Leaving the Loire Valley and getting to Paris

We felt like we should see another Chateau before bolting out of the region.  We went to the town of Blois where the Chateau de Blois sits smack in the middle of town.  This town is not touristy but quite large and beautiful.  If you are doing Chateaus this is the town to pick.

Jeanne d’Arc made Chateau Blois her base of operations in the 1400s.

There are several buildings.  I thought this outdoor staircase was amazing.  If you think about how many stores, restaurants and homes who have used this circular staircase well perhaps the idea started here.

Here is one of the buildings.

This the ceiling inside that building.

We got our fill and drove to Paris.  We dropped off our stuff and immediately went to eat lunch at one of our favorite haunts, Cuisine de Bar.  It was like coming home.  The whole family loves this place.  Simple tartines, a green salad, a glass of wine and honestly you can not go wrong.

It was Sunday and France still sticks to the rule that Sunday is a day for doing nothing so very little is open.  We walked around a bit and went back to our hotel for a little rest.  We are staying at Hotel Bel Ami.  Never stayed here before and kind of sorry we haven’t.  Very happy here.  Great staff, good rooms, great wifi and the location is perfect.

We went out for Japanese for dinner.  What a joy.  The restaurant was delicious.  Started with a salad, tuna with caviar and yellowtail carpaccio with yuzu.  I forgot to take pics of the rest of the meal which was just sushi.  It was perfect.

We walked back across the bridge through the Louvre grounds and took this terrible picture of the Eiffel Tower.  Happy to be in Paris.