I was invited to a wedding to be held in Chissay-en-Touraine located approximately 250 km southwest of Paris in the Loire Valley. While I'd been to England twice before many years ago, this would be my first time to Europe proper. I'd booked this trip back in January, but knew it had to be short. After a two leg flight out of DCA through JFK, I arrived at Charles de Gaulle about 12:00 pm last Friday. After clearing immigration, I met up my brother who had just flown in from Cleveland by way of Cincinnati on Delta. After a quick but not so cheap 45 EUR meal, including 4 espressos, a pork stew and *french* andouille sausage (intestines + stomach + natural casing), we went to pick up a rental. At the end of processing the booking, we discovered the Opel my brother originally booked was a manual, something neither of us patsies could handle.* We were then given the available automatic options of either a Clio or a BMW 3 series which were, as per the agent, going for about the same rate. Upon accepting that unlikelihood, the decision was a real no brainer. After getting to the car, we played around with the on-board GPS, which as far as we could tell only had a French language setting. Luckily enough my bro still remembered enough from his 7th Grade French class to figure out how to plot in the address. I was a little apprehensive about driving at first due to my impression that the French drove on the left side of the road. Happily, the impression was incorrect. * Obvious note to self here. DRIVE 
Our Rented Chariot (Courtesy of FKH) We come from a driving family, so if there is an option of driving to a destination, it will be considered favorably. I always enjoy long drives with my brother, whom I've taken many long drives with, including crossing US back and forth in 2.5 day time spans each way. Without exception, this drive down was extremely enjoyable. For the first part, we listened to a selection of songs by the French duo Air on the Late Night Tales series, then switching onto the local radio to check out what was being played on the French airwaves. After leaving the more dense clusters of Friday afternoon traffic on the A3 and A6 en route out of the Paris suburbs, we could really blast down the A10. While drafting off of some other fellow drivers, we cruised at speeds up to 200 kmph. I had a mild case of culture shock during the drive. In the US, you'll observe a few stray Europeans on travels at a rest-stop. Upon a few steps into a convenience store at rest-stop off the A10, which appeared no different than a counterpart in the US, I was taken aback when I was surrounded by well dressed and groomed Europeans. Even the clerks were wearing hip glasses. Our sales clerk also sneezed politely. I think I just got thrown off by seeing so many Europeans in a store that looked like it was off the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The French countryside is truly beautiful. While approaching our destination, the sky became much clearer, with scents of the fields of flowers pouring in through the cracked open windows. After paying the walloping 17.90 EUR toll from the A10, we pulled onto a series of smaller country roads that led us over a river, through some woods, and then traversing some rolling hills to cross more lush green fields, all of which reminded us of our native Virginia. The town of Chissay-en-Touraine was something to behold as well, with its narrow streets and quaint buildings. 
Captured Locality (Courtesy of FKH) 
Blue French Skies (Nevermind the stray tanker!) CHATEAU DE CHISSAY 
Le Chateau The wedding ceremony was held at church within a 5 minute walk from Chateau de Chissay. I won’t go into detail about the ceremony or reception (see my brother’s post for that one), but the whole of it was definitely something to be remembered. I will say that I had enough Foie Gras to last several lifetimes and rang the church bells at the end of the ceremony. Also, there was about a 10 minute firework show at the end! 
The Church 
En Route from the Rehearsal 
Nocturnal Splendor While the US is abound w/ bed and breakfast type establishments, France (as with other parts of Europe) has chateaus and castles, with rooms set in habitable caves, towers, and anywhere else you can imagine that may be in such structures. Yes, an excursion to such a place may cost a bit, but if you can swing it, it can definitely be memorable. DEPARTURE We rose early at about 6:30 am on Sunday morning and jumped back into the car to head back to Paris, as we had early flights back to the US. This time, we had with us another 3 of the guests. Again, we touched speeds near 200 kmph while on the way back and made it back to Paris in about 2 hours. Unfortunately, we didn’t plug the airport address back into the GPS, so we went on a 30 minute detour inside Paris proper. After some cold sweat and then getting back on track, we did actually see Eiffel tower, albeit only for a few seconds while flying east bound on the A6! We somehow made it on time for me to check in to my flight back. Unfortunately, someone who caught a ride with us missed hers by 5 minutes. In the rush, I also left my Air disc in the player of the BMW...... The flight back wasn't so bad and I made it to my abode in the Greater DC area at around 7pm EST and still made a full 11+ hour day of work on Monday with a smiling face and a chipper attitude. Bloisaaargh!!!!! The trip was far too short. Though I’d never been so hot about France, my interest in exploring more of it has been piqued. I didn't meet anyone who seemed like they might have a few mean and nasty things to say to us Americans. Then again, we weren't in Paris. So now, while considering the possibilities of all the sites, both now known and unknown to me, I'm telling myself.... "Next time, definitely!" NB As a closing thought, I'm still not surprised as to why Americans get such a bad rep outside of the states. While going through pre-boarding clearance back to JFK, the passenger in front of me became indignant and expressed serious impatience when asked routine security questions about his carry on luggage. "I don't speak any French!" he declared. "I am speaking to you in English," responded the agent, who had been speaking to him in English, albeit with some moderate French inflections. This agent then flashed a quick sideways glance to another colleague standing right by. Ironically, it seemed that English wasn't the passengers first language either. When it came to my turn, I responded politely and smiled and moved through without a snag. | 
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