Thursday.  Today is definitely a "David day."  We planned a road trip to Saumur.  Yes, there is a chateau there . . . but that is not why we decided to go there.  David had read about a toy soldier factory/store just outside of Saumur and he really wanted to visit it.  I think I've mentioned that David collects miniature soldiers.  Also, in Saumur there is an armor museum he wanted to tour.

We left early in the morning, about 7:00.  I guess it seemed earlier because it was still so dark outside!  And definitely cool.  David planned the route which would take us to Saumur by A85, the expressway.  It was a little over an hour's drive and there were two toll portions of the road.  One cost 5.80 euro and the other one cost 2.30 euro.  That's $7.34 and $2.91 respectively.  It was a very nice highway to drive on.  Driving on A85 enabled us to get to the area to be explored quite quickly.

Part way there we stopped in the town of Bourgueil for coffee and hot chocolate.  We love the little bars that offer coffee (and wine and beer) in the morning.  After our break, on the walk back to our car, we passed a patisserie so we had to stop in for some nourishment.  They had pain au almond with chocolate that was called choc amande and we both had that for breakfast.  Very good treat!

It didn't take us too much longer to get to C.B.G. Mignot, the miniature soldier (and other miniature figures as well) store.  It was a little difficult to find because it's off the beaten path but, of course, David found it!

On the main floor of the store there were various dioramas set up but that was only the beginning.  While we were standing around there, the owner of the store walked downstairs and greeted us; his name was Loic Pemzec.  He spoke very good English and told us to go up the stairs and view the video of various news programs about the store and then walk around to see all of the miniature figures, etc., they produce.  David mentioned he was aware the store was originally in Paris and the owner, Mr. Pemzec, confirmed that.  It dates back to 1825.  In 1994, Mr. Pemzec's father bought the business and moved it to LaBreille-les-Pins, the small town where it is now.

The videos were very interesting and the displays were amazing!  There were all kinds of miniatures, from dinosaurs, to Roman soldiers, to the French Foreign Legion, to beach goers.  There were miniatures from every period in history.  I didn't think I would ever get David out of there.  He knew he wanted to buy some soldiers but it was hard for him to decide which ones he wanted.  We went back downstairs and there was an artist sitting there painting the figures.  The figures are very small and intricate but she painted with a sure hand.  It was fun to watch her.

Mr. Pemzec came back to talk to us and he showed us many, many soldiers David was interested in.  David made his choices and arranged to have them shipped home.  Much easier and safer than us trying to haul them around with us until we leave France.  I'm sorry I don't have any pictures but photography was not allowed there.

After I pried David out of C.B.G. Mignot, we drove to Saumur and after a few wrong turns, we found the Tank Museum.  I really wasn't interested in it so I sat in the lobby and read while he toured.  Here are some great tank pictures!!!  The pictures below include early French tanks from World War I, a tracked ammunition carrier with a tracked trailer, A German World War II half track with the Nebelwerfer rocket laucher, a German World War II half track for transporting troops, The German "King Tiger" tank from World War II, although having issues, couldn't be beat for crew protection and killing from a distance, the Hetzer tank with its low profile and slanted armor made it quite formidable, a German tank recovery tank with a large winch for recovering damaged tanks from the battle field and only an anti-aircraft gun for self defense, and finally a German self-propelled gun (a tank with an artillery piece instead of a regular tank gun).

After David got his fill of viewing tanks, we decided we needed to at least drive by the chateau.  We really weren't up for touring another one, tho.  As chateaus go it is small and they were doing a lot of renovating to it.  We did have beautiful views of the Loire River from the chateau.

  
By this time we were very hungry and we saw a restaurant just above the chateau so we walked up there.  We were the only customers but the food was good!  I had cream of asparagus soup with frites.  David had . . . yes, he had another omelette!  He really does love the eggs in France!  I apologize for not having a picture of his lunch.  I believe he ate too fast for even the fastest shutter speed.  I think the toy soldiers and tanks excited him.

After lunch we had a very leisurely and gorgeous drive back to Saint Aignan.  We took the southern route back east, about 10-12 miles south of A85 but parallel to it.  We took all small, two-lane roads that took us through one picturesque village after another.  One was more beautiful and quaint than the next.  Here is a picture of the wonderful car Yves loaned us so we could explore just about every inch of the Loire Valley!