Life is good at Chateau du Pin
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sampling Éclairs
Sampling Éclairs from three local bakeries and judging which is best.
They were all pretty darn good!!
Pure magic (very shallow)
Topiary trees and magical lily pond. The castle garden is a French landmark.
Amazing clouds
Something about the clouds in the Loire Valley. Easy to understand why impressionists spent so much time painting here.
Plumbing. Just enough to get by!
Actually there are several modern showers but we couldn't get enough of this tub.
Biggest bathtub I've ever seen!
Clouds
Something about the clouds in the Loire Valley. Easy to understand why impressionists spent so much time painting here.
No label on this bottle
Uncorking the real deal. With a bottle this old you never know if it's going to be amazing or... vinegar.
This one turned out to be vinegar but we'll keep trying.
Not your average cook!
The cook could be a little intimidating, particularly when handling the butane torch for the Crème brûlée! But man the food was great! Anne arrived 4:40 to cook dinner, set the table. Dinner was served at about 6:30. We cleared the table rinsed our plates and put them in the dishwasher.
Excellent food.
Fresh vegetables from local farms prepared by cook.
At Chateau du Pin it's possible to arrange an excellent cook to set the dining room table and prepare exquisite dinners each night. The cook will wash the pots but we cleared the table put our own plates in the dishwasher.
Home made Floating Island desert
Home made Floating Island desert. Somehow managed to not put on any weight while on vacation. The mysteries of the French diet.
Lot's of biking.
Loire valley is amazing for biking. Just when you get tired, a small village and cafe pops up. People biking everywhere.
Here's the barge we went on.
Here's the barge we rode on. Loire used to be a great way to move cargo because the current goes one way and the prevailing wind goes the other way.
Kayaking and sculpting on the Loire
Kayaking and sculpting on the Loire. Town of Montjean, 20 minute bike ride from the castle where we stayed.
Roman Aquaduct
Montjean is a nearby town filled with amazing sculptures. About 30 minute bike ride from castle.
This is an ancient Roman aquaduct. Looks like it's going to eat the house!
Blue Beard's Castle
15 minute bike ride from Chateau du Pin. The fellow who lived here supposedly ate children!
Maid service. (not exactly)
Kid's not very enthusiastic about making their beds.
If you're looking for five star maid service, you've come to the wrong castle.
garden mystery
Somewhere during the 900 hundred year history of this castle, one of the owners liked to play cards and sharp eyed visitors can spot the four suits in certain areas of the garden.
Home made desert!
Amazing home made deserts from our wonderful cook. Somehow we managed to eat well and not put on weight. Another great mystery of Chateau du Pin!
Chateau's gardens are quite famous
The castle gardens are quite famous and a registered historic destination.