France, part deux

Wednesday, July 22nd

In another can't-make-this-up moment of tour, the Whiffs stayed at the Chanel family's chateau in Bordeaux, France. This particular chateau has been around for hundreds of years and hosted both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson when they visited the region.

In the evening, we sang a concert at another chateau a few miles away.

Thursday, July 23rd

On this day, we took two wine tours, one at the Chanel's chateau and another at a top-tier winery. On the first tour, we walked through the entire wine-making process and learned how to properly taste wine-- a useful skill. The second tour involved more of the same.

At night, we dined and sang at Chateau Canon, the Chanel family's other chateau.

Friday, July 24th

In the morning, we drove for about six hours towards Paris. When we arrived at a town outside of Le Mans, we met our homestays, ate dinner, and sang a concert at a stunning cathedral out in the country.

Saturday, July 25th

In the morning, I ran for about half an hour around my homestay's city, then biked to their family's store -- a Home Depot-style business that also sells clothes and pet food--, and then rode around the countryside.

Later, the Whiffs went on a tour of historic Le Mans.

About the photos above:

1. A pigeon flying in Le Mans
2. Le Mans’s St. Julian Cathedral
3. Another cathedral photo
4. And another
5. Performance poster
6. Jesse consults with a grey goose in a fourteenth century home’s courtyard
7. Before wine tasting
8. At the second winery we visited on Thursday
9. We sang right in front of the wine vats at Chateau Canon
10. The view from Chateau Canon

Why did I include a picture of a flying pigeon? In every country we've visited, I've seen both pigeons and Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. Maybe I'll post a photo of a KFC later.