Many of us who have had a relationship with the Loire Valley for many years have not been overjoyed with what has happen to Amboise (now a tourist ghetto) or to Tours (unfortunate victim of urban sprawl). Accordingly I have compiled a list of excellent locations from which to base one’s self when touring the [...]
May 5, 2009
How I learned to love mussels
No one enjoys a bowl full of mussels more than I do, I have consumed millions of the things (well, almost). One evening, many years ago, my wife and I had just been seated at a small brassier on the left bank
May 5, 2009
Chez Germaine and the story of aligot
Many years ago when I was studying in Tours, a friend of mine from Amboise invited me to his home for dinner. We were very young and he still lived at home with his parents who were originally from Auvergne. From the local grocer, his mother had specially ordered a very young, almost creamy cow’s [...]
May 5, 2009
Car rentals
If you can avoid picking up a rental at either a train station or an airport, you can save the pickup surcharge fee of 30€ to 60€. Expect to pay a one time road tax of about 10€ as well as a small fee for declaring additional drivers. Automobiles running diesel not only get better [...]
