Touring Amboise today. And, lunch with Liliane and Richard!

Driving into town we came across a parking lot that had spaces. So, we grabbed one. Then we needed to figure out how to pay. Here is the sign on the machine.

One hour for 1 Euro. Two and a half hours, 35 Euros! We chose 1 hour to go to the Tourist Information office and the grocery store. At the TI we were told that there was free parking nearby. So, did our shopping and moved the car. Then it was time to meet Liliane and Richard for lunch. (We are not getting early starts.)

It has been a long time since last seeing Liliane. In 2013 we visited her when she lived in the Dordogne region. Now she is in Montils near Amboise. No lunch photo but here is the street where we ate.

After lunch Richard and Liliane left to go home and feed their dog. And, to clean house. Liliane’s ex-husband, Guy, and Guy’s new wife Owi have been visiting with them along with her oldest son and two grandchildren. A house full.

Valerie and I went to the Chateaux Royal d’Amboise and Chateaux du Clos Luce. The first is where King Francois I lived and was a patron of Leonardo da Vinci who lived in the adjacent chateaux. There were some interesting furnishings and excellent information on the creations of da Vinci – bridges, water pumps, tanks, ball bearings, and gear boxes. Illustrated with models, drawings and videos.

At the end of the day we walked across the Loire to see the castle and town from the island Ile d’Or. Rick Steves recommends a bar there called Le Shaker Cocktail Lounge but it was closed. We need to learn to pay more attention to closures when making our plans. But, we found another – no view and no class- place to sit and have a drink before walking to the car and heading home. Then another 9 pm dinner and bed.