0 2026/04/25 11:17:24
0 2026/04/25 11:16:10
0 2026/04/15 14:32:03
0 2026/04/17 16:02:04
A pair of flamingos. Don't ask.
A pair of flamingos. Don't ask.
0 2026/04/17 16:04:08
On the first day that we visited Montresor, it was dull and overcast. The Indrois river appeared bored and yawning. The chateau and its ruined fortress neighbor looked tired and unappealing.
On the first day that we visited Montresor, it was dull and overcast. The Indrois river appeared bored and yawning. The chateau and its ruined fortress neighbor looked tired and unappealing.
0 2026/04/21 07:39:33
This peaceful pond had a variety of features. The forest was compelling, like a green cathedral.
This peaceful pond had a variety of features. The forest was compelling, like a green cathedral.
0 2026/04/17 16:17:26
0 2026/04/17 16:04:48
Spot Mrs Z.
Spot Mrs Z.
0 2026/04/16 04:40:58
The rental was just off to the far left, facing the turreted Porte des Cordeliers (i.e. Franciscan friar's knotted cord belt).
The rental was just off to the far left, facing the turreted Porte des Cordeliers (i.e. Franciscan friar's knotted cord belt).
0 2026/04/15 14:30:47
0 2026/04/15 15:17:27
*An essential lane to stroll in Loches during the fall: Mail du Donjon. We returned more than once. This white residence was called 'la Deviniere' (the guesser).
*An essential lane to stroll in Loches during the fall: Mail du Donjon. We returned more than once. This white residence was called 'la Deviniere' (the guesser).
0 2026/04/15 14:34:29
We bought this bookmark from the Gift Shop. It is an 'Anne of Bretagne papier fait a la cuve' (paper made in vat) item.
We bought this bookmark from the Gift Shop. It is an 'Anne of Bretagne papier fait a la cuve' (paper made in vat) item.
0 2026/04/15 14:31:21
Let's look at Loches.
Let's look at Loches.
0 2026/04/15 14:29:08
We arrived early in sleepy Savonierres, so out came the sketchbook, out came the walking trail map and the ipod was cued to play relaxing music including Nick Drake's 'River Man'. The lazy Cher river parallels the Loire just south. Good views of Soulas hamlet were had from the bridge. A local tourist family arrived, mom and the kids driving while dad lay back on his recumbent bicycle. We were asked to take their group photo.
We arrived early in sleepy Savonierres, so out came the sketchbook, out came the walking trail map and the ipod was cued to play relaxing music including Nick Drake's 'River Man'. The lazy Cher river parallels the Loire just south. Good views of Soulas hamlet were had from the bridge. A local tourist family arrived, mom and the kids driving while dad lay back on his recumbent bicycle. We were asked to take their group photo.
0 2026/04/21 07:42:51
He was a Bitcoin salesman but all his promo didn't convince us to buy.
He was a Bitcoin salesman but all his promo didn't convince us to buy.
0 2026/04/15 14:32:12
Later on, we dined at 'Maison Tourangelle' restaurant, as recommended by our Tours landlords. Chevre goat cheese gelato was just one of the tasty things we ordered.
Later on, we dined at 'Maison Tourangelle' restaurant, as recommended by our Tours landlords. Chevre goat cheese gelato was just one of the tasty things we ordered.
0 2026/04/21 07:43:54
But the following day=nous sommes du soleil! The art of flaneur is front-and-center when strolling here. The bucolic 'Balcons de l'Indrois' riverside trails are a must and will take you directly to the tasty food awaiting at the aforementioned Ecole de Gourmande restaurant. Bring your sketchbook. There are a couple of benches. This was where an Agricultural Fair was held in 1923. There, explorer Maurice Billy reenacted his recent Sahara crossing in a caterpillar-tracked Citroen vehicle.
But the following day=nous sommes du soleil! The art of flaneur is front-and-center when strolling here. The bucolic 'Balcons de l'Indrois' riverside trails are a must and will take you directly to the tasty food awaiting at the aforementioned Ecole de Gourmande restaurant. Bring your sketchbook. There are a couple of benches. This was where an Agricultural Fair was held in 1923. There, explorer Maurice Billy reenacted his recent Sahara crossing in a caterpillar-tracked Citroen vehicle.
0 2026/04/20 10:25:47
The Loire apparently narrows as it reaches the sea.
The Loire apparently narrows as it reaches the sea.
0 2026/04/17 16:18:34
0 2026/04/17 16:09:36
Bonjour fellow travelers. Mrs Z and I visited the Loire area this past fall 2025. It was our first time there in that valley of kings and their castles or chateaux. It was also the first time that my wife had any interest in combining some of her imagery with mine for an 'insolite' or TR. This new combo approach will also feature in our Antibes snowbird report later this year. Our overview follows.
Bonjour fellow travelers. Mrs Z and I visited the Loire area this past fall 2025. It was our first time there in that valley of kings and their castles or chateaux. It was also the first time that my wife had any interest in combining some of her imagery with mine for an 'insolite' or TR. This new combo approach will also feature in our Antibes snowbird report later this year. Our overview follows.
0 2026/04/15 11:17:38
The village is known for its collection of traditional 'gabarre' sailboats, the kind seen elsewhere in France (i.e. Dordogne). They were found at the Promenade sur la Cher and its Batelier Barrage Port. At the nearby actual barrage/dam, Mrs Z had a chat with a local dad and his adult son. The three of them were right next to an odd trio of sculpted skeletal dogs. The latter 'art' was painted a ghostly white and the canines were posed beside a watermark chart.
