Day 20 ... highlights outside of Paris [again] & good company ... today was our last sojourn outside Paris - we went 180 miles outside of Paris to visit a number of castles and estates including the estate of Chambord, Chateau Chenonceau [the lady's castle], and Chateau Cheverny. As always it is wonderful to experience and get a richer understanding for an area's history, influence, culture and architecture. Although they don't mirror Versailles grandeur, ...

Day 19 ... highlights Giverny and the Palace of Versailles ... this morning we got up extra early at 6h15 ... ... that's tough when you're on vacation and you didn't go to bed until 1h30 ... it's the Blog's fault [it's hard to believe I do this the other 330 days of the year ... I think I may be slightly insane ... I need a hobby!!!] ... we made our way via the Metro to the tour office at rue de la Pyramide - did smashingly well finding our way considering it...

Day 18 ... highlights train travel and Bateau Simpatico ... early this morning we made our way to Amstedam's Central Station to begin our travel to Paris - I had to make a quick detour to the Yellow Bike Company as yesterday when we dropped off our rental bikes I forgot my basket at our abode ... ... so I made a quick dash from the train station to the company to drop it off and then we were on our way. We travelled via Thalys Train from Amsterdam to Paris...