TRAVELLING FURTHER NORTH...

  

Futuroscope - Kinemax Thetr

Futuroscope - Travellers By Sea & Air

DAY 3: The kids don't know why we've stopped overnight in Poitiers but are about to find out. It's a very long way in a car for children and to prevent having o deal with a case of involuntary manslaughter,we've planned to have a day at FUTUROSCOPE, sort of a science themed Disneyland. Perception is an interesting thing, and I confess that occasionally I struggle to see things through the eyes of a 7 and 10 year old (sometimes with spectacular consequences as you will find out a little later!). Futuroscope is VERY TIRED and in need of a facelift. Many of the 'rides' were not particularly sophisticated or up-to-date, and the operators could certainly benefit by visiting Euro-Disney and finding out how to efficiently operate a theme park (there is a solution to interminable queues!). BUT - Aimee and Liam just loved the place (as did we) and we could literally see their travel batteries being re-charged.

Futuroscope - Dances With Robots

Futuroscope - The Future Is Wild
(I Love This Photo!)

For the record, we went on all the designated "best of" rides/attractions - Cosmic Collisions was an interesting trip into space to learn about the formation of the solar system (Buzzy was a little spooked by it  - a million years is obviously not a long time in child's terms!) and it was both enlightening and enjoyable; next to Dynamic Vienne, a sight seeing tour in 'dynamic' chairs followed by the Imax 3D - both OK but hardly groundbreaking; next we had another 'dynamic seat' experience in the aptly named Dynamic Cinema Festival before popping in to watch iMagic, a "mind blowing" magic show performed byBertram Lotth - making a full sized helicopter appear on stage out of nowhere was pretty impressive I confess, and we all enjoyed the performance. One thing Futuroscope has taken a leaf out of the Disneyland book is in catering - the food was deplorable with no consideration given to the meaning of 'healthy' (as I say, they'e not Robinson Crusoe in this regard). Then the highlight; Dances With Robots is fabulous - you'r strapped into the arm of a 23-ft-high robot which then 'dances' with you being thrown veritcally, horizontally, upside down, sideways, anyways (I'm still to work out whether these are the experiences that keep you young or prematurely age you!). Finally, it was off to the world of the Minimoys on the hair raising Arthur, The 4D Adventure. With a serious turn in the weather (from freezing to life threatingly cold) we headed off, but not before Buzzy had a couple of cracks at the luge slide (that boy has no fear!). Travel Tip: If you ever decide to go to Futuroscope, make sure you go and get the complimentary translation headset that allows you to listen to all the attractions in which ever language you desire. For some reason they don't publicise this service and, whilst the headset is free you have to pay for the earphones, so take your own.

Futuroscope - LugesyBoy

Futuroscope - Digital City



Richelieu - Le Puits Dore

Richelieu Town Centre

The plan was a success. After two days in the car, the kids were rejuvenated and the 1 hour drive north to our accommodation was incidental. We arrived in the village of Richelieu at 6.30pm in constant rain; like so many rural villages in both France and Spain, the township seemed deserted. We located our accommodation for the night, Le Relais Du Plessis Resort Nature & Spa and Dulcinea went to reception whilst I parked Rocinante. There was concern on her face as she advised that the registration form stated 250 euro for the night. BUT WAIT - Don L produced the booking slip that confirmed our comfort cottage room for a mere 80 euro - BARGAIN!!! (Travel Tip: If coming to Europe - or elsewhere - there are lots of internet sites available. I've been using Booking.com for affordable accommodation when on the road, with a lot of success). We dropped off our bags, turned on the heating (have I mentioned it was freezing?) and headed back into the town centre for dinner. On the way we passed ahouse that had the most extraordinary Christmas lighting any of us have EVER seen, anywhere (you'll have to take our word for it as it was pouring and I wasn't getting out Rocinante just for a pic). Le Puits Dore (hotel/restaurant/traiteur) ticked the boxes and we entered. This was it - the point where we finally felt - THIS IS FRANCE! We had a fantastic provinical dinner (Aimee - Jambons Roti Et sa Sauce Au Miel, Liam - Filet de Boeuf Poele Et sa Sauce au Jus de Truffe, Dulcinea - Croustillant de Colin Et sa Sauce Provencale, Don - Manchons de Canard A la Creme d' Ail des Sauvage) surrounded by softly spoken French accents and capped with tasty vin rouge et chocolat chaud - c'est magnifique!! Back to the chalet, Liam's happy 'cos he got the upstairs bunk this time, and The LegsyBoys are at peace with the world and excited about the coming day.


