The days are blurring together. Was it yesterday or the day before that we visited the two little towns of Les Andelys? We drift on the river, eat, walk, laugh and talk. This is the most relaxing vacation - no concerns about what to eat or when, where to visit, etc.
The building above sits very near where our boat tied up. It used to be a convent, then a hospital, and is now a retirement home.
Richard the Lion-Heart, sometimes known as Good King Richard, built this castle in the late 12th century. High on a hill, with an imposing command of the river, it was intended to be a defensive castle that would enable Richard, the English king, to maintain control of this part of Normandy.
Constructed in about one year (an amazing feat considering its size), it's a massive stronghold that was conquered by the King of France after a nearly year long seige about 10 years later.
Clambering about the ruins, peering through the windows, and shivering in the dungeon makes me very thankful that I live in the modern age and not the medieval one.
Here's the view from the top. It was a steep, but short climb. We're enjoying amazing weather - apparently Normandy can be very hit or miss when it comes to sunny, warm days.
Richard the Lion-Heart also oversaw the construction of the church in the photo.
Here we are.
My mind is filling up with images and thoughts about the things we've seen and done, and I need time to process them. So I'll leave you with the photos.
As I write, the photos are not loading properly - they look fuzzy. We'll see if this posts or not.
