Normandy to Amboise

Arromanches Beaches * Clos-Luce Chateau

We traveled from Normandy to Amboise today. First we stopped at Arromanches Beach very near our home. This bay was turned into a deep water port for the Allies after D-day. You can still see the concrete blocks ringing the bay and a few of the metal blocks that helped to support the floating roads to the beach. It was an eerie reminder that a war was fought here.

We arrived in Amboise about 3:00. Each time we arrive somewhere new there is some anxiety not knowing what our accommodations will be like. Most of our accommodations are private homes we've rented through VRBO or AirBnB. Some are better than others. But, just image showing up at someone's cabin and trying to figure out where everyone will sleep. How to work the locks, stove, washing machine, etc. Where are the plates, silverware, cups. Is there dish washing soap, T.P., etc? Most places have been pretty well equipped, but we are still carrying around extra TP, dish soap, and laundry detergent. Today we arrived with random food and extra snacks we've collected - everything from powdered sugar to cucumbers to Nutella. It's a little like camping and the cooking and eating become very interesting. Green salads with no salad dressings, peeling a carrot with a bread knife, using a salad spinner as a colander.

(Our current accommodations are built right up against a steep cliff. I'm pretty sure there wasn't running water originally. The toilet is nestled under the spiral staircase and the shower is in a room next to it. We have a sink in the master bedroom upstairs, but no bathroom. The spare bedroom downstairs was added later and built right into the soft stone of the Mountain - apparently something that is common around here. It has finished walls, but the ceiling is the stone itself).

The kids are getting pretty good at living out of a suitcase and keeping track of their things. Even Charlie (most times) can pack up his suit case and get it ready to move to the next location. As far as we know, we haven't left anything behind - but we are missing Maren's cardigan sweater, we think she left it somewhere in Florence while we were out site seeing. I'd better knock on wood right now!

This afternoon we visited a small Chateau that was the home of Leonardo Da Vinci when he moved to France at the end of his life to be the chief engineer for the King. We liked the house and the period furniture from the time (none was actually Leonardo's). We got to the master bedroom and there was a cat sleeping right in the middle of the bed. I guess he just wandered into the home and at some point decided that this was the best place for nap.

In the gardens of the home many of Leonardo's crazy machines have been built, life size, for kids to experiment with - the kids played in a tank, and twirled a helicopter type machine. We looked at water wheels and crossed swivel bridges. We pulled a treadmill designed like a huge pulley. The gardens were nice and relaxing and a good way to spend a couple of hours.

After dinner we learned how to play Canasta - kind of, we've got a lot of practicing to do on that one.