Tapp's Travels

On Saturday we decided to go to Chinon – a place remembered by us as a river-side town with all parking spaces occupied.  I don’t think we even managed to hesitate last time we were there.  We were determined to see it properly this year!

On the way we stopped for a walk on the South bank of the Loire at Montsoreau.

We had camped here many years ago – so this was another part of the trip down memory lane.  Except we didn’t really remember much about it apart from the campsite and the chateau…

We were served coffee at Restaurant Le Montsorelli next to the chateau in weird, handle-less cups made to look like crumpled plastic beakers – and you have to ask “Why?”

We found another one of France’s less than completely clear road signs at the end of the village:

A bit like the ones that say “It is forbidden to throw stones at this sign!”.

True to form, all available parking slots along the river at Chinon were fully occupied.  But we eventually found a slot in the shadow of Joan of Arc.  Well, of her statue anyway!

Wandering through the streets we came across a musical event organised by the Franco-Maroc Society.  Lots of stalls selling all things African and offering henna tattoos or crèpes.  Food, drink and music. All very exotic – and French in a Morroccan sort of way.  But we can’t linger as we have a town to see.

A couple of hundred metres up the first street we came to an artist’s audio.  He was selling a rather unique style of painting.  Leaf impressions in a concrete layer on paper.  The layer was very thin and wet when started.  During the drying process the surface of the “concrete” cracked into the most amazing crazed surface.  The leaf impressions were then painted and – now comes the really difficult-to-believe part… He puts it on the floor and walks on it “with clean shoes” he says.  Then he tears it up and breaks bits out.  Later the “wrecked” picture is stuck onto canvas complete with gaps.  Finally he writes meaningful text all over the place.  Sometimes in mirror writing, sometimes just backwards.

We bought two blank pictures and Sorain added Glenda’s text…  “Relax and enjoy life and nature all around the world!”

So now we are less well off than we were financially, but better off artistically. And we’ve supported a beard.

We did get to see a bit of the town, but it was quite late when the artistry was completed – so we really just headed to a street-side bar for a beer and a rosé – and listened to a series of songs sung in English by a French couple.  All very relaxing.

A stroll by the river on the way back to the car…

And home – but I’m getting behind AGAIN!