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| Chateau de Chenonceau. |
Once again, we should have been working today. This time it was to have been with a pair of delightful travel agents who were scoping out the area. They wanted a feel for the area and a few highlights. Plus one of them had a personal reason for wanting to visit -- her grandfather had been stationed near Tours in World War I and she was curious to see anything that remains of that time here.
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| Chateau de Cheverny. |
We had engaged in a lively and friendly email exchange at the beginning of the year to establish what we were going to do together. They informed us they had some food allergies, so we reassured them that we would discuss this fully with the chef at the restaurant we were planning to use. Also that chefs do most definitely take food allergies seriously (despite of all the stories you might hear about French chefs being very intolerant of their diner's requirements). We told the clients what we knew about the American camps along the Cher and in Tours and suggested that a visit to Chenonceau would give an insight into that period. The World War I hospital there is very evocative and there is some great graffiti on the soft limestone walls of the chateau which was clearly done by convalescing soldiers.
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| An unusual starter of beetroot and pigs ear served by one of our talented chef partners in Cour Cheverny. It was delicious! |
As Chenonceau was on the itinerary, it made sense to pair it with Cheverny, so that they got to see two of the most glamorous chateaux. That meant that instead of a winery, we would visit our favourite goats cheese maker to round off the day.
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| Our goats cheese maker partner Jean-Luc conducting a tasting. |
We were really looking forward to meeting our two clients as we had enjoyed corresponding with them so much. Sadly, we all missed out -- and they will miss the French Open too -- another of their planned destinations. We are all looking forward to arranging something else for next year.
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| Rather unlikely memorial to WWI American troops in Tours. |
If you would like us to take as much care over designing your tour as we did with these travel agents, then enquire about our private guided tours of chateaux, wineries, markets and more email us or use our contact form. More tour ideas can be found on the Loire Valley Time Travel website.