This castle had hounds that are used regularly for the hunt. Like Chambord, this was primarily a hunting lodge originally. The other unique feature of this castle is that the Hurault family that has owned it for the last 600 years still owns it w/ the current descendant and his family still residing in part of the castle. I discovered an interesting fact during the tour of this chateau: the reason the beds are so short is that they always slept in an upright position, propped up w/ pillows b/c only the dead lie down on their backs. I just always thought the people back then were really, really short.
After Cheverny, we stopped in the next village to have lunch and ended up next to the Chateau de Fourgeres-Sur-Bievre, but, if my French translation was correct, it was only open by reservation. While waiting for lunch, I went inside the church next to the restaurant and chateau. This church was very simple, but it looks like it actually gets used. Anna had mentioned that many of the French don't go to church. How sad to have such beautiful, historic buildings and never utilize them. Another observation we've made about the French culture is that their focus in on their employee's well-being and comfort rather than customer satisfaction. Today at the restaurant we tried to order pinini's but were told the chef who makes them was gone so we could only order salads, sandwiches, or pizza. Yesterday when we tried to order pizza we were told that it was too late to order pizza even though we saw someone at the next table eating one. Maybe they just like to tease Americans. Cory has told us that the French only work a 35-hour work week, and everyone gets a six-week holiday (vacation) no matter how long they've worked for the business.
It's been so amazing to spend this time w/ my nephew and his family. Today in the car I asked him if he remembered certain things about Grandma Miller (Mom). He chuckled as he recalled our walks along the railroad tracks in the summers. Mom always told him that if he picked up any railroad spikes he'd have to carry them home. This lasted for awhile until his pants' pockets were dragging down to his calves and she caved in and carried them. He always knew she would.
The remaining chateaus that we saw were from the car as we wound our way back to Toulouse, but we did stop in Montrichard where mushrooms are grown in underground caves. Cory, Anna, and the kids took the tour; Ron took a nap; and I took a walk. This, like most French towns b/w 2:00 and 5:00 was mostly asleep. I did stumble upon a man and his son putting in a new door, but it didn't have any hinges so I'm not sure how they were going to make that work. I also came upon a cemetery. I was curious as to how the French bury their dead, and how they remember them. All graves were above ground in what looked like the vault that we bury in the ground. Some of these vaults were decorate w/ many different flowers and plants as well as plaques and statues. Sometimes I had to search around all this to find the names of the deceased. Entire families are buried in these crypts and some families have small mausoleums. I found one grave where the plants were dying, and probably already dead. When I looked at the grave, I noticed that it held a mother, father, and daughter. Either no one is left to tend to them, or the remaining loved ones are too far away or too careless. I found a jug and a water spigot and watered the plants. It probably won't matter, but it made me feel better. Then as I left the cemetery, there on the ground I found a pretty, purple, mum-like flower that appeared to have been recently dropped from another arrangement. I should've put it on the lonely grave, but I took it w/ me for remembrance.
We arrived back at Cory & Anna's around 17:30 (Europeans follow military time) and had a quick bite. I had to talk to Doug and the girls and to Dad and to write this before turning in. It's now almost midnight, and I need some sleep to prepare for tomorrow's adventures.
No comments:
Post a Comment