Chatellerault

Hi all!

Got up at 6 this morning (ewww!) and walked to the train station. Due to daylight savings starting it was quite dark, but the streets were empty and well lit so all ok. 

My train was on time and I slept most of the two hour journey to Chatellerault. Now you may have never heard of Chatellerault, but don't worry, neither had I! Funny story about why I'm staying here actually. Originally when planning these five weeks I wrote down to stay here but didn't research it at all. I then changed it to a town called Chateauroux, but turns out when mum booked my trains I gave her the old version of my itinerary. Thankfully the other week when going through my documents I discovered I had a hotel in Chateauroux but a train to Chatellerault (two hours apart!) so I cancelled the old hotel and booked one in Chatellerault. 

So I arrived having no idea what was here, what it looked like, anything. Thankfully I found a tourism office easily and though the lady didn't speak English she gave me some maps and a historic tourist route to do. Then I had to walk the 40 minutes to my hotel from there. The only hotel I could get for less than $50 Aussie per night in this town at late notice was a bit out. But hey, all those cakes, cheese etc, let's be honest - I could do with some exercise!

Last night I began to worry when googling the hotel as it got 1 star on trip advisor so I prepared myself for the worse. However, the receptionist was friendly and the place looked ok. Initially he showed me to a room that STANK like smoke, so I used my limited French and my expert charades to say I wanted a non smoking room. He swapped me no questions asked. Sure the toilet seat is kinda broken, the room smells a tiny bit, the lights are dim and the bathroom is tiny. But you know what? It's all about what you make of the situation. I've a roof over my head, a relatively comfy bed, wifi and a fridge. I'm comfy :) It's definitely not bad enough to warrant a 1 star trip advisor rating. I've had much much worse than this! (Cue flashbacks to Cologne 2010 and Izmir 2013!). 

I set off and walked the 30-40 minutes into town where I began the tourist route the lady suggested (or pointed at!). On the way I went to a boulangerie (bakery) and got a baguette and a chocolate brioche. More pointing, no English. Both were delicious!! But by now you may see a pattern forming, no one here speaks English. Not one person I've spoken to today does! Which is kind of refreshing actually. We travel everywhere and take it for granted that just because our language is universal everyone should speak it. It's kinda nice to be in a small town where no one speaks it. I'm now the one having to use my limited vocab as well as drawings, hand gestures and anything else I can to get by. 

I'm now in the Loire Valley, in Central France closer to the western coast. From the brochure the lady gave me it seems Chatellerault over the centuries has made money from sword making and munitions. 

I walked around the circuit for about an hour in total. It was all just places to look at and I won't list them all because there were 36 all together! But I started off seeing the house Renè Descartes lived in that was owned by his grandpa and father. I saw some churches, some squares, the main shopping street (Rue Bourbon) which was dead quiet, Henri IV bridge which was pretty, the Vienne River, the old weapons factory and towers, the Monument in Praise of the Revolution, a cute little old cottage, the town hall and a theatre. It kept trying to rain but luckily only spat for a few minutes now and then. It's quite grey though!!

I ended up around Rue Bourbon after the walk. It was still pretty quite because it's Monday, but at 2pm some shops opened so I went and had a look.....uh oh! I bought myself some chocolate for next weekend as I'm unsure when and if shops will be open from here on in. A lot closes for Easter here. I won't photo them until the Easter bunny brings me some more choccies on Sunday though! I then went into a shoe shop (...more uh oh). And...I bought a pair of shoes! I am on a mega budget but the only pair of boots I brought with me this year are falling apart because I've had them since I was 14. The new ones are really nice and I can wear for teaching, going out and every day. Ok enough justifying, I love them, I've allotted myself 40 euros per day this leg and I've been well under that for a few days now so all is fine!!!!! It was pretty funny trying to ask the shop assistant questions though when she spoke no English. Ian and Robyn, the phrase book you gave me for my 18th before my first trip is coming in handy again! :) 

I walked back to the hotel and did some grocery shopping. Being on a budget in France is awesome - dinner is still so delicious! I have some baguettes, Brie, laughing cow cheese, Camembert, ham, bananas and raspberries. Mmmmmm! All cost me like 5 euros total too. Bliss! Although I have had to make a makeshift knife out of a card in my wallet that I cleaned haha. 

Just having a night in chilling out. So much of this year is crazy on the go that it's going to be nice these next 2-3 weeks having some me time and relaxing. 

Love to all

Claire

Xoxox