Back to Metz for some R&R

We arrived home from our visit in the Loire Valley to find that our dear Jack (the Pumpkin King) had developed a mold problem out on our porch. If you look closely you can see it filling in his mouth on the right side. I wasn't even aware that pumpkins had the ability to mold.

Friday:

We had a scrumptious lunch featuring a tourteau fromagé that we picked up for 2€ on impulse at a supermarket in the Loire the day before. We honestly had no clue what it was but the ingredient list resembled a cheesecake which is pretty much what it turned out to be. We found a good description on a favorite french food blog, Chocolate & Zucchini. If you love French food, this site will make your mouth water...profusely.

And we finally finished our homemade olives that we made somewhere around this time last year. Yay for refrigerator space!

 

Dad insisted that some of his baguette fetish be passed on to the local bird population. His hope is that they will remember "that nice man" that got them through the winter.

 

And before making the requisite Friday night pizzas we tortured mom with some goat cheese (it's a long story but the is tormented to this day by the smell of my childhood pygmy goat).

Vogler Parents' Visit: The Loire Valley

Monday: the scenic route (a.k.a.-avoiding tolls)

We came across hundreds of piles of these mysterious root vegetable on the "scenic route". What could it be? First we thought potatoes, then maybe parsnips, then it was celery root...

Until we saw large piles of them in front of this factory

In front of this sugar factory. The mysterious piles on the main [non-toll] route from Metz to Paris are sugar beets.

We arrived that night in Blois (pronounced: bla) and came across this majestic beauty while on a "night" walk (since dark comes at 5:00 already, not that I'm complaining Alaskerella!). 

Tuesday: the Loire Valley

On Tuesday morning we walked around Blois in amazement at the trees that were probably there before the Revolution.

Then we went to check out this hunting lodge. No, really. Château de Chambord was built as a hunting lodge by François I.

And because it was made as a temporary royal residence, everything was collapsible

 And beautiful.

The roof even looked like it's own city.

Dad and his baguettes, he just couldn't get enough. 

That night we walked around the picturesque town of Amboise and at dinner at the delicious L'Alliance.

Wednesday: we woke up

To these outside our B&B window. The chickens made all kinds of noise when our host, Alex went out to swipe eggs for our breakfast.

On to another Château with a tree lined drive. Excuse me while I suppress my wishful thinking...

Interesting Fact #1: This one (Château du Chenonceau) made history when in 1547, it was given by Henry II to his mistress, Diane de Poitiers. At Henry's death, his wife, Catherine de' Medici reclaimed Chenonceau and forced Diane to move on to a lesser Château. (I love that story)

Interesting Fact #2: During the Revolution, while the revolutionaries were destroying all that related to power and religion, the owners filled the chapel with firewood, tricking the revolutionaries into believing that the room was just storage.

We got to see the kitchen in this Château and being a cooking family, we were all intrigued and perhaps imagining taking some things home. 

For example: Michael wanted to take this hand-cranked rotisserie (a form of punishment for our future children?) but instead, had me take many, many pictures so he can one day replicate it. 

I wanted to take home the stove but didn't think it would fit in the Twingo.

Did I mention that this Château was built over the river?

I think I also forgot to mention the labyrinth

Where you can pick escargot.

After another yummy picnic lunch we went to the Marc Brédif wine caves to sample the wine and walk though part of the 2km long storage caves.

For dinner that night we went to the beautiful town of Loche. While working up (walking up) an appetite we came across the Château de Loches, particularly it's defensive buildings.

After dinner we headed back to the B&B (here's our room, by the way) for a rousing game of hearts and a good night's sleep.

Thursday: 

We played with the resident donkey before packing up and 

 Taking the Twingo to Versailles,

 Which was oddly filled with Japanese art (but still beautiful).

 

Postcard reads: "Greetings from Versailles!"

Let's start at the very beginning: Saint-Avold

Or rather, let's start where we left off. And no, we didn't visit a certain melodious and Austrian family's old stomping ground when my parents were here for a visit but for whatever reason, that song has been popping into my head every time I though of writing this blog post.

Sunday: A day to relax

 And a day to visit the Saint-Avold American Military Cemetery. This was the second time for Michael and I but we met the new assistant manager, an American from the Pittsburgh area. He told some new stories and gave us insight on keeping the cemetery free of riff raff. For example: always watch young couples that show no interest in the cemetery but look like they're on a mission. Oh, and no dogs allowed!

On our scenic drive home we  witnessed the majesty of renewable energy

And took pride in American influence on the French

And later that evening, after a dinner that I can't remember (Edit: Michael remembered that we made quiche lorraine and salad that night for dinner), we introduced Mom to the wonders of almost nonexistent counter space whilst preparing our favorite pan bagnat for Monday's road trip.