Just like Château de Villandry, Chenonceau has beautiful gardens. They might not be quite as large, but they're just as lovely. Places like this makes me think of novels like Mansfield Park by Jane Austen. It's been so long since I read it I have forgotten most of it, but I remember that there were several scenes set in gardens, and when I read it I pictured a place like this. So today's picture made me time travel again, just like yesterday's shot.
It also makes me think about how things have changed... Back when the chateau was in its prime there were no smart phones, computers or TVs, and the inhabitants spent their time doing stuff like needlework, riding horses or strolling through the gardens instead. It feels so far removed from how our lives are today, and yet, we're not that different from what they were. We're still the same species, with the same faults and virtues, and yet, those times almost feel like something not only from a fictional novel but a fantasy one. Weirdly, times without electricity feel just as foreign as elves and dragons. Isn't it strange how fast our lives have changed? On the scale of human existence, the speed in which we've evolved the last couple of centuries is astronomical. Our lives have practically gone from fantasy novels to sci-fi RPGs in no time at all. But now I'm starting to get philosophical, and when that mood hits me I ramble quite a bit, so now it's time to end this twaddle of mine.
Now it's time for the next gorgeous fairy tale chateau, situated in the Loire valley by the Cher River. Château de Chenonceau is one of the best known of the valley, and it's not surprising - it really is unique, as you'll see. It was built between 1514-1522 on the foundations of an old mill and later it was built to expand over the river - the castle is literally built on a bridge, which makes me think of a certain place in Game of Thrones. Who knows, maybe this is where George R.R. Martin got his inspiration from? It's certainly a place that sparks imagination and it has an other worldly feeling to is.
The Swedish summer is a bit like a lottery - sometimes you hit the jackpot, but more often you lose out. The two latest summers have been jackpots though, and thankfully we got to enjoy this one before we hit the road down south. The summer in France was lovely too, but this year it was a bit hotter than I like it. I'm most comfortable when it's 25-30 degrees C, but some days it was as hot as 42 degrees. This was the very start of this year's heat wave though, so it was not that "bad" yet, but still hot enough that you didn't want to be outside when the sun was at its highest. Therefore, we visited Château de Villandry in the morning.
The sunny morning light really made the gardens pop. I especially like what it did to today's second picture - with the shadow running along the middle of the path in the tree avenue. The symmetry is quite neat. The back-lighting in the top photo was another thing I found interesting. It makes the shapes of the pruned bushes stand out in an interesting way.
/MrsHjort
We're leaving Amiens' Cathedral now and heading for a charming neighborhood called St-Leu. The area is situated right by a stream and several canals. The houses there are adorable and some of them even have their very own bridges that you cross to get to their entrances. A great thing about this place is that there are many places where you can sit down to eat right by the water (second picture). We had dinner here on the evening when we arrived, right before the light show. The food was you would expect from a tourist hot spot - not your best choice - but the location was wonderful. The top shot is actually pretty much the view from where we sat, only I shot it the next day.
We're finally making some headway with my medical situation. I've been ill for over two years now, and now we've got a new find that is something that could finally point us to a "solution". I put the quotation marks there because I'm fairly sure this condition of mine is chronic, but nonetheless I feel a huge sense of relief! Having no answers for this long has been hard. There has been many times when I've put my hopes to different theories, but up until now, everything has been hopelessly inconclusive. Having, at the very least, one part of the puzzle feels like huge win! It means that I will finally get referred to the right department and meet the right specialist. So, tonight I'm celebrating! It might sound strange, celebrating that you've found out something is amiss with your body, but I am happy, oh so happy! Having part of the answer is such a win!
