Gendarmerie Nationale, Anyone????

How do I even describe our morning at the chateau today??? We had plans to get up and go to our first local market in the Loire Valley. Steve was so sweet to get up and go for croissants. So, half of us were in the kitchen enjoying breakfast and the other half were still sleeping in bed. I went into the front room to get London for breakfast and noticed a number of vehicles driving up as well as a lot of uniformed and civilian dressed people walking to the front door. I quickly came into the kitchen and nervously asked Steve what he had done while he was out this morning....why were the police at the chateau???? Steve and I arrived at the front door as the Gendarmerie were letting themselves in....ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? Of course this is happening the one morning I don't get dressed and just come downstairs in my pjs!

I must say the first 15 minutes were utter confusion and chaos. There must have been 12-15 fully uniformed WITH GUNS and then 5-7 civilian dressed people coming in and demanding our passports and contracts/documents regarding our rental. QUITE NERVEWRACKING! I quickly sent London and the kids to the kitchen until we figured out what was going on. The officers wasted no time and started going up to the 2nd & 3rd floors to investigate and of course startling those still sleeping. Can you even imagine waking up to a knock at your bedroom door and an armed officer at the door?!?! I know we wanted to experience Normandy and some WWII history on this trip, but not really like this!!!

Thank goodness for my French lessons, my little bit of French as well as the head investigators little bit of English helped us understand and answer their questions. Long story short, perhaps there are some issues with this chateau being used as a 'hotel' without proper documentation and they were investigating. It was a very long hour + with French officials throughout our chateau and personal stuff. This morning's experience certainly has not helped with my negotiations to talk Steve into buying our own French home. ;-> Never a dull moment......

This is only the view from the side of the chateau, there were 4 more cars in the front! 

"Passports and rental contract, please."
Seriously, I hadn't even had my first cup of coffee - rough way to wake up!

In front of the chateau, over an hour into this roller coaster ride!