Day 7 - Loire Valley Chateaux: Amboise ~ Chenonceau ~ Chambord

Not every American girl can say they have walked where princesses walked. Imagining myself as a lighthearted royal lady, I tiptoed through the marble archways waving to my subjects far below the castle and beyond the moat. I even took a picture of myself waving below from the castle's 6th story! But the more I pranced through the castle of Chambord, the more I was surprised to find no elaborate rugs, carefully carved wardrobes, or even any traces of life. The only scraps of any existence were the few bed chambers and small horse stable in the courtyard. Disappointed as I first was when I came to the castle of Chambord, I realized that it doesn't take the fanciest of decorations and finest of jewels to make a princess. All it takes is the right mindset, a little imagination, and maybe a tiara souvenir from the giftshop.

-Cissi Denton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 6 - Northern France/Loire Valley: Mont St. Michel ~ Blois

Hey guys! Who would have ever thought Medieval castles and cosmetology would come together in a single day? Well, they did. After our departure from St. Malo, we headed for the island monastery of Mont St. Michel. One thing the French have not let us down with is food, especially their sweets. So we stopped on the way to get cookies Nom! Nom! Nom! Over 1000 years old, Mont St. Michel extends to the heavens (the main purpose of cathedrals during their construction) and has the most amazing view at the top, where you can see the surrounding sea. Monks also inhabit this ancient place; however, there is no way to hear them because they are sworn to silence. Ugh, we juniors thought Mrs. Braswell was tough when it comes to talking! The bus ride through the Loire Valley was both eventful and uneventful, let me explain. We got stuck in loads of traffic which turned our 4.5 hour drive into a 5.5 hour drive. What did we do with that extra hour? We braided hair of course! Anyway, I can now say that I, and quite a few of my male counterparts can braid hair like champs.

-Spencer Jackson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 5 - Northern France: Giverny ~ Normandy ~ Arromanche ~ Omaha Beach ~ American Cemetary ~ St. Malo