From Paris we rented a car and drove west and south. The first stop, the Palais de Versailles, we found to be almost overly grandiose. The opulence of the Palace with its luxurious furnishings and numerous portraits and tapestries was offset somewhat by the natural beauty of the gardens with their lakes and fountains.
The city of Chartres displayed her spectacular cathedral which emanates amazing reverence and beauty through her antique stained glass and the intricate labyrinth in her stone floor. Then on to the Loire Valley where Christine’s father’s roots originate. We spent Bastille Day in Ambroise with a visit to a chateau and spectacular fireworks display. The Loire Valley brought us through fields of wheat, corn, sunflowers and vineyards before we headed north to Mont Saint Michel and then to the D-Day beaches of Normandy. Finally, we strolled through Monet’s gardens in Giverny enjoying the flowers, orchards and water lilies which are seen in his paintings.
Back in Paris we said goodbye to Coll and Gary before moving on to Dalaman in Turkey where we were welcomed by Christine’s sister, Jeanette and her husband, Doug.