LitGal
Full time employment: Posting here.
My best friend from college and I will be visiting Paris for 9 days in Sept. (Our plans for the city are coming along fine: I've been there before, and she will get there a few days before I.)
But, we would also like to visit the Loire Valley for a couple days. We have found two day-trips: one by mini-bus, one by large bus. Plus, we have figured out the train to Prieure D'Orsan (east of Chateauroux). The problem with the bus tours is that, at each castle/chateau, we can tour only the garden or the chateau, not both. (My friend is still working in her second career as a landscape designer, so she wants to see both.)
I've looked into car rentals from Bourges and Chateauroux: most affordable ones are a stick shift. Both of us can drive a stick; but we're wondering if this is feasible, driving the back roads of a country where I only passably read the language (and she and I speak it poorly). We figure that, if we take the train from Paris to a smaller ciy, then at least we would be learning to drive on Fr. roads outside of Paris traffic.
If you have an success (or horror?) stories, I'd appreciate any info. you can give.
Many thanks!
But, we would also like to visit the Loire Valley for a couple days. We have found two day-trips: one by mini-bus, one by large bus. Plus, we have figured out the train to Prieure D'Orsan (east of Chateauroux). The problem with the bus tours is that, at each castle/chateau, we can tour only the garden or the chateau, not both. (My friend is still working in her second career as a landscape designer, so she wants to see both.)
I've looked into car rentals from Bourges and Chateauroux: most affordable ones are a stick shift. Both of us can drive a stick; but we're wondering if this is feasible, driving the back roads of a country where I only passably read the language (and she and I speak it poorly). We figure that, if we take the train from Paris to a smaller ciy, then at least we would be learning to drive on Fr. roads outside of Paris traffic.
If you have an success (or horror?) stories, I'd appreciate any info. you can give.
Many thanks!