The Fruits of the Valley

Montrichard, France

April 20, 2000

After a few days descending the depths of royal exuberance, we decided to come up for air. Today we took a breath, and a break, from palaces and fortresses. Instead, we surveyed the surrounding fields, and sampled their fruits.

This is beautiful country…soft, gentle, and rolling. It is watered and drained by the longest …