It was very easy picking up the Avis car (a Ford Fiesta, soon to be introduced in the U.S.) from the Chartres railroad station (called ‘GARE.’) 

The roads are excellent and well-marked.  No mountains like there are in Greece.  Kathie remarked how the country-side looked like Kansas! 

There were a lot of farm lands being tilled. Every so often you came across these monolithic concrete towers– the French answer to cell towers. I liked driving in Normandy the best going through the countryside, villages and coast.    From Blois, Kathie really enjoyed seeing the Chateau de Chenonceau.  It was literally designed by women back in the 16th century. 

The Chateau de Chenonceau goes across the river Cher.  The chateau was used as a hospital during W.W. I.

The grounds and gardens are impeccable and we had enough time to walk the entire estate.  I love all the sycamore trees that follow the pathways.  Chateau de Chenonceau is definitely ‘the toast of the Loire Valley.’   

We did stop at a winery outside of Amboise.  They store their wines in caves. 

One of the young men that worked there went to the University of Florida. I gave him my orange baseball cap from the University of Florida. His dad was there and he was a major from a local village.  It was very nice meeting them–along with some of the wine tasting. They treated us to a bottle of wine!  

We visited the famous Chateau de Chambord.  It is huge! 

But, Chambord, in my opinion is not even close to the beauty of Chateau de Chenonceau.  Both these Chateau’s are pictured in Disney’s  18 minute movie, “Impressions de France,” at EPCOT.

We did stay in Blois and visited the city of Amboise.