We packed up Marc and Joëlle’s car, bade farewell to the proprietors of the AirBnB, then left for Chantilly Castle, which Marc’s brother had visited before the wedding. He said the flower displays in the garden were fantastic.

This was a bit funny: even French people can get confused about when things are open or closed. Of course Marc and Joëlle knew that museums were closed on Tuesdays, but they thought we were going to a castle, which are almost always open. But this castle had been converted to a museum and was closed.

Undaunted, we wandered around the outer grounds until Jöelle asked someone for ideas of what to do and learned that the Prince’s garden was not too far away. We walked through the town to get there.

The desserts featured above probably contain Chantilly Cream, a sweet whipped cream that was famously featured at the chateau in the late 17th century.

The Prince’s garden is a young child’s paradise with fun cartoons and signs that even I could understand.

Finally, they left us at a hotel near the Paris airport, for our flight the next morning. Saying goodbye to such true friends after an adventuresome few weeks is difficult, but we will see them again in the Autumn. Thank you guys. You’re the best.

• Iceland and France