Kris and Jo go to Paris

In the Markel family, Technology is King...

Val and Mark are safely back in the US, and now my mother and stepfather are visiting.  I feel a little bad for them, as I am in the middle of thesis panic, mixed with the stress of the student strike that is going on in Paris.  I can't even write about it because it makes me feel like I might explode.  Suffice it to say, as American students, we must pay American tuition while we sit and wait and have no class.  The French students pay 167 euros/semester; a pretty good deal.  As soon as I can calmly and objectively write about the strike, I will.

Until then, I thought that some of our readers might enjoy a couple family portraits from Val and Mark's recent visit.

Chicks Rule or, more from the Loire...

Château Chenonceau, aka le château des dames, is remarkable for its feminine architectural history as well as the sheer beauty of its graceful lines and intricate gardens.  The castle we see today was designed in 1515, by Catherine Briçonnet.  In 1526, the chateau was "yielded" to the crown over a matter of outstanding taxes.

King Henry II later gave the castle to his favorite mistress,  Diane de Poitiers, who was 20 years his senior...

A dog eat dog world

No, this is not the Chanel counter at Gallerie Lafayette during the recent soldes--though it was rather like this.  What we have here is another installment from our recent trip to Amboise.  On our third day in the Loire, we decided to visit the Chateau de Cheverny (of Tin Tin fame) and had intentionally arrived in time to see the feeding of the hunting dogs.

Reflections in London

I crossed the English Channel, or as the French call it La Manche,  on Thursday.  I bought a ticket on the Eurostar train and found a Bed and Breakfast near Victoria station for 35 pounds/night.  Even though I was more nervous to travel alone in England--where they speak English, than I would have been to travel in France, I was looking forward to being in an anglophone culture.  I figured it would be a much needed linguistic relief.