After enduring our business class flights without too many hassles we arrived in Paris and picked up our car. Photo and the naming of our car will be advised in the next blog.

We have spent the last 2 nights in the beautiful town of Angers. We have been pleasantly surprised as we have never been here and did not know what to expect.

We have wandered the town ,eaten the baguettes and pastries and of course had a few drinks.

Angers is ranked as France’s greenest city and is located in the heart of France’s third biggest wine making region of the Loire Valley. It’s historic quarter is gorgeous with lots of stunning buildings.

The town’s main attraction is the Chateau d’Angers built in the 13th century as a fortress to mass the Royal troops but from the 1500’s it became a prison and remained as one until 1947, although during WW11 the Germans used it as a base.

The 15th century fortified gateway was rather impressive as was the Royal Residences built between 1435 and 1440.

The Chateau now houses the “famous UNESCO listed Apocalypse Tapestry ” (although we had never heard of them!) It is the oldest medieval set of tapestries in the world, woven in Paris between 1377 and 1382. It is said to have been used as covers for orange trees and also as curtain linings! Amazing that it has survived in such a good state!

We have walked our legs off over the 2 days (Gregs knees are talking to him!) The Cathedral Saint Maurice was built between the 11th and the 13th century and some of the stained-glass windows date back to 1165. We walked across the oldest bridge in Angers, Pont de Verdun, which crosses the Maine River.

We stumbled across the oldest house in Angers, built in 1399 and still standing, it was rather cute and the Museum Pince was a beautiful renaissance Mansion.

We have had a lot of fun just wandering the cobbled streets and finding heaps of great architecture, small green spaces and of course roof top bars to rehydrate with an Aperol and GandT, of course it’s only to rest Gregs knees!

We go for a walk each morning to buy our baguette and pastries and walk past a church that when the sun is shining is spectacular. Of course we need the baguette not only for lunch but also for our fromage and red wine after dinner. When in France……..

Our apartment here in Angers has been great. We are on the third floor ( with a lift thank God) and although we have no balcony, we look over a small courtyard with gorgeous views of the surrounding building. It has been very comfortable.

Tomorrow, we depart Angers and head to Perigueux , to stay with our French family for 3 nights. As you can tell by the photos the weather has not been overly warm so far but it looks like it will improve in the following week, as we head south.

So, it’s time for aperitivo, until next time

A bientot

Greg and Rhonda

xxxxx