Tour Begins - Paris to Bourges
Our tour began with a morning amble through the Latin Quarter and across the Seine. We were mesmerized by the stunning stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle.
We wandered over to Île Saint-Louis and had a delightful lunch there. We then took a leisurely stroll back to the hotel. Having been in Paris for four days with temperatures in the 90s, we knew we had to take time to do laundry. A laverie (laundromat) was conveniently located about a block from the hotel so the rest of our afternoon was spent there. It was a relief to have clean clothes.
The following morning Virginie was able to get us into Notre Dame. Having been there once before I was amazed at how light and bright it was after the restoration. It is truly another one of France’s architectural marvels.
Our afternoon was spent at the Louvre. There was just so much to see in so little time.
In the morning we left Paris to travel to Guédelon, where a castle is being built using 13th-century tools, materials and techniques. It is truly a unique experience.
We continued on to Bourges, our first stop in the Loire Valley. Our local guide, an American woman who has lived there for fifty years, led us through the charming medieval streets and into the 13th-century Saint-Etienne Cathedral.
