Friday, April 28th, 2006    sunrise-06:55    sunset-09:12    low/high temp:7-17C (44.5-62.5F)

    After showers, breakfast and clean up, we plan on checking out the city of Nantes a bit more.  The girls want to shop some more, and I would like to find a raclette as well.  I went in one store, found the last one, a display model, and bought it.  Cindy wants to check out some of the churches Scott and I saw yesterday, so we went back as a group.  After finding lunch, the girls go off to shot, while Scott and I return to the center of the shopping district with the nice choice of bars to chose from.

Gilligan the navigator preps for the day.

 
Some really great photos of Danielle in heaven!
She adored the Japanese gardens at the port of Nantes.
 

There are seven rows of photos below of the gardens.  They really were quite lovely.

   

   
   
   
       
   
   
Above, the group photos.  We really didn't get too many of these, but these were fun.
Watching Scott try to outrun the camera timer several ties was humorous as well!

I just liked this shot.

   
Yes, this house is definitely not plumb.  I love how they made     Shark fins on the sidewalk.
the doors and windows plumb for an out of plumb house.
   
Danielle sends more post       Cindy loves her fountains.         The three girls lovin' life!
-cards out.

   
The garden near the fountain.    Cindy finds another one!            Danielle finds a puppy.

Saint Nicolas

   
This really is an amazing church.  Along with the beautiful tributes, you can feel the history in the walls.

   
View of the left corridor.           That amazing organ!                 Then the right corridor.

   
Principal Altar under the       Stoned in missing stained glass    The second altar.
beautiful windows.              windows.  The rosette is being
                                          restored and reinstalled.

Town square statue.  I'll find who it is of and update this.

Saint Pierre

   
We walked by and had to take more photos.  I'd love to see her when completely restored!

   
I found the last Raclette here.     Girls go off shopping.          Gotta take a break, all that
                                                                                         people watching wears one out!
   
Our server both days.  Very        Water break.                       Walking away to explore more
cool and helpful.                                                                  with the girls.

Saint Croix

   
6 photos of the inside of Saint Croix today.

 
I loved this little car.                 See, he's a romantic.

   
Monument to the Resistance       That is the tunnel under the city    Danielle plays with the blossoms...
in France for WW II.                  to the Loire river.  We're not
                                               allowed to pass in a rental boat.

   
Just as we set off again.            The bridge of Nantes.                Training rowers on rough waters.

   
This guy was FLYING!                 I love when I get the shot of a bird alighting.

Below are several rows of photos of the chateaus, chalets and beautiful homes on the Erdre
As time goes on, I'll update with any name I find.  For now, please just enjoy the great scenery.

   
   
   
           
   
   
                                               Gotta watch those Italian girls!
   
Sucé sur Erdre again.
             
                                               The map at the entrance from    There's the final lock!
                                                Canal we traveled.                    Doesn't look as high from here!

   
                                                These folks FLEW by us, and they also looked VERY cold!

   
Wind surfers were absolutely loving the weather!

 
Yes, the die actually fell in the edge!  Had to get a photo!

   
New construction, honest.          Parked freighter.                     The sun peeks through this afternoon.

   
On the way to Nord sur Erdre, we passed a couple quaint little towns with some friendly folks
and some gorgeous buildings as well.

   
A nice river shot of town.          How could you NOT wave to those smiles?!

   
A nice older home.                    The lawns, gardens and paddocks were very well manicured.

   
The church of Nord sur Erdre     Two French couples watch the    Cap Vert is a boat that travels
in the distance.                         boats pass by.                           the Erdre as a tour boat.

   
Our destination office, open      First time I had to park in tail      The group shot at the end
but ready to close.                    first.                                         of the week!

 
A nice old bridge, which we      Cool stairs!
crossed to walk into town.

 
A nice photo.                            'Downtown' Nord sur Erdre.
                                                I'd love to come back, the people
                                                were very friendly.
 
Where the girls go to 'relax'.       Where the boys go to 'relax'.

Saint Christophe

   
Unfortunately, this church was closed.  It was odd in that the 'steeple' is actually a tower, seen in the scaffold under restoration, separated from the church building itself.  The front gable end was obviously a 'repair' of some sort, as it in no way resembled the architecture.  The stoned in windows clearly indicate previous damage, probably wartime.

   
The view from all the way around was very impressive.

   
WW I monument to the mothers and children left behind.  VERY moving depiction.

   
My love.                                   Two shots as the sun sets off to the west by the bridge.

After returning to the boat, we decided to finish up all the food we have accumulated over the course of the week.
This included, pasta, sauce, spicy sausages, salad, and of course, lots of wine!  Danielle snuck into her blanket.