Saturday 24 December 2011

Christmas Eve

Well we're back home having dropped Sarah, the daughter of Antoinette's cousin, off at Charles de Gaulle airport for her flight back to Greece. She's been studying there this last semester and now she's flying back to Athens to meet up with her sister and father for Christmas before all three fly back to the USA. 

Unfortunately the earliest TGV train would not have given her enough time to get to the gate for her flight so we drove up last night and stayed at a cheap & cheerful airport hotel [Premiere Classe] before waving 'au revoir' this morning. Predictably after days of murk and misty rain the weather turned glorious and we were treated to a beautiful sunrise as we drove away from the airport.

It has been a hugely enjoyable but busy few days visiting Amboise, Chenonceau, Chinon, Fontevraud Abbey and the Abbey of St Savin. We'll write more about our visits soon. 

For now, on Christmas Eve we'd like to send our best wishes at Christmas to everyone and leave you with some seasonally appropriate images. We have presents to wrap and cooking to do!

Nativity, Charnizay village, perched in a lime[linden] tree

Nativity, Chenonceau chapel

Nativity, Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry
 

13 comments:

Carolyn said...

Happy holidays to you. Wonderful photos today. I've never seen a nativity scene in a tree before--did Joachim blow it there?

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Carolyn- LOL! Probably :-) Happy Holidays to you too.

the fly in the web said...

Have a great Christmas and New Year...super photograph of the Chenonceau nativity..and, of course...a Tres Riches Heures as the icing on the cake!

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Fly - the same to you! It is actually a great time to visit Chenonceau. They have the most beautiful Christmas floral arrangements and it's quiet!
We couldn't leave out a Tres Riches Heures, now could we?!

The Broad said...

What lovely photos. I love Chenonceau and the nativity scene is really something special. Wonderful to see. So thank you and best wishes for a very Happy Christmas!

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Broad - thanks :-)! Happy Christmas to you too.

Tim said...

Happy Crimble and a Melodious Hogmanay... and all you wish for, and more, in 2012

Pollygarter said...

And the same from me and the cats.

ladybird said...

Merry Christmas to you both! Enjoy the holiday season ... Martine

Perpetua said...

Warmest Christmas greetings to you both. Lovely photos. We created a similar crib scene beneath the altar in my first parish as Vicar, with all the figures beautifully handmade by a local artist.

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Tim - and Happy Christmas to you too :-) [just waiting for the pintade to rest]

@Pauline - and to you too feline greetings from Shadow & Katinka to your 3 furries.

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Martine - Happy Christmas. Kaartje gestuurd maar ik weet niet of het optijd is aangekomen.

Niall & Antoinette said...

@Perpetua - and to you too. The chapel was indeed lovely.
Last year we blogged about our local church . They too make a real effort with their nativity--though it is a bit more rustic.