Wed Sept 6 – Day 7 - Tour Day 5 - Villandry Experience

Thank goodness that this hotel has ac. I slept soundly until 0530 then was wide awake so got up, showered and dressed.

Caught up with the emails and blocked the junk ones. Might have to put in another complaint to Telstra about the number that I have received, ever since they ‘updated’ their webmail site. 

Late sunrise.  This was shortly after 7 this morning.

Down to breakfast about 0720 and I was the first one from our group there, Lisa and Philip arrived soon after. I think because of our late departure, many people are taking advantage of the late start.

The usual scrambled eggs and bacon being the hot option. Some cold cuts and cheeses, cereals and fresh fruit and lots of bread and pastries. 

After I finished breakfast I went back to my room to change my shoes. I wore my sandals yesterday and have developed a small blister under my right foot. Put a blister block on it and changed to my sketchers. Much more painless when I went for a walk along the ocean front. 

My pedometer is still set to home time, so at 4 pm local time here, it resets to zero. 

 

I was back at the hotel just before 0900, so had time to put the main suitcase out for collection.

We departed on time at 1000 and Elisabeth is collecting the optional monies this morning as we travel along.

 

There is a slight cloud cover today, so the sun is ‘muted’ instead of being a big red ball, as it has been other days. 

One of the roundabouts that we just went through, near Rennes, is having the road markings re-painted. No speed signs warning about ‘men at work’ and the workers are walking along the freeway putting down orange cones, about 3 feet from where they will be painting. I wonder if there are many worker accidents with vehicles?

 

Almost midday and Elisabeth said that it is about 30 minutes to Angers. I think we just by-passed Nantes. I notice that the cloud has finally lifted in parts and the sun is shining brightly. The forecast for today is a max of 36c.

It looks almost foggy outside in the distance or perhaps it is because of humidity. 

 

Arrived in Angers at 1235, where we had 2 hours. Lucia & I decided to lunch together and also visit the Angers Chateau 

and the Apocalypse Tapestry.   The Apocalypse Tapestry is a large medieval set of tapestries commissioned by Louis I, the Duke of Anjou, and woven in Paris between 1377 and 1382.

€8.90 plus tip for lunch and €9.50 for the museum visit.

Away again at 1425 with about an hour drive to the winery.

Crossed over the Loire River at 1510. We are now in the South of France.

 

Arrived at the winery around 1530. Had an interesting tour through the cellars. 4 different wines to taste. 2 white 1 rose and 1 sparkling Shiraz. On our way to the hotel at 1745.

I didn't take any photos of the winery tour, or of our optional dinner this evening.

Departed for our optional dinner at 1839. Delicious meal.  We were back by 9:30pm.

Breakfast starts at 7am tomorrow morning and we are departing for an optional at 8:30am.

We will be out for most of the day.

7:00pm is the start of our Celebration Dinner and then on Friday we head back to Paris for the end of the tour.