We flew into Paris, completely shaken from our near-death experience and expecting the worst from the French. The train ride into the city was surprisingly quiet, except for the warbles of a chanteuse with a mic and a speaker. Paris was Spring-like, which delighted and horrified us. Being mid-January, it should not have been so warm. We took in the sights through our poor man's walking tour; Notre Dame, the exterior of the Louvre and the Tuilleries, Champs Elysée (aha! This stupid keyboard-Français is finally useful!), Arc de Triomphe, Moulin Rouge, Moulin de la Gallette, Sacre Couer with its view of the entire city twinkling in the darkness. We also witnessed what I assume was the demise of a pantsless gentleman laying on the cobbled streets of Place du Tertre in Montmartre. When we left the square he was surrounded by paramedics...

All in all, Paris was alright. I struggled to travel and survive there more than in my first days in Russia! It is my opinion that French city folk are just uninterested in being patient or helpful when people are trying to communicate with them in their native language. I did not find this to be true when we had the opportunity to venture into the countryside.

We caught a train from Paris' Montparnesse to Angers and then connected to Champtoce. Wendy and Hannah met us at the small Champtoce-Sur-Loire train stop and whisked us through the narrow streets to their Chateau du Pin. The chateau loomed in the dusk as we drove up the entryway. Everytime it was in my view I had the same surreal feelings. Even at such a late date roses in yellows, pinks and reds were in bloom. (There was a day that it snowed and we ran out to take photos of the icy roses.) The grass was a vibrant green. Walking out towards the chapel in the back between the giant topiaries it was easy to feel as if you'd stepped into Wonderland. We were helping to paint some of the countless rooms and it was quite a delicate process. The wooden floors are very old so we had to be sure not to damage them. It was incredibly bizarre to be washing off paintbrushes in a 17th century bathtub! Wendy and Henri treated us very well, feeding us like queens (the daily fromage course is sorely missed!) We had a great time exploring the local bakeries and open-air markets to try and purchase our hazelnut bread or fruits and vegetables. It was wonderful to be given such a unique travelling experience by people who are like family.

On our last day Wendy brought us to Angers and we visited the Chateau d'Angers (which they call the Elephant castle) and its tapestries of the Apocalypse. Then we caught a train to Blois to board the Elipsos Trenhotel on which we departed France.