Sharing photos and stories from my travels.
The Loire Valley has over 300 châteaux including some that are in excellent condition and still inhabited, to those that are ruins, but they are all interesting places to visit. The structures range in size and function; some were built as fortified fortresses, others were used as hunting lodges, and still more were built as... Continue Reading →
It has been an eventful week with visitors from the US, a trip to Caen to finalize our long-term stay visas, a jammed door, a backyard jam session, a thunderstorm, climbing around Roman ruins, a road trip to the Loire Valley, and loads of fun; whew! It started with the arrival of our dear friends,... Continue Reading →
Sainte Suzanne, located not far from the town of Mayenne in Normandie, has the distinction of being one of the few fortresses that William the Conqueror was unsuccessful in overtaking. He and his forces tried in vain for three years to take the town, and eventually gave up; you can read more about that here.... Continue Reading →
The expat life seems to conjure up images of tropical beaches, long lazy days of perfecting the art of idleness, open air markets where one can easily chat with the locals, and the ability to take off for a few days at a moment’s notice. In reality, being an expat brings many challenges. It’s an... Continue Reading →
Château de Domfront has a turbulent and interesting history that goes back many centuries. From what I was able to find out, it appears that the chateau was built by Henry I Beauclerc, and was standing in 1051 when it was assailed by William the Conquerer, Henry’s father. It passed through many hands during the... Continue Reading →
It’s been a hectic and somewhat stressful week, so I’m going to share some photos of what we’ve been up to, and follow up with more details when time allows. Last weekend, we enjoyed a relaxing walk in our neighborhood and a visit to a nearby chateau. Château de Bois Thibault On Tuesday, we drove... Continue Reading →
In 1982 an association named "Les Plus Beaux Villages de France" was created to increase tourism in the French countryside. A village must have some specific cultural or historical significance in order to be considered for this distinction. Today, there are well over 100 of these villages in France, including six in Normandie. We visited... Continue Reading →
We arrived in France on Monday, March 14th, and have settled into our rustic, little cottage near Torchamp in Normandie. Torchamp is pretty much a wide spot in the road. We wanted to escape the hectic pace of the city to find some peace and quiet, and we have done just that. Here are a... Continue Reading →
We arrived in France on Monday and are busy getting settled in our new (to us) home, so I have asked Neville to be a guest blogger today and share his thoughts on our recent move. Hi, I’m Neville. I don’t understand why humans can’t stay put. Until a few weeks ago I had a... Continue Reading →