The village is known for its collection of traditional 'gabarre' sailboats, the kind seen elsewhere in France (i.e. Dordogne). They were found at the Promenade sur la Cher and its Batelier Barrage Port. At the nearby actual barrage/dam, Mrs Z had a chat with a local dad and his adult son. The three of them were right next to an odd trio of sculpted skeletal dogs. The latter 'art' was painted a ghostly white and the canines were posed beside a watermark chart.
0 2026/04/21 07:45:09
Delicious dish at an Azay fest.
Delicious dish at an Azay fest.
0 2026/04/15 22:05:55
A historic clothing factory reflected in water. Loches has its own spa not far off from this spot.
A historic clothing factory reflected in water. Loches has its own spa not far off from this spot.
0 2026/04/15 15:31:27
This Asian cafe had just opened across the street from our gite.
This Asian cafe had just opened across the street from our gite.
0 2026/04/15 14:40:46
The gite was on a street featuring bookstores and cafes.
The gite was on a street featuring bookstores and cafes.
0 2026/04/15 14:32:35
The lane shown in the previous picture is part of the absolutely essential Medieval City, an upper area that is the highlight of any Loches visit. So calm. So interesting. So tastefully preserved. A tiny community still resides up there. Shown here is the Loches Chateau, best appreciated from the outside with an art brush or camera or sketchpad or musical conveyor in hand. Dog enthusiasts will find historic stone canine sculpture on its periphery.
The lane shown in the previous picture is part of the absolutely essential Medieval City, an upper area that is the highlight of any Loches visit. So calm. So interesting. So tastefully preserved. A tiny community still resides up there. Shown here is the Loches Chateau, best appreciated from the outside with an art brush or camera or sketchpad or musical conveyor in hand. Dog enthusiasts will find historic stone canine sculpture on its periphery.
0 2026/04/15 14:30:37
0 2026/04/15 14:28:42
Bonjour mes amis! Welcome. Come right this way for Chateau Gaillard, where I am the greeter bird. *His tail was twice the length of his body.
Bonjour mes amis! Welcome. Come right this way for Chateau Gaillard, where I am the greeter bird. *His tail was twice the length of his body.
0 2026/04/25 09:50:10
For ever-changing views, visitors should walk all the way to the Gardener's Bridge. Montresor has preserved its historic past well and there were some dreamy waterside residences. i don't mean the monied kind. instead the appeal is more location-based and I dunno, 'folksy'.
For ever-changing views, visitors should walk all the way to the Gardener's Bridge. Montresor has preserved its historic past well and there were some dreamy waterside residences. i don't mean the monied kind. instead the appeal is more location-based and I dunno, 'folksy'.
0 2026/04/21 07:41:18
The French hinterland has...
The French hinterland has...
0 2026/04/21 07:41:00
Baguettes in tours (Talemeir bakery).
Baguettes in tours (Talemeir bakery).
0 2026/04/15 20:50:00
There a number of compelling viewpoints throughout Loches, both up in the medieval Cite and also below in the main residential neighborhoods. The one shown here comes from the Collegiale/cathedral's back garden. Immediately next to that exists a cafe with the exact same vista.
There a number of compelling viewpoints throughout Loches, both up in the medieval Cite and also below in the main residential neighborhoods. The one shown here comes from the Collegiale/cathedral's back garden. Immediately next to that exists a cafe with the exact same vista.
0 2026/04/15 15:54:10
There, we met this friendly woman with her chien.
There, we met this friendly woman with her chien.
0 2026/04/15 14:33:01
En route to Montresor village, one passes the 12C Chartreuse du Liget.
En route to Montresor village, one passes the 12C Chartreuse du Liget.
0 2026/04/21 07:39:19
This section is dedicated all of us travelers who have rounded third-base and are wondering whether our final trips abroad are approaching. Not too soon we all hope.
This section is dedicated all of us travelers who have rounded third-base and are wondering whether our final trips abroad are approaching. Not too soon we all hope.
0 2026/04/20 10:28:27
Cutesy gardens abound.
Cutesy gardens abound.
0 2026/04/20 10:26:59
This is the Taschen-like living room of our splurge Tours rental this past fall. Barb, it is also where I tried to stay awake from 1am-5am on a number of nights, game-tracking the World Series baseball championship on our tablet. Truly, it was one of the most thrilling baseball playoffs on record, even if our Toronto Blue Jays agonizingly lost by a hair. *I'd not been able to get the &8#!KD)%!! PVN to work.
This is the Taschen-like living room of our splurge Tours rental this past fall. Barb, it is also where I tried to stay awake from 1am-5am on a number of nights, game-tracking the World Series baseball championship on our tablet. Truly, it was one of the most thrilling baseball playoffs on record, even if our Toronto Blue Jays agonizingly lost by a hair. *I'd not been able to get the &8#!KD)%!! PVN to work.
0 2026/04/17 17:02:33
Whomever planned this museum estate was brilliant. Their design includes plentiful opportunities for young people to experiment with and use the various models. You can see that corkscrew top right. On the far left was another waterside model popular with children and also teens. No such thing as a bored kid at this museum, I promise!
Whomever planned this museum estate was brilliant. Their design includes plentiful opportunities for young people to experiment with and use the various models. You can see that corkscrew top right. On the far left was another waterside model popular with children and also teens. No such thing as a bored kid at this museum, I promise!
0 2026/04/17 16:17:00
A final shot from that Loches Michelin restaurant L'Arbor & Sens'. Their imaginative motif-logo was a fork turning into a branch.
A final shot from that Loches Michelin restaurant L'Arbor & Sens'. Their imaginative motif-logo was a fork turning into a branch.
0 2026/04/16 04:47:07
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