Parents weekend

I've never been as excited about seeing my parents as I was last weekend. After film class on Thursday I met them at their hotel. I called my dad after class and told him I was on my way but still on the other side of town. He asked if I could catch the bus or take a Taxi. I laughed because he didn't realize how small this city is. We had a good dinner, during which I discovered the best part about their visit.

Dad: "blah, blah... when we were getting gas..."
Me: "Wait, gas? did you rent a car?"
Dad: "Yeah we decided it made more sense..."
Me: "LET ME DRIVE IT"

I had been dreaming about two things for a while: mexican food and driving. I still haven't had very great mexican food, but I did get to spend the weekend speeding around the Loire valley in a diesel Mercedes. I am not excited about going back to Austin and driving everywhere, but speeding through the French Paysage, through the canola fields, passed orchards and ancient Chateaux, was fantastic. 

We spent the weekend in Chinon, a small city on the Vienne river known for its great wine. For two days we woke up late, ate breakfast in the hotel and then lazily toured several chateaux and jardins and then drank wine and relaxed. I especially enjoyed the jardins of the Chateau Villandry (seen above).  That picture is only a little bit of the garden, which is huge. The only gardens I have seen that were better were at Versailles.


I hadn't really expected to have so much fun with my parents. Maybe I was just really stoked about driving, but that weekend was one of the nicest times I've had with them in years.