Les Voyages de Charlotte

We rented a car for the day to make the trip to Chartres Cathedral and Monet’s home in Giverny. So much to see! But first, breakfast.  Then, the Metro to pick up our car.  First stop: Chartres Cathedral.  Charlotte has now mastered the vertical panorama.  The west windows.  The “Blue Virgin” window.  Lighting a candle, as one does.  Next up: Monet’s house and garden at Giverny.  Charlotte has decided she needs a room like this. (Former studio, then sitting room.) But mostly, she took a zillion pictures of flowers and the gardens.  Back to Paris! We got a great view of the Eiffel Tower on our way back into town, with the bonus mini Statue of Liberty in the foreground.  After dinner in the Place de la Sorbonne, Charlotte and I got the prettiest gelato ever.  But it’s so hot we had to eat it really quickly! Tomorrow, the Louvre — just the highlights, we’re all pretty wiped out — and some shopping. Flying home on Thursday!

Today we packed up and traveled from Bourdeilles to Paris —driving to Angoulème to return the rental car and then taking the TGV.  But first, lunch in Bourdeilles (Zucchini and tomato quiche with goat cheese): And we added some of our rescued textiles to the kitchen door: We had some time to waste before our train, and it was way too hot to walk around. I found the French equivalent of a Joann Fabric, and right next door was Angoulème’s version of Odd Lot: Next up, the big E. LeClerc grocery store to get some provisions for the train ride. But not this.  She settled for the regular size. Plus some Trader Joe’s peanuts from Aldi!?! Charlotte drew for most of the ride with some new markers she got at the not-Odd Lot.  We caught the sunset at 290 km/hr.  And made it back to Paris! Turns out we can just barely see Notre Dame from our rooms this time: And we enjoyed a late-night digestif just up the street.  Tomorrow, Chartres cathedral and Giverny. 

Today we visited the Gallo-Roman site of Vessuna, in the nearby city of Perigeux.  But first, coffee.  The museum is built right over the site, so you look down into it from walkways above.  Also, there’s a Playmobil version.  I was delighted that I figured out that the objects on the lower right are spindles (for hand-spinning yarn)! The nearby temple to the goddess Vessuna was also pretty photo-worthy! Including Charlotte’s awesome vertical panorama! Most of the shops were closed (Sunday and all), but we had an excellent lunch in a café.  But no ice cream for us.  Tomorrow we head back to Paris (driving to Angoulème in the afternoon for an evening train). 

The chateau hosted a medieval/renaissance festival this weekend, so of course we visited! Battles were fought.  Games were played.  Lunch was eaten.  We stayed local for the afternoon, creating a screen for the front window to keep the flies out and walking around town.  Tomorrow, we’re looking forward to the market in the village, and planning to visit newly-discovered Roman ruins in nearby Perigeux.