If This is Tuesday...

Tuesday in the Loire Valley - HOT HOT HOT!  We all went to the Festival of Gardens at Chaumont Chateau, but Mom and I soon decided we weren't going to want to spend much time there.  We moved from shady spot to shady spot and checked out a few display gardens in between.  This garden show is not a typical show in the sense that we think of it.  There are very few beautiful floral displays; instead the individual gardens are expressions of the artist's understanding of the theme, which, this year, was Gardens of the Future.  Amidst the plantings are artists' creations that have a message or tell a story.  We did look at a few and took pictures of our favorites, except for the one that we really liked the best - the Valley of the Mists, where Mom was afraid to expose her camera to the mists.  This was a steep little valley with a stream running through it between rocky cascades and a still pond.  In a bog-like area, jets of mist rose periodically.  We were so hot that we stood for a few minutes in the mist to cool off.  We hated to leave that place.

These"flowers" are made out of wire.  The toadstool, too.

This tunnel of branches was meant to make you feel like an underground creature.  Along the way were windows into the earth, giant cocoons and grubs.

Chateau de Chaumont

This garden consisted of shiny glass balls on bamboo sticks.

After the garden show we went to a neighboring town for dinner.  On the way were several caves (wine cellars) where we (they) could stop and sample wines of the region.  The one we stopped at was hosted by a wonderfully jolly woman who believed in living in the moment and enjoying it.  After Mom and the aunties bought a bottle of wine, they asked her if she would uncork it for them, because they wanted to have a glass there at the cave.  She did so happily, but then urged us to go across the street to the side of the Loire to enjoy our wine.

Here, she said, take these chairs over there.  Why not?  It's much more pleasant and tranquil by the river. 

So we did.  Mom loved the whole idea - it was so Monet-esque, she said.  So I lay in the grass while Mom and the aunties enjoyed their wine and relaxed as the current flowed by.  Some canoers floated past, and shouted out, so Mom and the aunties raised a glass to them.  Mom thought it was the best part of the day.



 Patch and Madame Odile at the bar.

On the bank of the Loire River

After thanking Madame Odile for her hospitality, we went on to Amboise for dinner.  We chose an Italian restaurant and sat under the awnings outdoors.  Soon the sky darkened and the threat of rain became real.  Before we knew it, thunder and lightning could be noticed in the distance.  Mom was concerned that I might be afraid, but I was under the table and didn't bat an eyelash.  THEN - the bolt of lightning struck the awning assembly right above us!  The yellow flash was blinding and the thunderclap made our ears ring afterward.  Everyone jumped up with a look of fear on their faces.  The torrent of rain was blown in under the awning, and the waiters urged us inside.  We didn't argue.  Mom grabbed me up and headed for the doorway.  Everyone was quite stunned, a little shaky and grateful to be inside.  By the time dinner was over the rain had nearly stopped and the sky was beginning to clear.  Except for the close call, we were glad for the rain, which cleared the oppressive humidity of the day.