I was going to title this "The Best Place in the World" but I just got back from vacation to Ireland and Scotland, and the Highlands are giving it a run for its money :)
Sunday we arose, bright and early, ate a lovely breakfast of bread and things to put on bread (jam, butter, nutella, you name it) and assorted beverages (typical French fare). Then, to Chenonceau! We got there bright and early, and it was stunning blue-sky weather! An added bonus, not many tourists so we were free to wander. It was every bit as beautiful as I remembered from 5 years ago, and truly a delight :) Saw another couple taking gorgeous wedding pictures, took so many pictures, and just took it all in.
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| Path to Chenonceau, looking exactly the same as last time |
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| The sky! The castle! Everything was magnificent! |
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| Awesome vaulted ceiling in the chapel |
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| My future bread oven |
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| We arose early that morning, and caught the sunrise! I honestly can't remember the last time I've been awake for one and it was beautiful :) |
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| Like all respectable castles, free wifi! |
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| Donkey :) |
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| Me! In front of my lovely castle |
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| Tiny cottage house? Not sure but cute :) |
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| Gardens! Sadly not yet in bloom |
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| The chapel. How awesome would it be to have your own chapel? Answer: Super awesome |
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| 2254 injured were cared for here during the War 1914-18 |
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| Butchers block from the kitchen, worn smooth from years of chopping! |
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| I am loving the white stone walls with the copper plans |
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| The ceiling of a staircase! |
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| Absolutely gorgeous hall over the water. A couple was taking their wedding photos here! |
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| Love |
Finally, we visited Amboise. It took me all the way up to the castle to realize that I'd already visited it! This was the warmest part of the whole weekend, but super windy :) At this point everyone was a bit "castled-out" so I didn't take as many pics, however how could it compare to Chenonceau?! Afterwards, a few of us got the fanciest gelato I've ever seen, and drove back to Rennes.
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| Chapel of Amboise, which used to be connected to the castle before most of it was destroyed. |
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| Castle |
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| Flags with the signs of Bretagne and French Royalty, symbolizing the marriage between Charles VIII and Anne, the last Duchess of Bretagne |
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| Above the fireplace |
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| Vase |
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| Pretty portrait |
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| Leonardo de Vinci, a close friend of the family who lived nearby at Clos Lucé. |
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| Gelato! You could get as many flavors as you wanted, with a petal for each one. Creative! |
And with that, we finished the last of three amazing excursions with my beloved CIEE friends. It's been great, fellow Americans!
Next post will be about a trip I took to Ireland and Scotland! So very many pictures. You've been warned!
<3 Katie May
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