Date
Tours
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This was our last full day together.
Olivier had taken the day off, and Rachel skipped school so the three of us could spend it as a group. We drove south into the countryside and spent the morning underground in caves where stalactites and stalagmites were still growing. It was quiet down there, cool and damp, and it felt like the right kind of place to be on a day like this — somewhere that moved slower than the rest of the world.
Afterward we had lunch at a small, old-fashioned rural restaurant, the kind of place that still felt untouched by time. Then we drove to Chinon, walked the narrow streets, and I took pictures while Olivier and Rachel waited patiently. Later we visited a château connected to Joan of Arc, and from there we went wine tasting — first at a small winery owned by one of Roger’s friends, then at one of the largest caves in the region, where hundreds of barrels lined the walls.
By the time we got back to Joué-lès-Tours, I was carrying more wine and glasses than I probably should have been. That night we ate pizza, and I started packing while making plans to see Celine and Corrine the next day. It was strange knowing this was the last day I would really get to spend with Olivier like this.
It had been a good one. Simple, full, and exactly what I needed.
Cheers! Sampling wine in the underground caves in Chinon, France with Rachel and Olivier.
My Photographs from My Last Day with Olivier and Rachel
In the Caves
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Caves Near Chinon Get this as a printWe drove south to some underground caves near Chinon where stalactites and stalagmites were still growing. These limestone caverns are part of the famous wine cellars and troglodyte dwellings of the Loire Valley region — cool, damp, and filled with centuries of history. It was a memorable way to spend the last full day with Olivier and Rachel.
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Pterodactyl in the Cave Get this as a printA model of a pterodactyl stood dramatically in one of the underground caves we visited near Chinon.
These limestone caverns are part of the region’s troglodyte and wine cellar history, and many have been turned into tourist attractions with educational exhibits about geology and prehistory — explaining why the flying reptile was there among the stalactites.
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Stalactites and Stalagmites Get this as a printThe underground caves near Chinon were filled with beautiful formations of still-growing stalactites and stalagmites.
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Cheers in the Caves Get this as a printSampling wine in the underground caves in Chinon, France with Rachel and Olivier.
Exploring Chinon
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We wandered the narrow streets of Chinon, taking in the old stone buildings and this striking church with its tall spire. The town felt steeped in history, a perfect stop on our last day together. Get this as a printWe wandered the narrow streets of Chinon, taking in the old stone buildings and this striking church with its tall spire. The town felt steeped in history, a perfect stop on our last day together.
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Road Signs in Chinon Get this as a printThe road signs pointed the way to nearby villages and the Musée Maurice Dufresne while the old church stood watch in the background.
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Château de Chinon Get this as a printThe impressive ruins of the Château de Chinon rose above the town. This historic fortress, closely tied to Joan of Arc and the kings of France, dominated the skyline and was a highlight of our afternoon exploring the area on my last full day with Olivier and Rachel.
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By the Vienne River Get this as a printA quiet view along the Vienne River in Chinon, with an old boat resting near the stone wall. The river flows gently past the historic town.
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Narrow Streets of Chinon Get this as a printThe narrow, winding streets of Chinon felt timeless, with old stone buildings leaning in close. We wandered through them, taking in the charm of this historic Loire Valley town.
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Half-Timbered House Get this as a printA classic half-timbered house in the old streets of Chinon, with its wooden beams and flower boxes. These buildings are a signature of the Loire Valley’s historic towns and added so much charm to our wandering.
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Local in Chinon Get this as a printAn older man paused with his bicycle on one of Chinon’s quiet streets, a slice of everyday life in the historic town. These small, human moments made the place feel so alive.
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Phone Booth in Chinon Get this as a printA classic French phone booth.
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Rooftops of Chinon Get this as a printThe rooftops of Chinon spread out below, a sea of tiles and chimneys with the countryside beyond. A beautiful view from higher ground that captured the compact, historic charm of the town.
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Entrance to the Château Get this as a printThe impressive stone gateway and tower of the Château de Chinon, with its drawbridge-like entrance and thick walls. Standing at the foot of this historic fortress felt like stepping back in time.
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Strategic View from the Château Get this as a printThe wide view from the Château de Chinon over the town and the Vienne River. Perched high on the hill, the fortress offered a commanding vantage point over the surrounding countryside and river — exactly why medieval kings and military forces valued it for defense and control of the region.
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Inside the Château Get this as a printInside one of the exhibits at the Château de Chinon, mannequins in elaborate medieval costumes brought the history of the fortress and its royal connections to life. A fitting stop during our exploration of the site.
