Chateaux Azay-le-Rideau and Langeais

We deliberately skirted the city of Tours today as we made our way from Amboise to Chinon. Along the way we were able to take in two more of the most beautiful chateaux of this region, Chateaux Azay-le-Rideau and Langeais.


Chateaux Azay-le-Rideau
Chateaux Azay-le-Rideau sits on an island in the river Indre. This chateau is one of the loveliest and most visited chateau of the Loire Valley. Like many of the chateaux its beautifully reflected in the waters that surround it.



One of the reasons this castle is such a joy to visit is because it has been renovated several times of the years. As Jodi says, she feels giddy when we are fortunate enough to find ourselves among the first to visit that day. To have the castle so free of others gives us the opportunity to get great uncluttered photos.



The popularity of this chateau is due to this fact and that it furnished through out giving you a real taste of what life was like for nobility.







Langeais
Just a few kilometers away is the town of Langeis and its castle. These two neighbors are very dissimilar in construction and the history that is depicted in each.

Langeais is dated back to as early as the 10th century. It was one of many castles built for military purposes unlike most of the chateau of the Loire, and was always in the thick of the fighting because of its strategic location.

A visit here is so enjoyable because of attention to detail that has gone into the restoration. Many of the rooms were staged to give accurate depictions of the time.
In particular, the video explaining the importance of the chateau historically was fascinating.












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Location:Azay and Langeais, Loire, France

Another video that I like about cycling in Amsterdam. A little Dutch rap to help it along.

This is a fascinating video from the Netherlands about their cycling infrastructure.

Dang.... Another one that makes me happy.

What defines Dutch Cycling? from BicycleDutch on Vimeo.

One of the reasons I like the Netherlands so much is exhibited in this video. Cyclists everywhere from 8 to 80 and only one person in lycra on a racing bike. They don't have much of a weight issue either it would appear. Click the lower right four corner box to go full screen.

One of these days we'll make it to Norway. Can't wait to experience this. Make sure that you make it full screen when you watch it.

Not That We Are Counting

But, if I'm not mistaken, my rough estimate says we'll be heading to the land of croissants and fois gras in 18 days 3 hours 58 seconds. That's just an estimate mind you.



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Recently, I did a video review of a great product called the X-Shot and posted it to YouTube, but neglected to add it to the blog for some unknown reason.  So here it is now.  This is so great for taking great photos and being able to get yourself in them, too.  It's small and light, and relatively inexpensive.  Can't think of a reason why everyone wouldn't want to have one of these along when on vacation.

Dateline: Zagreb I love it when I find a picture of a guy that bicycles to work and does it in style!

Source: copenhagencyclechic.com via Arnie on Pinterest

Thinking Ahead

Here we are, May 7, 2012, and, unforgivably haven't posted anything since January and the post on the Bicycle train. Not very responsible of me I know. I'm here to remedy that situation though.
As we are fast approaching our next trip to Europe, I need to start flexing fingers so we can share the up coming adventures of our trip to France this summer. For the second year in a row we are going to be in France.
But, unlike last year when we traveled on the eastern side of the country to Lac Annecy and then north to Alsace, Colmar and the Route de Vin, and Strasboug before heading over to Normandy and finally Paris, this year we are headed west to the Loire, then south to the Dordogne and over to Provence, before heading north for another visit to Paris.
This year we have decided to stay in the Latin Quarter of Paris. This is a much more lively area than the location of our hotel, Hotel du Champs de Mars, in the Rue Cler area last year. Our Paris hotel is the Hotel Europe Saint Severin. It looks great, but we won't know until we get there.
The following is a video of the Rue Mouffetard, which is pretty close to us, so you can see what the area is like.
Should be a ton of fun!