Tours

At 7:50 this morning we boarded our train to Tours, which was an hour ride from Paris. We checked into our hotel and the stowed our bags for us since obviously our room was not ready yet. Unfortunately, we had both been awake since about 5:30, after Will’s dinner from the night before decided to attack him with some bad heartburn, but we mustered our energy together and began to walk around Tours. (Will: The lamb Gyro was totally worth it!) Today, our previous pace began to catch up with us so we decided to take it easy. Tours is a really beautiful town; very much what I think of when I picture a French town in my mind. The town has winding streets with beautiful buildings and cobblestone streets and people riding their bicycles. Really lovely stuff.



You can feel how much more relaxed a town like Tours is compared to Paris, which we both readily welcomed. We were able to buy 5 croissants for 2 euro, which is the price for 1 in Paris, and ate our breakfast while walking along the the Loire River.





We came upon the Basilica where St. Martin is buried after breakfast, and went down to the crypt to see his grave.







After that, we then headed towards the cathedral here in town, stopping in a few shops along the way. There is a really great mix of antique stores, and stores offering very modern interior items, along with great boutiques. We were following the signs for the Cathedrale St-Gatien, and turned the corner around a building, and were amazed at the cathedral in front of us. It is an enormous gothic structure, with unbelievable intricacies in the stone exterior. We headed inside, without having to pay admission, because it is just open to the public which is great, and admired the large amount of stained-glass work, and soaring ceilings. (Will: I must say it is amazing how much more we enjoyed the rich details of the church now that we could take our time in them and not have to swim through other tourists. The beauty and intricacy of these churches truly is divine; especially when you think of how old they are.)





A bit of scale..that is me beside one of the columns (tan sweater..the only sweater I brought and I am pretty sure I am going to burn it when I get home because I am so tired of wearing it!!!)

After that, we headed to find some lunch. We noticed that people here take their food quite seriously, because the cafes are quite expensive, much more than Paris, but we found a great pasta shop, that made the sauce that would wanted right then. Will had a great 3 cheese pasta, and I had the pesto. Both were delicious!

We then walked through one of several markets in town, making me wish I had a kitchen to cook in. All the local produce looked amazing! We bought a bottle of champagne from a local winery that was there, so hopefully it will be tasty! We finally were able to head back to our room to check in which was great because we were both about to fall asleep. On the way we stopped and bought 2 loaves of brioche to take on the train tomorrow. There are many briocheries around town, so I am assuming it is one of the breads of the area. The place we went offered only 4 types of brioche, and that was all they sold. The smell walking by was just too much to turn down, and it is obviously a popular place, because there has been a line both times we have passed it. We are staying the Le Grand Hotel, here in town, which is now owned by Best Western. It is across the street from the train station, and right in town, so it has been the most convenient hotel so far.

Taken at night from the balcony of our hotel

We were given our room key, and when we walked in, we thought we must have been given the wrong room, because it is enormous! There is a large bedroom dining area with a fireplace and two sets of doors opening onto balconies, and then a very large bathroom with separate shower and tub, and another set of doors opening to another balcony. I think we got pretty lucky here, and it is quite the different scenario from our tiny, tiny Paris room. We just woke up from a 3 hour nap, obviously we both must have needed sleep, and now sadly it is raining outside. Not too sure what we are going to do for the rest of the evening, but we leave in the morning for Perigueux. Bon Soir from France!

Carrie and Will