ESCARGOTS

Yes, in keeping with his new beret, Peter went the whole mollusc and ordered snails.

They were dead, and looked like this.

Peter gulped, then swallowed them, like this.

And even wiped the dish clean. Tripe a la mode de Caen, tomorrow night!

Ste Menahould

Hotel de Ville, built in 1730. We think a few heads might have rolled here, in the Revolution.

Dom Perignon was born here, they say, and discovered the local plonk

and, for Lily, Grace, Erik and Oskar, a CROCODILE. (Can you see him?)

We had dinner in the hotel, but this photo is a mere lead-in to the next blog, which has severe repercussions for Porter eating habits.

The end of the Loire

We had drinks on our last night, and David and Dianne, our landlords, came over. So did Susie and Andy, and they brouoght ....

..... a cake, which the Birthday Boy proptly blew out.

Then Anne attempted the Dutch version of the Normandy Blackberrying Dance, with singular results.

And in steady drizzle, with heavy hearts, we left beautiful downtown Merton for the bright lights and fleshpots of Chalons-en-Champagne.

Montreuil-Bellay Chateau

The birthday boy ended up in the wine cellars of this chateau ......

... then conducted a small tour over the rest of the castle ......

....

Peter found this music of a Gregorian chant, which may interest you, Beth. An old Frenchman came up and started to explain the music to Anne and me, and pointed out the tempi notation, and where 'haute doh' was. He then started making (possibly) obscene jestures, and Anne left.

We're not sure exactly what Peter is doing here, but we're glad he doesn't represent Australia any more!

Some Celebrations

We all went out to dinner, to celebrate Susie and Andy's wedding anniversary

and next morning, we finally saw some deer near the village.

then Andy realised that we were experiencing English weather, and he had to celebrate that.

and Peter had a birthday, renounced his Australian citizenship, and joined the Frogs!

Villandry III

On our way home from Villandry, we had to stop for the usual lunch. This picnic was at the confluence of the Cher and Loire rivers.

Further on we found a beautiful chateau at Usse

and a nuclear (Nucular, Peter) power station at Candes St. Martin

and a baby beagle in Montreuil-Bellay

Villandry II

The formal flower and hedge gardens were beautiful

as you can see,

and the water garden was spectacular. Anne complained that the swans Cathy promised were not there,

but we didn't like to tell her why.

Actually, as this photo was being taken, a Frenchman appeared just to the left of picture. I think he left with a very mistaken view of how Australian wives treat their husbands. (Editor's note: Anne wished to draw attention to the elephantine 'tail', and the prehensile trunk ending. The dangling pendant and armpit hair are not relevant to the impersonation.)

Villandry I

After wandering through beautiful chateaux we went to Villandry, which has an ordinary castle, and an amazing garden. The most spectacular part of the garden is the vegetable section, with all manner of colourful veges, arranged in formal gardens. Bit of a waste, though.

Here we all are, in the gentle rain, preparing to see the gardens.

That's a lot of red cabbage,

and these are other veges.

And a lovely rose.

Post-troglodytes

After our undergroound adventures, we visited the town of Richeleau, founded by the Cardinal from The Three Musketeers.

It had a nice church,

with a nice window.

And then it was time for tea.

Before tea, we went into another shop, and I aked if they had WiFi. Madame: "Pardon, M'sieu?" Moi: "WiFi. L'Internet" Madame: "Non, non. No toilet (broken English)" Moi: "Aaaaargh"

Troglodytes

While Anne and Peter and Andy went to Oradour, we went to see some troglodyte farms. Despite their short stature, the two in picture are NOT troglodytes!

They were short, though.

Susie and Cathyt were undeterred by the low ceilings.

Apparently this device was used to restrain children. A bit like a cross between a playpen and a walking frame, the child was put in the square frame, and was allowed to walk roound and round the central pole. No mention of electricity generation, but I think they missed a chance there.