We then started our day wandering the gardens at Chateau de Villandry. The kids ran through the mazes, played in the children's garden and dipped their fingers in the fountains.
We then attended Easter Sunday at church in Tours and afterward made our way to Chateau Brissac for an Easter egg hunt. The Chateau has the distinction of being the tallest castle in the Loire Valley, so it provided a magnificent backdrop for a hunt for over 15,000 chocolate eggs! The kids scampered about through the forest scavenging for brightly wrapped treats. Of course our Easter baskets are in sotrage somewhere in Pennsylvania, so we made due with bags that we have acquired on our trip thus far, including a laundry bag for the Marriott Hotel!
Our last stop of the day was Chateau d'Ussey, another perfect activity for children. This castle is the chateau from which the Sleeping Beauty castle is designed. From the outside, the castle is beautiful, set above a stream, with terraced gardens and an abundance of turrets. The main section of the castle was average, but it was the tower for which we were most excited. We wound up the stairs and ducked in and out a maze of corridors and small rooms. The little girls planned out how they would live as we went, if they had the fortunate opportunity to be locked in the tower. When we reached the top scenes from the Sleeping Beauty story book were presented with life sized characters. We passed room after room of fairies, witches and princesses. We even walked through an old dusty attic to reach the spinning wheel. Of course this excursion would only be fully appreciated during a visit with a group of children, so for us, it was perfect.
It was late in the day and we had a car full of tired children, so after a quick dinner, we made our way north, heading closer to Paris.
4 comments:
Looks like another fun day. I'm glad nobody got stuck in the tower. It's impressive how well you guys have timed your stops.
The last Easter I can remember getting a basket I was in high school, and Jonny posed for an obligatory photo with his candy while mom snapped a picture of him complete with golden pajama bottoms and a scruffy beard fit for a vagrant. Sounds like your Easter was at least as memorable... but for much better reasons!
I want some of the fancy French candy, too! When I snuck out to get Easter baskets, it was always to Smiths, at midnight, as the price was cut in half. Jonny and Michael were offended if there was no basket, no matter how old they got! What a fun Easter--an egg hunt at a castle, Church at a French LDS ward, and Sleeping Beauty's castle, too. I love the picture of Sophia with her pigtail swinging in the air, and of Mia just peeking over the hedge.
I am getting homesick for the grandkids. Great picture of Mia looking over the hedge.
Love, Dad
Post a Comment