Winding Down

Yesterday, while the kids slept, Alton and I went into town to use the wifi at McDonalds, then went exploring the town. St. Aignan is located within driving distance of about 35 thousand chateaus and vineyards. It is, in its own right, a charming town with its own chateau which still boasts the remaining Hagard tower from the original 9th century fortress. The town was born in the year 1000. Makes a feller feel insignificant. The new church was started at the end of the 11th century and finished during the 14th. It sits on the Cher river, which we walked along. Yesterday afternoon, we loaded up and drove to Chenonceau. I had planned on doing a drive by viewing, but we couldn’t see it from the road so we were forced to buy tickets and physically tour it. I am sure it was filled with history but it was also filled with a bunch of people and it was hard to enjoy. I think if they would let me use it for the weekend, I would gain a better appreciation for it, as under my rule, no one would be allowed in it except me and my guests and they would bring wine. After touring the chateau and the gardens, we walked around the town of Chenonceau. It is hard to find a town in this country that isn’t beautiful.

Our stables

Our Englishman

Approaching the chateau in Chenonceau

This morning, Alton and I walked around more of St. Aignan and then took the kids to Cheverny to a little family owned vineyard. There was no one at the building, but there was a sign instructing us to ring the bell and wait five minutes and someone would be with us. Jack, of course, insisted on pressing the button then Alton, of course thinks he did it wrong and amid the arguing of proper button pushing procedure, a little car whips into he courtyard and a man with what looks like a dungeon key hops out and unlocks the door. He invites us in and gives us a menu. Each time he smiles, I am able to admire his gold onlays, of which he has many. We choose four to taste and we buy a few bottles. The tasting was free. I am getting a little concerned about all my credit cards. I haven’t really used them but each time I try, I am told they can’t be read. I am afraid they have been demagnetized, which is a happy thing for me, but is depleting Alton’s cash reserve. Also, my bank has shut me out of the online access for too many wrong password attempts. Annoying. We took a quick walk around the town of Cheverny and headed home. We leave tomorrow for our last night in Paris and we leave France on Wednesday.

St. Aignan