It was only 160 miles, and should’ve taken 2 1/2 hours, but I inadvertently, or stupidly, planned several of my change of location days on Saturdays, which apparently are not days to be in a car in France in August. Summer vacations are taken very seriously in this country and the road was chock-a-block with cars full of families and bicycles and roof racks and trailing campers. So, it took 5 hours in the rain to get to Saumur, in the lovely Loire Valley.
I don’t have many photos from today; just a few from my walk to the tourism office once I got here; so I will simply describe the things I saw along the way. There was a circus set up in a field along the road — pretty much rained out today, but the red and white tents looked so hopeful. In a pale green vintage VW bug there was a bride and groom sitting in the backseat while their driver, also in a suit, did his best to not allow in those cars that wait until the last minute to merge despite signage giving them plenty of notice. One SUV was crammed so full of luggage and towels and beach gear in the back that one poor passenger had to sit with a large cooler on his lap on this long trip. At the rest areas there was literally parking along the roadway only, and lines 10 deep for both the restrooms. Picnics were being had under the hatch back roof of the car.
The geography changed a little — some rolling hills — but still farmland and cattle and corn. One very large greenhouse with what appeared to be flowers, and then some small orchards of apples under some tenting. Occasionally there’d be a “sculpture” made of hay bales. Using both the huge round ones and some rectangular bales, I saw what appeared to be a massive scarecrow, and then one bunch creatively built into a tractor. And all along the roadway, pretty yellow wild flowers.
Finally I arrived in Saumur, and after checking into my very conveniently located hotel — just off the river and next to the main church — I ventured out to get the lay of the city and plan for the next few days. The church is Eglise de Saint-Pierre and is in a combination of gothic and Roman styles, having been added onto and renovated, etc., etc. over the centuries. It began in the 12thC, so it has some history. Other than the impressive organ, it didn’t strike me as particularly interesting. I thought what is now City Hall more interesting architecturely, as well as the the old French Red Cross building. I didn’t visit the Chateau today — will have more on that tomorrow — in these photos at the river you can see it in the distance.
And then I had some dinner and dragged myself back to my room to write this and go to sleep. Tiring day.
Speaking of hay bale sculptures, have you ever seen the photo of the caterpillar made out of hay bales that Uncle Ronnie’s Barb made on our lane?
I’d love to see that — email me a pic if you have it. I was so surprised by these hay bale sculptures because I’d never seen any in the US — I guess they happen in farm land America too, but I’ve missed it.