It is Sat., May 2, and we are still in France. Not what we anticipated as i had expected that we would be on our way across Europe by now, but it is fine. Getting the car repaired, adding new tires, and inspected took longer that anticipated. and we still need to get our insurance certificate.

However, all that has given us an opportunity to experience more of life in the Loire Valley; went to Blois one day and toured the local castle [I mean chateau] -- there are many in the valley, but each has its own history and stories. Some highlights here were historically significant, since for a period in the 16th and 17th centuries this was the primary seat of the French monarchy and a couple of Henry's were assassinated here. I got to sit on the royal throne which i assume was too heavy to haul to Paris. We went back in the evening and saw a terrific light and sound show. Also visited a Resistance Museum; however, the highlight for me was a magic museum and show. The magic was terrific, a good activity for a foreigner since there was no language in the show, and told the story of Robert Houdin, the intellectual magician "father" to Houdini.

We toured Tours in the rain. Not much going on there due to the holiday, but we had a very nice mussels lunch and saw some magnificent gardens, a two hundred year old tree and to get ready for India, a hundred year old stuffed elephant.

Riding the back roads throughout the valley to Tours and Blois has been an adventure. I would like to meet the guy who put up the road signs. Need to learn to trust GPS.

Also got to attend a meeting of the Loire Connection, a group of expats, organized by Summer, my wife's daughter whose creation has outlived her presence in the Valley; mainly English speaking, who live in the Valley. Lots of tales, but a predominate theme is women relocating to be with French husbands, although one tale of an English couple who desired to escape the fast pace of London and gave up lucrative careers to do so.

May Day, Labor Day here, really brings the country to an almost complete halt. The town of Cangey even closed the main road out to here for its celebration causing us a multi-kilometer detour. The Avis office closed two hours for lunch.

It is striking how the pace of life here is different. Parking in cities is free during lunch and extends the maximum time that one can park. Stores randomly close because of a requirement that they close at least one day per week. Retirement and the relative absence of fixed travel deadlines has altered my mindset. Delay in leaving, not a problem. No need for advance reservations, since not sure when or if we will be in most places. However, it would be better to have learned the local language.