Loire Valley Trip part deux

So at the end of the first day we stayed at this 11th century abbey. Still a little confused about what it was now, but something about how a rich American bought it recently and is trying to get some kind of program for American students going there. It was really nice, kind of like a dorm, probably nicer than GT dorms. Oh, and it was pretty.

church at the abbey, and that tree on the left was planted in 1776. same age as the USA! cool.

The next day we headed to the Chateau Chambord. AMAZING.

Front...? maybe the back.

Back.. maybe front.

This was Francois I's Hunting Lodge. sweet life right? He only spent 72 days there and he died before it was even finished. It has 77 sets of stairs and over 400 rooms. The roof is so crazy.. we got to go up...

check that out.

cliche christy-and-alyssa picture! loves it.

detail of one of the 400 something rooms. woo

Next we went to the Chatres Cathedral. It. was. awesome. The front was being working on though.. so not very good pictures of the whole thing...

rude.

We got to climb allll the way up to one of the towers though. the one on the left. SO INTENSE. so high. it was so scary, because we had to climb up and down this tiny little spiral staircase... but awesome!!

so. high. up. ahhhh!

simply stunning.

The interior was pretty fantastic too. This cathedral still has the original stained glass because during the World Wars, they were taken down and hidden in various churches and abbeys around France, so that they were never all in the same place... check it out...

so pretty... Since the front was being worked on it was hard to get enough light in the space for pictures without a tripod... sad :(

loved the candles!!

one more exterior shot.. boo that construction/restoration!!

Jack and I!

We got back around 730ish Sunday night. Exhausted!! But we went out to eat at a restaraunt on our street.. SO GOOD. We had the fixed 3 course meal, pick an app, an entree, and a dessert! yum. Apparently thats the thing to do in Paris!! Christy got the creme brulee.. probably the best I've ever had! Fave part of the meal for sure!! :)

YUM.

Monday was our first day of real classes, studio included. It went pretty well.. pretty excited for the semester! Today we have a walking tour with the studio teacher at 8 p.m. Should be fun!! Oh and I got a French phone today!!! exciting stuff!!

xoxo,

-A