Gite Nature—Day 2

 A Lazy Sunday

We woke to a sunny morning that would prove to be another 80F (24C) day, our third in a row. Our only plans for the day are to have lunch with Gabriel's family at their home. And that's what we did. I only took a few pictures, because we were all enjoying a tasty Thai meal and lively conversation.

Sunday lunch at the Heusse home. Gabriel, Alia,
Cathy, Nils, Ysee, and Marie.

Gabriel and Cathy built their home 17
years ago. It's a stunner when you enter the 
front door. The peaked ceiling is three stories
high and you're greeted by a Madagascar
Traveler's Tree, a plant they brought back
home when it was a sapling 12 years ago.

They're going to have to move the plant

to the main floor as it's reached the ceiling.

Alia, Cathy, and Nils and the lunch spread
on the back deck. This picture doesn't do
justice to our Thai lunch. Gabriel and Cathy
lived in Rayon, Thailand while we were 
teaching there. Gabriel was doing his national
service and Cathy volunteered at a zoo, gaining
more experience as a veterinarian.

Yummy, Thai shrimp soup. 

Gabriel visited us in 1997 while we were teaching in Bangkok and they took their children to Thailand two years ago. 

The view from the back deck.

Back "home" later in the afternoon, we rested in the cool of our stone cottage. By 7PM we took advantage of the early evening breezes and strolled down the half mile lane to Le Cellier train platform. Cyclists and walkers were doing the same. There's nothing like greeting folks with "bon soir" (i.e. good evening) while walking a country lane in the Loire Valley.