touring tours ,manning le mans, ambushing amboise

After mont st. michel we headed towards Tours. It's located in the Loire valley, almost in the center of france. Lots of wine and chateau's. Since we had never been to france before, I really didn't know what city's to stay in. It all worked out. Due to fate I believe, We we're supposed to stay in these places.



Early morning bus ride back to Rennes. It started raining. Don't I look stoked?

On the bus to Rennes, Dan is doing his best jaunty frenchman.

At the train station in Rennes, due to our busdriver ( who looked like Butterbean) driving 100 miles an hour ( in the rain) we arrived at the station waaaaaaay earlier then we wanted. So we hung out in a cafe and drank tea. Dan made a list of things we needed to do and see, we called ahead and booked a room in Tours.
This is me doing my best Jaunty train. the trains interior was black and grey with pinstripe. that's very jaunty to me.........jaunty.


We had to get off in Le mans, to transer to the Tours train. Beautiful downtown Le Mans folks! Home of the famous 24 hour car race!
Yup..Le Mans folks! ( i kid , i kid.) i'm sure it's a lovely place. we were just there for an hour.

Whatever you do don't order the cristina special. she'll just give you shit. Ha!

Finally Tours! To be honest with you, since we had never been there before, pulling into the station we were so scared! The place looked nasty, industrial and run down. leaving the staion, and walking to the hotel. the city is really quite cute!


I need to give a shout out to my iphone right now. This lil' guy saved our butts. Here im putting in the hotel address, and getting walking directions. thx magical pocket computer!
Our view from our room. The Loire river is a few blocks behind us. We stayed at Hotel Colbert which is located on Rue Colbert and I totally did that on purpose!

So we started out on our tour of Tours.( hee har) It started raining, I bought an umbrella. We ended up wandering around all the way back to the train station. Ended up being....hangry.

Walked back to our street, ended up at our local boulangerie. Super sweet lady worked there. We ordered a slice of broccoli quiche and a little pate en croute ( with the egg in the middle!). She heated them up for us and wrapped them in tin foil. We walked to a irish pub a few doors down, ordered 2 pints and dried off.
We stayed for a few hours since the liverpool-chelsea game was on, and the majority of ex-pats were liverpool fans. They lost. Dan and I ate a kabob with french fries in it. Then we went home.

Woke up early-ish and traveled by train to the town of Amboise. After a short ride we arrived and walked towards the chateau. Nice day right?

It's sorta the thing to do is visit chateau's when your in this part of the country. We went to one, this one. It has leonardo di vinci buried in it. It seemed like if your only going to one, go to the one with an epic dead dude in it.
But first picnic! we sat on a bench in front of the chateau. Laughing cow cheese, a baguette from that sweet lady's boulangerie. Some fruit, a bottle of water and some country pate. Across the street from the chateau is a lot of touristy places to eat. let's just say I think people were jealous of the way we throw down, picnic wise.



These dorks at the chateau, overlooking the Loire river and the town of Amboise.
"so the map says the quaint village is RIGHT here!"

The chapel at the chateau. Di Vinci is in there. ( no codes)

The majority of this chateau was destroyed over the years, so going inside is kinda lame. it's newish ( like 100 years?) and none of the furniture is real or authentic to the castle. There was a fire in the main meeting hall... that was nice. The grounds and view of the river and town is much prettier and I think the real draw is Leo D.V!

Let's get outta here!

Bike rental!! super cheap and we had the bikes for 4 hours.
There's a famous bike trail to a neighboring town, with map in hand we left the town and started pedaling.Then at the 6 mile mark ( 3 of it uphill) I got scared that it might be all uphill on the way back. Abort mission!! I'm on vacation yo!

Where the wineries at?


Headed back to the town of Amboise. Grabbed a beer at a sidewalk cafe. Then we returned the bikes.

At the station waiting for the train back to Tours.

Returned to Tours. Showered and went to dinner at this great place named Au Lapin qui Fume.(the smoking rabbit? the rabbit who smokes?) The place was teeny tiny and amazing!!


Dan and I ate a rabbit terrine with an onion confit,and a rouget escabeche ( Like a ceviche) for the apps, I had rabbit saddle for my main and dan had a pork chop with a peanut sauce. we split a grand marnier pannacotta. oooh baby! and a bottle of local chenin blanc! We sat next to a couple from the east of france who was visting Tours as well, they helped us with the translation of the menu and we told them about Los Angeles and New York. Traded info. nice folks! Everyone was so happy with the food. A great 50 seater. Last night in Tours. Tomorrow Lyon!