I'm Thankful that I went to France!
France Part III
Yes, Thanksgiving was yesterday. Same old story, I tried to post and it vanished.
Today, we finish up Paris. This is the Louvre. Famous art gallery, home to La Jaconde, or as we know it, Mona Lisa. Originally, it was a castle, or a fortress. Back in the Middle Ages it protected Paris, which was only a tiny island. Over the years, it was spruced up to become the humungous building it is today. Seriously, gigantic. This shot does not even show a smidgen of it's grandeur.
Next we have the models posing in front of Chenonceau. Yesterday, I had some fantastic internet facts about this place. Today, well, I will try to remember because I'm not looking for them again. So, this castle is located in the Loire Valley Region. It was once the place to be for Royals looking to chill in the country. What I found to be interesting, was that the castle extends over the Cher River. In the Second World War, the Cher divided occupied and non-occupied France. People snuck through the castle to freedom on the other side. Today, it costs the French mega bucks with the cost of refurbising and up keep.
In planning our trip, my mom had a dream. She wanted to eat cheese and bread and drink wine by the Seine. Well, the Seine is in Paris and that didn't happen for us. So, we did it by the Cher. You should have seen us. Sneaking of the trail we were allowed to be on to find just the right clump of moss in the woods. This is the view. Or maybe it's not. Actually, that's just a good story. This is the moat surrounding Chenonceau.
This is the view from atop Château Ambroise. Another lovely castle.
Moving to the coast where we visited our exchange student and my exchange family in Brittany. I do believe that this is the Granite Rose Coast. Home of kitchen countertops? The sidewalks were made of polished granite. Imagine!
After Brittany, I left my mom and sister, sent them back home and I went south to Lyons and area to see my friend. This is a view in Lyons itself. That's the back of a Cathedral. And that's it for today, I'm not pushing my luck.
