An instant pot is a multi-cooker - combi pressure cooker, steamer, slow pot, sauté pan, etc, covers multiple functions, all in a single pot. We’ve generally had well equipped rentals, but the one in Sarrians in the Luberon was probably the best. High quality china and stemware too, our host even left us a cabinet full of high end liquor. Probably left behind by previous renters, we made sure to contribute to the cache too 😃

It was bittersweet returning to Blois today as it was this town where we started lockdown in 2020 and decided we had to end our dream trip. We traveled by train and it was a pleasant forty minute trip.
It was fabulous to see the town full of people as it was a market day. One of the best food markets I have seen. You could pick the better food stalls as the queues were long. I did purchase some white Asparagus and strawberries as they looked so good. As Google is my friend, apparently I can roast the asparagus and add a few chives and allegedly should be good. Shouldn’t be able to mess that up. Also managed to have a good cafe crème.

We then visited the Chateau Royal de Blois and really enjoyed it. Was wonderful to be able to take time to look at everything. We will return next Saturday for the food market and bring our cooler bag. Really love this town, and another place I could live.

Not much on tomorrow as they owner of the apartment is paying us a visit. We sent him a message advising that the freezer needs to be defrosted as there is water coming from the fridge. To defrost the freezer we at least need some extra towels or appropriate mop to clean up.

There is also a leak in the bathroom behind the toilet Not sewerage thank goodness. Quick showers are required as the bottom of the shower alcove fills up very quickly. My husband thought I was splashing water around, and I thought he was. This apartment is in an old building so I suspect that the plumbing issues may not be a quick fix.

We also have to do a bit of shopping as Monday is a public holiday (May 1). There is also a big march/demonstration on Monday and on some other forums there is a lot of scaremongering going on. We don’t intend to be anywhere near it. We feel very safe in France and these types of demonstrations are easily avoided.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fod...ec8209717.jpegBeautiful Botanical Gardens Tours
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I was so excited to see the Flamingos
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Love the maple
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Stunning trees
We have been a bit quiet the last couple of days. The owner came around yesterday to bring a towel for us to defrost the freezer ( took about 10 mins to defrost ) and have a look at the issues we had mentioned to him. Not much can be done until a plumber is available. Like everywhere since Covoid getting tradesman is difficult.

Today we visited the beautiful botanical gardens in Tours and took our lunch of a ham baguette and sat and watched the flamingos while we ate. I love flamingos, and sadly they didn’t flap their beautiful wings often enough to catch a photo.

This is the first time I have attached photos and if I haven’t done it the correct way please let me know. We have lots of adventures planned everyday this week and we are absolutely loving being in France

Your photos display perfectly.

Yes, as kerouac wrote, your shots are gorgeous. Good luck with the leak and the shower.

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Today we had one of those days you only dream about. We met an Aussie / French Italian FB friend in Samur who very nicely drove us around looking at some fascinating sites. One of these was Turquant. It is a village built into the hillside and has Troglodyte dwellings. They are amazing to see and as the three of us were walking down the street, and a man was putting his rubbish out, and we got talking to him and he invited us in. He showed us all the hard work he had done to make an amazing lush garden by building up the beds. We thought that it was nice of him, and then he took us inside. We were blown away as we had never seen or been inside a Troglodyte, and his kindness in allowing three complete strangers into his home was incredible. When I was telling our friend that this happens often to us in France his response was the French shrug and said “ you have soft faces”. We had no idea what we meant.
We then visited the flour mill where our friend works and he explained how it all operates. Then the last village Le Thoureil was to see Roman ruins and a church built on top.
A fabulous day that we will cherish.

When we were travelling to Angers last week we saw a very small portion of this beautiful town Langeais from the train the other day and decided to come and have a look. The Chateau is pretty good and with printed information in English in every room, it was a really enjoyable visit. The ruins are interesting and the treehouse in the grounds is amazing.

The same day we visited Chateau Villandry, and we were lucky as we walked straight in and purchased a ticket at 1.30 pm. We had plenty of time to look at everything, and the flowers in every room were beautiful. We then walked around the stunning gardens. This is a place where I could very easily live as it is so comfortable.

Friday we were out early to catch the train to Orlean for the one hour twenty minute trip. Lots of flowers in pots all around the town as there was a Joan of Arc festival starting on Friday night. The city is busy with people going about their daily lives. The ancient area is great, and the Cathedral is spectacular. We walked all around and had fabulous coffee at a place called Le Club. Lunch wasn’t that great.
We then visited Cercil Museum the memorial to infants
(Jewish) taken to Auschwitz. Very sad and even though all in French, the pictures told the story.

Another visit to Blois yesterday as the Buchon du Blois is on this weekend. Lots of classic cars, and a visit to St Vincent’s Church. While my husband was off taking photos of the cars, I did some wandering off and stumbled across a shoe shop. The shoes were fabulous and I was so tempted to buy a pair of sneakers. I have so many shoes at home and went thru the whole do I need them- no, do I want them- yes, Do I want to pay €189- maybe, can I fit them in my luggage- no. In the end I didn’t get them.

Today is our 46th Wedding Anniversary and we are staying in Tours and will go out for lunch. The town is so busy with it being a long weekend. We really want to go for a long walk around the town and get a feel for the place. As we have been out nearly every day we haven’t spent much time here.

Saumur is my favourite town in the Loire. So glad you enjoyed it too. I’ve also enjoyed visiting some of the Loire château parks and gardens. The Castle of Azay-le- Rideau has a lovely park garden and the herb garden at Chateau Villandry is wonderful.

Following along as well! I love this concept — a long stay in one place and getting to know the area.

