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A very early morning start from Paris (7am) and whizz around the Arc de Triomphe on our way out of the city.
Our first stop was a short photo opp outside Chambord castle - used as a hunting lodge (an amazingly ornate one). We then stopped at the beautiful chateau de Chenonceaux which strides the river Cher. Once given by Henri II to his mistress Diane de Poitiers, taken back by wife Catherine de Medici after Henri's death, used as a first world war hospital where over 2000 men were treated, then in WWII the Cher was the limit between free and occupied France so the gallery was used as a passage by the French Resistance. After a quick lunch we headed to Amboise and saw the amazing last home of Leonardo da Vinci and looked at some of his incredible designs made into life size models we could all play with in the park. Leonardo was the guest of the king Francois I for the last 3 years of his life. After an hour or so of free time in Amboise to enjoy ice-cream, chocolates and a cake or two, we drove to our hotel just outside Tours. We unpacked, had dinner and have now settled in for the night.
Breakfast is at the more civilized time of 8am tomorrow. bonne nuit!