From NJ to France via Newark

Milt, If you are reading this. Please let us know what to do to allow access from here to net2atlanta...all other internet access is working, but we can't get to you AND you have our mail. Katie or Kristin, please send an email to Milt to read this message. Jeezh, I feel like MataHari here, passing coded messages to spy networks all over the world. ;-)

Overnight flight out of Newark NJ to Paris FRANCE ;-). Great flight; no “issues”; slept a few hours and hit the ground running.

We landed at 8:35a local time and by 9:30 we had cleared immigration (guess Jimmy’s felony warrants haven’t filtered into the international system YET) got our bags, and were in our rental car driving off campus.

Less than 1 hour later we were in Chartres standing in front of the Gothic cathedral that puts all other Gothic cathedrals to shame. WOW WOW WOW. Pretty impressive stonework. Had deux cafes crèmes, deux croissants for breakfast upon arriving in Chartres. About an hour of mesmerizing grandeur was all our craning necks could endure.

Took another short scenic drive to enter the Loire Valley and the sleepy hamlet of Chateaudun. Quick tour of this lesser known chateau, lunch of croque monsieur, frites, salade and a local red wine served in un pichet.

Back in the car for a short drive to Amboise. By now it was 4:00pm local time and that could only mean one thing. NAP TIME!! 2.5 hours later made ourselves get up and take a brisk walk to a great little restaurant called L’Alliance. For just about $80 (I am not making that up) we had duck, a local take on beef wellington with a really hearty wild cherry reduction, a couple of appetizers, a cheese course and dessert, and cognacs. Pretty freakin’awesome. Oh yeah and a ½ bottle of a local Chinon.

2 things. It’s cold here, and we LOVE our little Garmin machine that Torey and Mike Young lent to us. It is “spot on” so far.
De bon reves, mes chers