Finding the right accommodations is the most difficult part for me, and boy, have prices gone up! It sounds like your apartment has worked out fine. I am glad the owner came by to address a few things.

What do you think of Tours as a home base? My sister was there recently and loved it! Are you close to the pedestrian center? I want to spend a month in the Loire Valley as well — was thinking Blois but I don’t know much about the area. A friend stayed in Angers for 2-3 weeks.

So excited to follow your trip. Your pictures are beautiful. How wonderful to be able to spend so much time there.

Irice I think Tours is a great place to use as a base. While we have a car, we have taken quite a few day trips on the train. SCNF advertised the Carte Senior fro € 24 pp at the end of 2022 and we purchased two. We are 1.7 kilometres to the railways station.

We are 1.1 km from Plumerau and while we are on a busy road, we don’t hear the traffic noise when sleeping. Even in peak hour it isn’t at all noisy.

I was surprised with Angers at how big it is. More like a city. Hope this helps

While the apartment is spacious, there are a few minor issues. The owner drops round towels and sheets every week, there is a supermarket around the corner, and a small chocolatier that sells ( tough) baguettes across the road. Free parking up the street. I’m not sure how people go with parking if they get back to Tours after seven pm as the parking does look full at that time.

The old part of Tours certainly comes alive on the weekends, and it is lovely to see people out and about all enjoying themselves with no bad behaviour.

I really like Blois but as for using as a base, you seem to be much further away from items of interest. The choice of train travel is also reduced.

Hope this helps.

Happy anniversary a few days late!

"Soft faces" was a compliment. Your faces show that you're interested and open. I'm sure people are delighted to meet friendly Australians like you two. I hope and expect that you'll have a lot of encounters like these.

Coquelicot thank you for the anniversary wishes and the explanation of our soft faces. I did wonder if it because I’m getting older my face is dropping 🤣

It is important to us wherever we travel to experience new things without judgement, and be respectful and polite. That way you have fabulous experiences.

Tdudette thank you for your kind words.

Whenever you read travel blogs there are often two questions that people ask.
1. How can I live like a local
2. What to wear so I don’t look like a tourist.

Unlikely when you are visiting for a week or two because you are not doing normal everyday things like working, shopping, or dealing with administrative type things.

Here is how we lived like a local today.
Getting your shopping done before the shops close for the lunch break can be tricky.
Today I wanted some wool. The shop opens at 10.30 and closes at 12.30. I arrived at 12.29 and it was closed. Reopens at 3.pm.

Dealing with admin stuff
Spent two hours this morning trying to resolve the Critic Air certificate for the lease car as we have booked accommodation in Rouen and Lille so one is definitely required. Not resolved yet and may have to visit the Marie tomorrow to get an attestation to say we reside here as this could be the problem in not allowing the application to go thru. We have applied seven times with all the information from the registration certificate and still no joy. As this is a new Peugeot 2008 we presume it still needs one. Patience required. Locals do these things every day, and you don’t when you are here for a week or two. Take the cue from how locals handling these issues, and develop the French shrug 🤣


What to wear.
I find this type of question very depressing. My clothes are my normal clothes that I wear when I’m not gardening or going to the gym. I haven’t purchased any upmarket items to try and look French. Why do non French women want to look French anyway. You see very few questions from men on this topic.
My view is as long as I look neat, clean and tidy it’s fine. I really wish as women we could say to each other, where what suits you, look clean and tidy, and put your good manners on show more than your clothes.

I’m in a particular group and the ‘ fashion police’ on there can be so patronising towards American and Australian women about what they wear. Thank goodness I haven’t seen that here.

The rain and thunderstorms have passed and we are going out for a walk. I love how at 9.30 pm it is still light, and looking forward to the long days of summer soon.
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It is great when you can have an experience such as you described. We have been lucky to have had some similar experiences over the years and they make wonderful memories.
We are wanting to get to the poissonnier in the village but it closes at 12.15 for the day. Go before we go out or will we be back before it closes?
We have had a quiet day as it has been raining on and off and we have had a busy few days.
It is lovely being here.

rhon lovely to hear that all is going well. Our daughter doesn’t believe me when I say we are busy on holidays. The countryside is so beautiful, and we are happy to be here also.

Today we drove on roads lined with bluebells, buttercups, wild orchids, and daisies and were so happy to be here in spring to see them all. We waited ages in the bakery while a trainee figured out how to tap in different categories and we enjoyed that too. We got rained on at the street market and we enjoyed it anyway.

I said to my husband I don't think many people would enjoy the same things we do in France.

But then I checked in here to see what was up on Fodors and I realized that you, cheska and rhon, feel the same appreciation for the small things.

Good luck getting your sticker, cheska.

Spring is indeed lovely. We are about three kms out of a village and surrounded by grapevines which already have lots of leaves. They were working amongst the vines yesterday. Our terrace overlooks the owner's walled potager and he comes up most afternoons to work in it. They live down the road. We look across the vines to the Pyrenees which still have some snow on top. It is very pleasant.
Baked trout for dinner tonight.

rhon- Your place sounds idyllic.

I have been following along and enjoying both of your time in France

Coquelicot we look at those things too. I describe the Loire Valley as a giant golf course. Lush green.fields ( with some canola plantations) gentle inclines, and then you enter the towns with spring flowers everywhere. The beauty of just the countryside is not mentioned very often. It’s all about a chateau. Last night to clear our heads we went across the bridge to Saint Cyr sur  Loire and it is gorgeous. The tree lined streets are gorgeous, and the housing is lovely too. These small things continue to make my day.

rhon smoked trout sounds fabulous, and the Pyrenees are magnificent.