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Suit of Armor Get this as a printA full suit of armor stood guard inside the Château de Chinon, complete with helmet, gauntlets, and a long polearm. These displays brought the medieval military history of the fortress to life during our visit.
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Castle Walls Get this as a printThe thick stone walls and defensive ditches of the Château de Chinon. Walking along these battlements gave a real sense of the fortress’s strength and strategic position high above the town.
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The Vienne River Get this as a printThe wide Vienne River flowed past the town of Chinon, its calm surface reflecting the sky and the buildings along the bank. From the heights of the château, the view over the river and the surrounding countryside was stunning.
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Spiral Staircase Get this as a printA narrow spiral staircase wound its way up one of the towers inside the Château de Chinon. These tight, stone steps were built for defense and gave a real sense of the fortress’s medieval engineering as we climbed.
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Impressive View Get this as a printThe impressive view from the walls of the Château de Chinon over the town, the Vienne River, and the distant countryside. Standing up here really drove home why this fortress was such a powerful stronghold for centuries.
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Waving from Below Get this as a printOlivier and Rachel waved to me from below as I stood on the walls of the Château de Chinon.
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Vineyards of the Loire Get this as a printThe orderly rows of vines stretched across the hills around Chinon, part of the famous wine region of the Loire Valley. We had just come from tasting some of the local wines, so seeing the source of it all made the day feel complete.
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Château Through the Trees Get this as a printA grand château peeked through the bare winter branches and foliage. The Loire Valley is full of these elegant estates, and seeing them during our drive made for a beautiful, peaceful end to the day.
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Hand in Hand Get this as a printOlivier and Rachel walked ahead, hand in hand, down a narrow cobblestone street in Chinon. A sweet image that captured the easy closeness of their love as we wrapped up the day together.
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Olivier’s Car Get this as a printOlivier’s Renault 4, a classic French economy car from the era, parked beneath a row of pollarded trees. These distinctive, heavily pruned trees are a common sight in the French countryside — shaped this way over generations to control growth, provide firewood, or create straight branches for various uses. A perfect snapshot of rural France on our last day together.
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Learning about Wine!
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Learning About Wine Get this as a printAt one of the wineries we visited, a worker tended to the massive stainless steel tanks where the wine was aging. We learned about the process firsthand, tasting samples and buying bottles to take home. A memorable part of the day.
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In the Winery Get this as a printOlivier and Rachel glanced back at me while we toured one of the large wine production facilities. Rows of towering stainless steel tanks surrounded us as we learned about the winemaking process on our last day together.
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Wine Cellar Get this as a printRows of aging barrels lined the cool, dark cellar at one of the wineries we visited. The sheer number of them gave a real sense of the scale of production in the Loire Valley. A fascinating stop on our last day together.
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Aging Bottles Get this as a printThese wine bottles in the cellar were covered in a thick layer of mold and dust, a common sight in traditional underground aging cellars. The cool, humid environment encourages this natural cellar fungus, often called fleur de cave.
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Having the Time of My Life Get this as a printI was having the time of my life in the wine cellar. Posing with the massive aging barrels deep underground, surrounded by the smell of oak and wine, I couldn’t stop smiling. What a perfect, joyful way to spend part of my last day with Olivier and Rachel.
1994From my journal
DAY 97 / 12-12-94tours, France
Today was a cool day. We got up at 9 [am], Olivier had the day off & Rachel skipped school so we could all be together. We drove south for about 45 minutes to some underground caves, to one of the few places left on earth where stalactites & stalagmites are still growing today. It was fairly interesting, and Olivier bought something for Mom on behalf of his family.
For lunch we went to a very typical, original, rural French restaurant for a delicious lunch. After that we drove on to Chinon, where we walked through the streets & I took pictures. Then I visited another chateau where Joan of Arc stayed.
Then it was time to go to a winery, owned by one of Roger’s friends. He let us sample some wines, and I bought a HUGE fucking bottle for myself & a set of 12 wine glasses. 6 for Mom’s Christmas gift and 6 for me.
Next stop was one of the biggest wine caves in the region with over 500 barrels of wine. We did some more tasting, & I bought a bottle of Eau de Vie (Water of Life), which is an extremely unique product of France, grown/made on pear trees.
When we got home we had pizza for dinner & I packed some.
Then I called Celine, the girl from Saturday night, & Corrine to set up a rendezvous for tomorrow.
I knew that this would be my last day doing stuff with Olivier, and it was TRES BIEN!
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JournalMy handwritten journal pages · 2 pages
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Eau de Vie (French for 'water of life') is a clear, colorless fruit brandy that is produced by means of fermentation and double distillation. Liquor.com / Tim Nusog