Honeymoon Snaps - Loire Valley

Happy Friday all! Thought id share a few more honeymoon snaps from our next stop! 

After our week in Paris we headed to the Loire Valley - the land of divine chateaus, sunflowers (and amazing food as it turned out!) 

We stayed in Amboise for 3 nights (At La brech- basic but great perfectly good for the price!) 

It was 39 degrees - ouch (and discovered our hotel didn't have aircon - extra ouch!)

As we were walking across the bridge into town we noticed all the locals swimming in the river so we promptly joined them!

The streets of Amboise

Dinner on our first night at Bruno (we ended up eating here 2 out of 3 nights it was so good!)

I had to try the escargot (although i suspect it was the butter garlic & parley that made them so good)! 

Ben was eating an terrine with cornichons & onion marmalade.

I ordered the 'Gourmet Espresso' - this is what i got! Hell yeah!

 The next day we went to see the biggest chateau in the region - Chambord 

(where I discovered the timer on the camera)

It was once a hunting lodge (modest!)

How amazing is this hallway!

Then that afternoon we hired bikes & cycled 20km to Chateau Chenonceaux.

This was by far my favourite place & I'm convinced this is what Disney modelled its castles on. 

Sigh...it was so gorgeous! Hence the look of total excitement on my face on this picture! 

Can you say fairytale??

 The little chapel that had been filled with firewood during the first world war to disguise & protect it!

I was obsessed with the sunflowers! As you can see they really are giant! Bigger than my head!

I made Ben take a picture after i climbed into the field!

Ok - now this meal could have been a post all of its own!  I found this restaurant, Les Closeaux, on Trip Advisor.
It was about a 20 minute drive into the country side (i.e. the middle of no where!) & i was determined we went! Boy are we glad we did! 

Amuse bouche - salmon foam, cherry tomato in star anise caramel & toast with cucumber

Me! Feeling pretty happy with my self!

(note the background - we were highly amused watching a donkey running around in the paddock while we were eating!

Bens Entree - Crab & avocado

Bens main - Duck on organge risotto

Cheese Course

Strawberry soup

And what would you guess this 4 course meal for 2 (including a bottle of Rose!) cost?!?!

50 Euro. I kid you not. Yes, that is $60 Australian Dollars - for both of us!

If any of you are ever going to the Loire Valley region i recommend you check this place out.

its a simple farmhouse with special food.