On Saturday AARST organised an outing for 'our' Ukrainians to the Chateau of Chenonceau. AARST is the local association to welcome and support refugees in the Sud Touraine. Madame Laure Menier, the Director of the Chateau of Chenonceau, made the decision to allow all Ukrainian refugees to visit for free. In fact thanks to my good relations with the Chateau staff all our AARST volunteers got free entry too. Nina, our longtime resident Ukrainian, managed to hire a bus to transport everyone, much to all us professional guides amazement. Hiring a bus has been increasingly problematic in the last few years, with driver shortages, and most transport companies only being interested in regular work, not one off trips.
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Everyone you can see in this photo is Ukrainian.
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40+ Ukrainians.
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Christmas floral decoration in the chateau, in front of the Italian table cabinet that was a wedding gift to Francois II and Mary Stuart (Mary Queen of Scots).
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Pastries dangling decoratively in the servants dining room.
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The Kirpa family from Kyiv, Anastacia, Olena and Micael. He has permission to visit for a couple of weeks, then will go back to Ukraine.
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Swans and hydrangeas.
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Clever use of umbellifer and allium seed heads.
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White orchids and silver ferns.
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In Louise of Lorraine's bedroom.
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A tree decorated with lichens.
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AARST at work.
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