Pepe's Morning Quote:"What is this? Oh, but of course. This little one wish to commit suicide to prove her love for me. What a sweet gesture. Nevertheless, I must prevent it."
Anyone missing Linda?...this is the best your going to get...she is having allot of fun and won't be home for 3 more weeks!!In fact I'm not totally sure she is coming home at this point...her French family tease her that she will visit the USA and not the other way around...
Meet Max and Sylvie (Franck and Eric's parents) Linda's Aunt and Uncle. They picked us up at the city of Vendome' as we arrived on the train from Paris. From the warm and enthusiastic reception and their huge smiles, I knew this weekend was going to be fun...they told me I was going to a special place...(about 3 hours by car outside of Paris)
Max and Sylvie live in Trôo...a troglodyte city...a town of caves. People to this day inhabit caves throughout the town...Trôo is one of the most attractive and unusual villages of France. Its location and layout are very special - terraces, caves, charming lanes, stairways everywhere. Not really any streets, no centre, it’s the sense of mystery which makes one want to discover it.
This is one of the views of the town and countryside from their front window. 
Upon arriving, Max breaks out the Aperitif's'...
Linda and Max...glad to see each other!! It is going to be a great weekend.
Sylvie not far behind gets her hugs in!! Every time Sylvie enters a room she has something to say!!! and usually has Linda cracking up laughing!
Max and Sylvie's house is the one in the middle with blue shutters...looks like a normal village house doesn't it?
But behind the house is the courtyard where half of the living quarters are inside of caves, dug in the rock back along time ago...not sure but heard someone said the 12th century.
As we were in the living room...Sylvie was preparing dinner in the kitchen...in a cave...you can see a little of the ceiling.
This room is the outdoor dining room...located in the courtyard...you can imagine the family getting together in the summer...where it is cool...one of my favorites. 
Here is where Linda and I became "Troglodytes" for 3 nights!!!
If it weren't for a night light I would have never found this...in the middle of night.
A little courtyard off of the kitchen...
Their next door neigbors....
It was a cold day when we went out for a walk...
These three are best buddies...I think Max smiles and rolls his eyes when these 2 start talking.
I have something you don't have...34 family members in FRANCE!...who love me!!!!!!
Here are some of the fronts of cave houses...
I wish I had my Nikon with me...the backgound was amazing.
If you ever saw the movie "The Great Escape" with Steve McQueen...you could picture him escaping on his motorcycle though the Troo countryside...this place is like out of a movie set.
Max and Sylvie took us to this farm house and introduced us to one of their village neighbors....
On their property they had apple trees and had Linda sample some of their fresh apple cider....
On their property they had many tunnels...this one has some old wine barrels...neat stuff. Several of the tunnels apparently connected to other tunnels that ran throughout the village.
The guy in the blue shirt was the property owner...he excavated this site by himself using a bulldozer...the only clue he had was that the apex of the entrance way was sticking out of the mud...so he started digging....
As you can see this is a sizeable tunnel....
He believes that it was a hospital from the 12th century...these alcoves lined the tunnel...you could or imagine what that looked like....SO WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A HOBBY?...I dig out 12th century caves in my spare time!
I wish I had my Nikon with me...the backgound was amazing.
If you ever saw the movie "The Great Escape" with Steve McQueen...you could picture him escaping on his motorcycle though the Troo countryside...this place is like out of a movie set.Max and Sylvie took us to this farm house and introduced us to one of their village neighbors....
On their property they had apple trees and had Linda sample some of their fresh apple cider....
On their property they had many tunnels...this one has some old wine barrels...neat stuff. Several of the tunnels apparently connected to other tunnels that ran throughout the village.
The guy in the blue shirt was the property owner...he excavated this site by himself using a bulldozer...the only clue he had was that the apex of the entrance way was sticking out of the mud...so he started digging....As you can see this is a sizeable tunnel....He believes that it was a hospital from the 12th century...these alcoves lined the tunnel...you could or imagine what that looked like....SO WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A HOBBY?...I dig out 12th century caves in my spare time!
Linda says..."Go ahead and ADMIT it...you wish you were ME!!!"
This ... makes me want to plant a garden....
As we walked through town...my only regret is that I did not come to France sooner to meet Linda's Family...
The river that runs right through town....about as placid, and scenic as you will find...is this place for real?
This ... makes me want to plant a garden....
As we walked through town...my only regret is that I did not come to France sooner to meet Linda's Family...
The river that runs right through town....about as placid, and scenic as you will find...is this place for real?
These folks know how to make you feel welcome...
Tomorrow I will post some pictures from around the area...chteau's, ruins, old churches, etc.
A mid-day Mass was going on while we were inside.
Franck took us to one of his favorite restaurants...more wine!!...fabulous meal!
Linda tasting Escargot...snails...very tasty.
Smart Cars are gaining momentum...not only for fuel reasons, but these babies can park in plces you can't imagine.
This is the ultimate definition of "opulence"....
In many of the apartments/rooms...not sure what they were exactly called...all of the ceilings were painted with various themes...some Biblical and others of Mythology.
Hall of Mirrors...First time Mirrors were introduced as a decorative design statement. There are so many potraits of Louis XIV...I think he just liked looking at himself.
The gardens were a sight to see...Linda told me when she was here visiting 25 years ago with Kristen as a one year old...on these grounds Kristen learned to walk!!!!
