Oradour-sur-Glane

Today we split up and Andy took Anne and Peter to Oradour. This was a village that the Nazis moved into in the 1940's, rounded up most of the population and shot them, and then destroyed the village.

After the war, de Gaulle decreed that the village be left untouched, and so it remains today. A sobering place.

da Vinci

Leonardo moved from Italy to Amboise, and spent his last years here.

Beautiful and peaceful gardens.

Quiet musing from a visiting artist.

Lovely old house.

Chennonceaux

Peter and Andy discussing the architectural delights of French chateaux (or whatever)

A very beautiful castle.

The river that the chateau spans marked the division between Occupied and Vichy France during WWII. The French Resistance smuggled many people through the chateau, and out of the occupied zone.

Self-portrait in the gardens.

A return Match

After the disaster of earlier in the week, we eschewed Viking Kub (it wasn't testing enough) and resorted to the traditional - boules. Here you see the pre-match softening-up period, with the girls trying to relive their earlier victory, and Andy and I warming up.

Their team leader, now known as the Little Finn (and other names) led off

and Peter's quality camera work caught Anne in mid-flight.

They (the girls) claim that the shot boule belongs to them, and if it did - we aren't saying anything - then they scraped in a 13-12 win.

Peter, Andy and I voted that ball games are silly, and we're not playing anymore.

Personalities of the Loire

Two beauties on the heights of Saumur

and two old men resting.

Three old men coming and one going

A man and his tank

Saumur Castle

Anne and Peter on the banks of the Loire

A fairy-tale castle, but ...

... Pete says, 'there are wheels within wheels' ...

...but you have to ask "Why" (Sorry, Tony)

Another lunch

After the market, we gathered all the food and headed off for a picnic (or pique-nique, as we say these days)

Andy gave us a quick course in wine appreciation. First, choose a wine, any wine .....

... swig .......

and gargle.

We have so much to learn from the Old World.