Day 1
After a great breakfast at the hotel, I gathered my things and headed out. It was rainy but I spent my time walking narrow streets surrounding the cathedral. The old town was pretty quiet during the morning, but with an afternoon break in the weather, more and more people started to appear. I would look at them and wonder, "Are they in my group?" One of my favorite memories from this day is standing and sketching from the east portal of the cathedral. It was pouring rain, but who cares?
After a day of exploring Chartres on my own, the time had finally arrived to meet my fellow travel companions. Our group was a great mix of singles and doubles and proved to be a very amicable bunch.....especially after drinking the introductory (wink) refreshments. After our meet and greet at the hotel, our guide, Julie Sonveau, took us on an orientation walk through the lanes of historic Chartres........final destination, our first dinner together!
During our walk, Julie gave us an introduction to the history of the town and the cathedral. She was fun, informative, and lively! As we made our way to the older part of town, the streets got narrower reflecting real medieval character. Our first restaurant proved elegant in a easy informal way. Cute little dishes of flowers decorated our tables. The wine was excellent and the food was fresh and delicious. Nothing like happy, well fed travelers.
Our first meal was very delicious and very, very French. The waiters were polite and efficient and our group quickly learned of each other's backgrounds and interests. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant with its French countryside murals and collections of tea pots lining the window sills. I enjoy this RS tour tradition...."the first night dinner together." Some tour guides have the members play "get acquainted games, but the small size of our group made that unnecessary. The evening ended with a stroll back to the hotel, some staying uptown to enjoy the cathedral light show.
|
|
A perfect end to the first day!
Next up....the cathedral!