Loire Interlude

My destination of Pontlevoy was a charming old village with mostly original stone buildings and narrow streets with few sidewalks…just the kind of place I love to explore. I’d found a room for a VERY low $35/night rate online. The only caveat was dealing with renovation being done in the home. The home turned out to be a winner across from a stunning 10th century abbey.

The bedrooms in my Loire home were already done and only the living room and stairway floor was a bit of a mess. The kitchen had a window that opened onto the plaza that had a few tables and benches where people gathered to eat, chat or just sit in the outdoors. I enjoyed sitting by the open window and listening to the goings on outside. The house was also right next door to a bar/restaurant that served outside when requested. I enjoyed my lunch and morning coffee al fresco with new friends.

The abbey turned out to be a meeting/cultural center owned by an American from Detroit. It offered students intern opportunities where they could improve their language skills in exchange for doing administrative tasks required at the facility. Most of the interns were American and it was nice to be able to speak English and be understood.

I met several of the interns and caught a ride with a couple of them when they went into the nearby town of Montrichard. With no supermarkets in the area, they had learned to go to the markets and stock up with very fresh local food every couple of days. The market we visited was a favorite with the students since it offered cheeses, fish, meats and exceptional baked goods in addition to the beautiful fruits and vegetables.







I enjoyed chatting with the kids and was impressed with their driving ability on the very narrow winding village streets. I learned that they had regular time off for travel, which they put to good use, traveling both in France and beyond. They already had interesting stories to tell about adventures in foreign lands. Eastern Europe and Sri Lanka seemed to be favored destinations due to the low costs and the unspoiled (non-Westernized) nature of those areas.