Castles, City of Light, Completely pooped...

So, as you all know, this past weekend I went to the Loire Valley and Paris with Vai and her Strasbourg friends, Tina and Brett. It was a wonderful weekend, albeit exhausting. They are insane!!! They just go from early morning to late at night, and poor ol'granny me was able to keep up but after three days found herself rather knackered (that's an expression from Wales for exhausted ;P).

The Loire...breathtaking. We saw seven castles in all, each unique in their own right. I was very much striken with the special personality of each castle, which made me warm up to some more than others. But what I always appreciate most about trips is the things that happen that you didn't anticipate, the surprises that each destination seems to hold for one. Like magic. In Ambroise, I found a chocolatier that used pure cacao butter in chocolate so I went in and did an impromtu interview with the lady and she gave me pamphlets and I bought some specialities of the region for my dossier. Who said pleasure couldn't be mixed with business? ;) Another was at Chambord, I ACTUALLY pet a horse and fed him too!!! They were beautiful, all brown and big. And, LOL, I even gave directions to Brett as he drove us to each castles..."onstar" became my title for the day. Too bad it didn't come with a cape!

Paris, or the city of lights: it turned out to be much better the second time around. Paris still does not inspire the same awe within me as Rome or London does, nevertheless I feel that this city reveals its beauty at night when the city is alight. Hence its name. Yet it is true. Walking up the Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower are spectacular sights and views. Here I visited the Latin Quarter, the Luxembourg Gardens, the Catacombs (creepy and cool simultaneously) as well.

But after getting back early Monday morning I was whipped. And I have been all week. The results: Monday I did laundry and stayed in, Tuesday I watched movies, sent out mail, watched Gilmore Girls, Wednesday slept way in, watched Gilmore Girls, did homework out on the terrace in the sun, went for a walk in the sun, came back and watched more Gilmore Girls and did more homework.

HAHAHA, and finally today I am being productive...HIP HIP HOORAY!!!