A Chocolate adventure....

This is a shop window for a chocolatier in Romorantin, which is a town about 40km away from the Opening Space Retreat. We were there with Nigel's sister Gill, who was visiting us for a holiday. The French really know how to decorate a window, they are so enticing and delicious, in more ways than one!

A little closer to home is a Pâtissierie, Chocolaterie, Musée du Sucre and Salon de Thé called Jacky Chichery of Valencay, a superb confection of delights for the aficionado of sweetness. These cakes, the ones below are masterpieces of the Pâtissier's art. The shop has been operating for over two hundred years and one can see they have definitely mastered the art form.

The chocolates in this shop are second to none, and every retreat guest can expect a small sachet of them awaiting their gratification

The Musée du Sucre is a delight, housing as it does a charming array of sculptures in sugar, even a large scale model of the Chateau of Valencay, Home of Tallyrand, Napoleon's Foreign Miniser. The Musée also hosts special demonstrations of the sugar sculptor's art.

Finally, to cap it all, as if you cannot leave without buying something from this vast collection of delicacies, there is a Salon de Thé, where you can sit, relax, soak up the atmosphere and gorge yourself on a range of goodies.