelled so little compared to previous years that we didn’t mind spending more on dinner. After all, who’s going to spoil us if we don’t?
That evening we decided, as a change, to have dinner at a restaurant we’d passed that day. It was called Le Relais d’Artemis and wasn’t too much of a drive from the hotel. We set out together, this being our last evening with our son who had to return to his business the next morning as they were expecting more people to rent their properties on Saturday and they had to prepare two apartments for new arrivals.
The restaurant, as is so often the case in France, was excellent and we had a delightful meal on the terrace. The service was friendly, the food was outstanding and I got the distinct impression it was family run.
We drove back to the hotel and sat on the terrace, having a couple of drinks before we said our farewells. We arranged with our son that we would come and visit the Ile d’Oléron for a week or two in April or May next year. We’re now hoping that the pandemic may be mostly finished by that time. Or is that a wish too far?
The next morning Jackie and I were discussing how to spend the day when she mentioned there was a chateau that we had passed a couple of times while driving along the Loire which sat high up on hills above Chaumont-sur-Loire. It looked spectacular and, we thought, worth a visit so we put its address into the GPS and headed off.
The GPS, for some reason, took us across country so we arrived on top of the hill and had to drive down to the chateau. Close to the top of the hill was a car park but it was a considerable drive to the chateau, which was about halfway down. There was nowhere to park close to the entrance so we carried on down. At the bottom of the hill was another car park. And this presented us with a dilemma - whichever car park we used we would be presented with an easy downward walk and a steep upward walk. We didn’t really fancy either option as if we used the uphill car park we would be faced with a steep climb after walking around the chateau, and the lower car park would necessitate a steep walk before even beginning the tour of the chateau. So we took the easy option and drove back to our hotel, had lunch and then went around the Chateau de Chambord which was just a short, level stroll from the Relais.
Despite its outer looks, which are astonishing, Chambord’s interior is best described as disappointing. One outstanding feature, however, is a double spiral staircase designed by Leonardo da Vinci, who spent the last three years of his life in this area, and died in Amboise. The staircase is two spirals together and has to be seen to be truly appreciated. The reason for the disappointment felt by many visitors is because the chateau is the property of the state and though the French government pay for renovations and upkeep of the structure, they seem reluctant to pay for period furnishings, arms and armour. There are curtains and paintings but little else and a tour of the building is unsatisfying, to say the least.
We had dinner in the gourmet restaurant of the hotel on the terrace that evening. We have travelled so little compared to previous years that we didn’t mind spending more on dinner. After all, who’s going to spoil us if we don’t?
So Covid marches on, and on, and on. We had reservations at a local hotel for Christmas but last week new restrictions were introduced here which meant that all hotels and restaurants will be closed until January. We’ve picked up a small turkey and we’ll have it at home. We’ve paid for a streaming broadcast from André Rieu which we’ll watch later in the afternoon. His concerts are always enjoyable. We’ve also recorded the Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol, to my mind the greatest Scrooge ever so we’ll be well entertained.
And now that there are only a few days left until the festivities there’s little left for us to say except that we wish everybody on the site a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.
So Covid marches on, and on, and on. We had reservations at a local hotel for Christmas but last week new restrictions were introduced here which meant that all hotels and restaurants will be closed until January. We’ve picked up a small turkey and we’ll have it at home. We’ve paid for a streaming broadcast from André Rieu which we’ll watch later in the afternoon. His concerts are always enjoyable. We’ve also recorded the Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol, to my mind the greatest Scrooge ever so we’ll be well entertained.
And now that there are only a few days left until the festivities there’s little left for us to say except that we wish everybody on the site a very Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Thank you for your wishes.Likewise to you and yours, Bill.
Thank you, Diawara. It's a Wonderful Life is a great Christmas film, along with Alastair Sim's Scrooge. Your late mother was obviously a lady who appreciated good music played with musicianship, flair and showmanship. We will be watching the new concert being streamed over the internet.Thank you for your wishes.
Bill
thank you dear man..Thank you, Diawara. It's a Wonderful Life is a great Christmas film, along with Alastair Sim's Scrooge. Your late mother was obviously a lady who appreciated good music played with musicianship, flair and showmanship. We will be watching the new concert being streamed over the internet.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones as well as a Healthy and Happy New Year.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?