Paris Day 7- The wake up call came early as we needed to board the bus to visit the Loire Valley. Our breakfast here in the hotel is very adequate: typical croissants, yogurt and juice. However, they have also provided protein for us Americans: scrambled eggs, sausages, cheese and ham.
      We drove 2 hours to Chartres to visit this fine example of a Gothic cathedral. Then we drove another hour to Amboise. We stopped for lunch in the little village before climbing the ramp through the walls to the castle. This one has a lot of history in connection with the protestant reformation here in France. We learned that a total of about 12,000 protestants were hung from the balcony as a warning to the village below. Various kings lived here , decorated and added architecture. Leonardo da Vinci helped with the designs and inventions. He is supposedly buried in the chapel.
       Another hour and we were off to Chenonceaux. This castle was decorated by 5 different women. It was our favorite with beautiful rooms, interesting beds and a huge kitchen in the basement. There are also 2 gardens to visit and from them, the present staff gathers huge bouquets of flowers to adorn each room. Here are Anna S, Brooke, David and Babar in front of it.

       We climbed steps up and down the castle. Allison is helping Babar.The students were divided into teams and had to "sell" their castle, citing the pros and cons. Anna V did a great job selling Amboise even though we all liked the other one better!

       Once back in Paris, we ate in a Marrocain restaurant:: coucous, vegetables and chicken. For dessert we had pastries. Annie is feeding Babar.