Saturday 6 August 2011

A visitor's view

restaurant in the Vallée Coquette
On Thursday we picked up our good friend Jane from the TGV station in Tours/St Pierre des Corps. We all worked at an international school in The Hague in the late 1990's.

Jane had worked in France as an undergraduate, but does not know the Touraine/Loire area so we have been showing her the sights.

village of Le Grand Pressigny
Leaving the train station we headed for Vouvray and had lunch in a troglodyte restaurant in the Vallée Coquette called 'Les Gueules Noires'. It used to have another name and we have eaten there before but it is now under new ownership. Some changes have been made--one which Jane, as a vegetarian, found sympathetic was that they offered a super vegetarian option in the choice of starters and created a grilled veggie platter for her mains. A nice change from the ubiquitous omelette.

Creuse river at La Guerche
Yesterday we had a mostly lazy day around the house with a short tour of the local area after lunch.

Today despite the poor weather--the rain will just not go away--we went to Loches market and had a look around the medieval quarter.



buttons, buttons, buttons on Loches market


on the way up to medieval quarter, Loches

tomb of Agnes Sorel in St Ours church
Hopefully tomorrow and Monday the weather will be a bit better as Jane flies back to the UK Monday evening. Fingers crossed....

6 comments:

Susan said...

Poor Agnès - looking up her nose and at her double chin - so undignified :-)

Craig said...

Hope the weather clears up for you guys. It's murphy's law isn't it? Weeks of sunshine and when you want to have it for guests, it deserts you! Nice photos.

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Susan - LOL! They obviously forgot to "stone brush" her chin.

@Craig - partly cloudy/sun today so think a chateau visit will be on the menu.

Jane and Lance Hattatt said...

Hello Niall and Antoinette:
We are sure that, whatever the weather, you are having a wonderful time with your friend Jane. It is always so good to meet up with friends whom one has not seen for an age and to catch up on all news. And, we are sure that Jane is fascinated by everything you have done and seen as it is all so new to her. We are, however, hoping now that there will be some sunshine for you before her return to the UK.

GaynorB said...

Have a good time! We really enjoy looking at the area with friends. You begin to see some of the things that you have started to take for granted in a different light.

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Jane & Lance - we are indeed having a wonderful time despite the weather. Touraine has so much to offer :-)

@Gaynor - Having an excellent time and lovely to catch up. You are so right it has been really interesting.