“But that’s the glory of foreign travel, as far as I am concerned. I don’t want to know what people are talking about. I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can’t read anything, you have only the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can’t even reliably cross a street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses.” ~ Bill Bryson, an American author who lives in the UK. He is most well-known for his travelogues and non-fiction books.
So, here we are again, in a place where everything is indeed “a series of interesting guesses”. While we favor France, we could be any foreign country. And even though we’ve been traveling for many years, the fascination is as tangible as our first trips abroad, and the challenges are still never-ending.
As we said in the last post, Tours is the smallest city we have lived, yet it is still easy to walk 8-11k (5-7 miles) each day. Wandering allows us to learn our way around, and to find those hidden gems provided by serendipity.
One day, with Mike and Kathy took a long stroll along the banks of the Loire. The sun was out, the winds were still, the birds were singing, and butterflies were flitting to and from the colorful spring flowers that had emerged.
Returning across the Pont Wilson toward our apartment, we turned to walk around the 13th century Abbaye de Saint-Julien. The church had always been closed when we passed by, with no information as to when we might be able to visit. 
We were all admiring and photographing the ancient building surrounded by the cherry trees filled with blossoms when a small door opened and a friendly woman motioned to us asking, in French, if we would like to see inside. Of course, we replied. As we entered, she indicated that she had seen us making photographs, and thought that we enjoy the light of the sunny afternoon painting the interior with colors and shadows.
Quiet, cool, and dark apart from the beams of light streaming through the stained glass. The patterns and colors splashed across the floors and walls in an array of visual joy.
Before we left, the woman who had let us in again motioned to follow her to a side room where she happily shared some information about the church printed in English as well as some postcards of the stained glass. It was evident that she was proud of the church and wanted to share.
The real bright spot though, was when Mike, who had translated a phrase on his phone played it aloud to her resulting in a big smile, universally understood. The phrase? “You are a rock star.”
James Piersol
29 May 2023Love Bill Bryson – and soaking up your travels.
Wayne Mackay
10 Apr 2023Love the flower bouquet!
Steve Katzman
9 Apr 2023Great photos! Especially like to ones in the produce market.
Missy Ortega
9 Apr 2023What a delightful way to spend this Easter day! So glad you two are enjoying your travels. Beautiful photos are also a plus!
Patricia Shipley
9 Apr 2023I’m really enjoying your writings. Thank you.
Paula Milligan
9 Apr 2023Pictures and stories are spectacular, Happy Easter from across the big pond 🙂
Linda
9 Apr 2023Happy Easter. Loved all the pictures especially the market (the produce looks amazing) and the inside of the church. So great how the sun shines through the stained glass. Sad that the church I attended this morning only has one stained glass window. The others are plain glass that meets hurricane criteria. 🙁
Alice Mathias
9 Apr 2023Happy Easter!
Kathryn
9 Apr 2023Thx
Missy Ortega
9 Apr 2023Wow! What a beautiful way to enjoy Easter! So glad that you’re having a wonderful time! Photos are awesome!
Judy Rodman
9 Apr 2023Beautiful in every way… I love knowing the sense of child-like wonder and awe need never leave us. In fact, our past journeys can deepen that awe if we choose to go that direction. Glad you’re out there reporting in so we can share in it!
Cathi
9 Apr 2023Ok, I’m smiling on this early Easter morning. What a lovely written slice of life moment followed up with WCF capturing it all in images.
John Turk
9 Apr 2023Fabulous!
Danny Allen
9 Apr 2023The Pics are Awesome! Thanks!
Sharon Wild
9 Apr 2023So very cool! Happy Easter!🐣