Day 3 On the road

Yesterday was a long day.  We woke early, grabbed some breakfast at the hostel, and headed for the Metro which would take us to the train station.  Because it was early on a weekday and we didn’t take rush hour into account, by the time we reached the train station, our train had already gone.

So we hung around the station (the next one was full, so we re-booked on the one after that) for a while, watching people, and relaxing.  The trip to Angers took about an hour and a half.  From there we rented a car (a German Corso) and headed to Argenton.  The French country side is so different.  There are trees I don’t recognize, bird sounds that are unfamiliar.  We saw cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, and fields and fields of green.  Some of the trees have extra “balls” of leaves growing on them.  Wondered if that’s the French version of Texas kudzu or Virginia creeper in Pennsylvania.

We stopped in Vihiers to shop for food we knew wouldn’t be in the house, and arrived in Argenton around 6:30. 

The house had been closed up for the last six months so we opened the windows to let in fresh air.  It was cool outside, but the fresh air helped air out the house.  The neighbors, Agnes and Gilles with their daughter Anna who is about 8, came over when they saw the activity.  They had known my sister Lori, so wanted to come say hi. Agnes speaks some English and carried a French-English dictionary with her for the words she couldn’t remember.  She offered help whenever we needed it, though they would be gone for the weekend.  It was nice to meet someone local.  Very nice people.