From the moment I found myself at the base of the ramparts at Château Royal d’Amboise, a grotesque, morbid sensation settled across my shoulders, then a pressure leaned in against my right arm and I stiffened. “I died here,” a voice whispered. Earlier that morning, while I bought roses and baguettes and began my winding procession through the cobblestone streets, the same voice drew me closer.
Château Royal d’Amboise in Amboise, France is one of the most delightful places. The history, beauty and charm overwhelmed me and kept me there for an entire day. Amidst all of the revelations brought about by my trip to the Loire Valley, there were some lovely scenes that simply stole my breath. From views to…
“Can’t you see it?” she asked me. “It’s Leonardo Da Vinci’s tiny French commune.” “I’ve been walking for like an hour and I’m exhausted. I’m going to sit on this bench over here for about two days,” I told my ephemeral guide. “Perfect. Right over there. Nope, one more bench over. There, you got it.”…
Preparation for my upcoming trip was littered with travel expectations and extensive, more like obsessive, planning. France owned me. The kids made it clear they were over it. “All you think about and talk about is France,” my oldest repeated, deservedly irritated with a lack of parental attention. “What will you do when you don’t have…