The following day was spent with our host families before meeting up again for an evening party with our French friends at the 'Restaurant le Bellvue' at Villaines les Rochers. The weather was kind to us all that day. We were treated to a wonderful meal when the wine flowed and were entertained by a six-piece dance band. After the meal many of us took to the dance floor. After the speeches we sang 'Happy Birthday' to Jina Atherton who was later presented with the most wonderful bouquet and garland of plastic flowers. The French do seem to like their plastic flowers. (Not so sure about Jina). If you want to know how old Jina is then you should have come on the trip.

On the Monday morning we left again in the rain, for the Chateau Breze. I am not particularly a fan of Chateaux but this one is definitely a 'must to see' if you are ever in the area. Two things made it stand out from the others. Firstly there are 9 kilometers of tunnels and chambers, which are dug underneath the chateau, and secondly the Chateau remains to this day a family home.
»
During the morning our guide took us around one kilometer of cave systems, which extend 33 metres below the ground. He explained that the cave system was started in around 700AD as a shelter for the community against invaders and robbers. The cave system was extended until the early 1400's when they decided to actually to build a chateau above ground. We were shown the areas below ground, which sheltered the people, their animals and grain. We were shown the sophisticated defensive systems of the cave system. On leaving the cave system we found ourselves in the 18 meter deep dry moat which surrounds the chateau, where we were shown the massive bread making ovens, and wine presses & cellars which had been dug into the rock and used until 1974.

On getting back onto the surface we were treated to some wine tasting (always obligatory on the exchange visits) and then to a wonderful meal in the chateau. Around 2pm after copious amounts of wine we were then showed the rooms within the chateau, which were fitted out with lots of the original furniture and fittings.

On the return to Azay le Rideau we made a slight detour to Monsieur Badiller's Wine Cellar at Cheille, where he gave us an interesting talk about the wine making process and the various wines produced at his vineyard. Afterwards, without saying, there was an extended tasting sessions of his Rose, White and Red Wines.
Tuesday the day of departure came again with mixed emotions and pouring rain. On the one hand the time at Azay had simply seem to have flown by, on the other relief - I was one among many who agreed that their body could only cope with so much good food and wine and lack of sleep. The coach had room to accommodate all our boxes of wine and presents from our French hosts. We arrived refreshed at Arrass around 4:20pm in time to do a bit of shopping, before another visit to the restaurant and another chance to sample 'Le Menu de Plaisir' in company with good friends.

We awoke on the final day of departure in glorious sunshine, but that apart, the only other good thing to say about the return journey was that the crossing was calm and we arrived safely back in Croston around 8:00pm in the rain.

So what memories of the visit to Azay do I take with me. Well I know that in the coming weeks the memory of the places visited and the wonderful meals and wine taken will fade. But what will stay with me for a long time is having experienced with others, both English and French, friends and strangers alike, the good side of human nature such as generosity, good humour, tolerance, patience and understanding. In these times of mistrust, intolerance and hatred between communities and races it is uplifting to see and experience the good side of human nature and know that it still exists. Something that I will cling onto for a long time.
So for those of you that were unable to participate in the exchange visit I hope that I have given you a flavour of what you missed and hope that you will consider taking part in the experience at the next opportunity. For those of you like me who took part in the exchange visit, I hope that you will not tire from telling all your friends what a good time we had and encourage them to become members of the Twinning Association.
As I said in one of my earlier letters, the future of the Twinning Association is under threat unless we encourage new members to join. It would be a crime if the Association folded because of lack of interest and the chance to repeat these experiences lost forever.

John Lightfoot - Secretary        (photos John Richardson)