Day 12

Day 12, plus comment on 13

Chuck didn't mention that it hailed yesterday!  At least we were back in the car by then. Our lovely warm weather has departed, it has been cool the last couple of days and is expected to be that way the rest of the week.  Oh well, that warm weather couldn't last. We brought cooler weather clothing and rain gear. He also didn't mention that the Chateau du Pray's hotel restaurant was a 1 star Michelin restaurant.  Gourmet food.  He also didn't mention he spotted an RV dealership and looked at units.  Funny.  They are made differently than in the US, these were "van conversion" types.

Day 12 was our drive from Clermont Ferrand to Chartres, which, after more monkeying around with the GPS, was relatively easy to find. Our destination was the huge gothic cathedral in Chartres.  And I mean, huge.  It is filled with flying buttresses, high, tall stained glass windows, art, sculpture. It is a Mary-centered church, with very few crosses or even references to Jesus. There are lots of theories about this church, that it is a pagan representation of female power, or a Mary Magdalene honoring church (disguised as the Virgin Mary to appease the Catholics). There is a large labyrinth in the floor that is  only uncovered of chairs on Fridays, which is the day we were there, so we walked the labyrinth with other visitors.  Walking in the footsteps of the pilgrims of 8 centuries was awesome. The day was cold, cloudy and windy, we were cold the whole time we were there!  We toured the crypt, with another worship center devoted to Mary. Very ancient and spooky. Then we raced back to our car, braced against the cold wind, and drove to our castle for the next two nights in Amboise.