Chenonceau, Loire Valley

Chenonceau - The Little House

Lord Of The Manor

DAY 4: PARIS, here we come, but not before we head into the heart of the Loire Valley and show the kids at least one chateau. It takes an hour along the back roads to reach what is one of the true jewels in the Loire crown - CHENONCEAU. The plan was just to look from the outside and head to another, but luckily we changed our minds. Those who have seen it will already know; those that haven't, well you can't help but be swept up in its grandeur and beauty. We're ecstatic because the kids 'get it' and really enjoy the experience. We spend a couple of hours wandering around the property, playing in the 'amazeing' maze and discussing what it must have been like living there. Having previously visited in mid-summer, it was fabulous to see the estate in the middle of winter, decorated exquisitely for Christmas, and the trees and vines devoid of foliage was really quite spectacular. We toy with the idea of heading to Chambord as well, but decide against it - los ninos loved Chenonceau and there's no point overloading them (besides, there's much bigger fish to fry further up the freeway!).

      

Chenanceau Xmas Tree - Not As Good As Ours

The LegsyBoys Do Chenanceau

And so, after a quick bite to eat in a local brasserie, we're on the A10 heading towards our final destination. We zip through Tours and past Orleans, sitting on 140 kph and regularly being overtaken!It's only 30km from the city centre, but the end of the tollway (another 25 euro BTW!) provides a jolting reminder of what lies ahead. As Rocinante comes to a halt, we count 28 toll booths open (and at least another dozen closed) and we are at least 80 vehicles from passing through (i.e. 80 x 28)! The volume of traffic is simply extraordinary, and from this point on our eyes are glued to the GPS (Travel Tip -  I'm not a GPS person at the best of times, but if you must drive in Paris - and I don't recommend it - then satnav is absolutely essential. Do you know why I really hate GPS? It's because the passengers can see where you're going and insist upon telling you what to do, as if you're an imbecile who can't follow an arrow, and I really really HATE that!). As we crawl along shifting between 1st and 2nd gears we notice the beam of an intermittent searchlight. Eventually, the source of that beam comes into view, and Buzzy is beside himself with excitement - it's atop Le Tour Eiffel!!! This is his Numero Uno thing to see and both kids are delighted (us too) at seeing the golden spire rising above the city. It takes over an hour to complete the final 30km into the heart of the 3rd arrondisement as we drive up Blvd San Michel, cross the Seine, pass the Conciergerie and cross the river again before we find our apartment - 21 Rue Blondel (we're only 20 metres off Rue Saint-Denis and 200 metres from Metro Strasbourg Saint Denis).Stefano (the property owner) is there to greet us and show us into our fabulous little apartment - it's sooo Parisian, and everyone's EXCITED to be here!

Chenonceau - A-maze-ing

We head out for dinner, and there's no escaping where we are - the lights don't get much REDDER in Paris than they do around here! The 'Girls On The Avenue' are everywhere, even camped on our doorstep, but they are without exception friendly, courteous and appreciative that we are 'residents'; despite the near zero temperatures, the girls seem unperturbed and most have dispensed with anything unnecessary - like CLOTHES! Los ninos are intrigued by ladies in undies and unbuttoned blouses and furry cossack hats (!) who generally look older than grandma! We find a close by brasserie on Bd de Bonne Nouvelle and Aimee gets to tick one of her 'essential' boxes; she orders a bowl of 'real' Soupe Francaise a Oignon and loves it (there's that perception thing again, that you have to be in Paris to have real French Onion soup!). Dulcinea also partakes of the soupe du jour, whilst Buzzy and I share a Croque Monseur. The kids take a while to settle down - the anticipation of what lies ahead in the City Of Lights is all-consuming. Let the fun begin..............


Winter Walkway

Chenanceau Trees