Elinor in Paris

We got into Paris at about 6, found our tiny Airbnb (there was a bedroom, and when you opened the closet door there was a tiny galley kitchen and a bathroom), and turned right around to go back out for a last dinner. We decided on the Marais. We first hiked around looking for some chocolate to bring home. Most places were closed, but we arrived with 20 min to spare at the last one. The guy was standing outside, maybe ready to leave early, but he let us in. As we were looking around, he started asking questions in French. I was a bit flustered but Phil gamely kept the conversation going. At last he asked why we preferred dark chocolate, in English, and I said because it was more complex. He asked me the composition of milk and a few other questions. Then he walked over to the counter, grabbed three bars and put them in my bag, and told us what order to eat them to to try to change our mind! He mumbled something about needing good karma after having his motorcycle stolen. It was so kind....

Did I skip a day? Tuesday: Orleans Beaux Arts Museum and archaeology museum, then Chambord chateau en route to Tours, a brief exploration and my birthday dinner. Massacre in Scios Small lunch: less than 2 euros for bread, cheese and ham and butter... Chateau Chambord Birthday dinner The citron tarte was good, but the strawberry soup was unbelievable. We did some Geocaching. This was not the best one...the best one was when the nun in the third story window told me where to look for the cache hidden in the underside of a metal grate in the sidewalk. Wednesday: Started with another produce market. Lunch became clear: artichokes, avocado and tomato salad, and bread. French restaurant food is meat and starch, with maybe a bit of salad. But the produce is amazing, so every few meals we need to supplement with some...

We started the day finally finding an open post office. Still no idea why they were closed all day Wednesday. I finally mailed my postcards. Then we drove to Chenonceau to see our second chateau. What a dreamy place. It is what the plantations of the south aimed for, with all the same complexity. These are now part of the national patrimony, open to all, and not insanely expensive (This one was about $20 for adults). We had lunch at the cafe, which was convenient but not so delicious. We also are not sure why salt is not a thing. Then we drove to Orleans, hopped a train and are on our way back to Paris for our last night and morning.

First day without Ellie and first full day in Orleans. We decided to bike today. Surprisingly, there are no bike shops that will rent bikes by he day, only by the week. However, there are city bikes to rent by the hour or day. So we went to one. We dutifully downloaded the app, but it would not take our credit card. So we found the office, and marched over to inquire, only to be told that while they could not rent a bike by the day, the macjomes qould.take our credit card. Several tries later, we were on very heavy bikes. We found the bike paths along the Loire tow path, and sailed along. We found a beautiful little Riverside restaurant and tried to lock up our bikes with the codes we had been given. We had been given codes but no instructions, so we spent 15 min trying various things, and finally figured it out. You out in the code, pull up on a red plastic collar, and then pull the lock out.  We have had so many of these experiences where we know what we are trying to do is possi...