Traveling towards Bordeaux. At Blaye we crossed the La Garonne (part sea water and part fresh) to the Medoc Peninsula. Huts perched on frail stilts, the square nets for catching prawn. Passed many Chateau. Tasted wine @ Chateau D'Arcins and again at Chateau Labegorce Margaux. Driving through Bordeaux on our way to St. Emilion. At the heart of this medical town we checked into AuLogis Des Remparts. Went next door to Lard & Bouchon. This restaurant is in a ...

Driving to Chambord by way of country roads. Slowing down for small villages with narrow streets (some buildings on the street). No stop signs, just round-a-bouts. Toured the Chateau de Chambord, largest chateau in the Loire Valley. Conceived by King Francis I. We wondered through the five centuries of history and 440 rooms, 282 fireplaces and 84 staircases. Some apartments were furnished, other rooms were museum style and some were modern french art gallerie...

Hertz to get a car. Glad I had my info along, their computer down. The car is a diesel, manual, named her Antonette. Had pastry, small and round like our donut holes, but these were eclair pantry with no filling. Driving through the Normandie countryside. The GPS in this car lets you know if you are going over speed limit. Many points of interest signs along the way, sometime we would see a chateau or church. I'm in France, in the woman's bathroom was a man...

With knife and fork in hand started the day with a piece of Marie-Antoinette cream bread. 8:15, 3rd in line, but not for long. The Palace of Versailles is very impressive. We slowly strolled through the maze of rooms, galleries, statues, & gardens. Tuesday is Music in the garden, we found only one fountain alive to the music. Saturday & Sunday all the fountains come alive. We searched each area for a new surprise, until the palaces of Trianon opened...

Train to Paris, France. Subway to Versailles. Paris has much larger trains and a lot more steps. Raining today, managed to get on the wrong train. Therefore we got off next stop and went back. We were not the only ones, a young French girl explained to us that many trains were not running and some with no notice.... Happens all the time. We also met two college students from Beijing. Exchanged travel stories as we waited for the train to Versailles. Arriv...