Blogs from La Rochelle, Poitou-Charentes, France, Europe
March 29th 2012
Spring isn't just in Bordeaux; it seems the whole country has jumped on the bandwagon. I passed fields while on the train that a month ago were covered in snow but are now blooming and bursting with color: lavender flowers, green grasses, yellow blossoms, apple trees with their pink flowers; it's almost enough to make one feel optimistic. We've come to the point in my travels where I'm not doing much of anything and choose instead to pass my days on the beach and tanning. Ok, to be honest I am burning, but I find my new "rouge" coloring to be worth the price of lying by the water and reading a good book. So this is how I passed my time in La Rochelle, with sun and more sun. The old port is protected from ... read more
March 6th 2012
The trip down to La Rochelle (which means "Little Rock") lasted three hours. Patricia arrived at the train station at the appointed time and it was then we discovered that the there were two other passengers in the small hatchback. Patricia was enroute to visit her grand daughter in La Rochelle and had numerous belated Christmas gifts strewn throughout the car. Jean-Claude, a French/African graduate of transport logistics was another passenger and France, a retired English teacher of Madagascan heritage, was the last fellow traveller. Of course, their luggage was crammed in as well. We repacked the car, organising luggage to maximise space and in order of who would be dropped at their destination first. There wasn't much space left for people despite out best efforts. Patricia was a master of the autoroutes, the French motorways. ... read more
The three towers, kite surfers and Roaming en Rey
Published: September 20th 2011Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » La Rochelle
September 19th 2011
Monday 12th Roaming en Rey, the Three towers , kite surfers Cannot believe just how awful the weather has turned out to be. Have been to France before in September and it has always felt like Summer but this time it has the feel of Autumn with leaves falling off the trees and today drizzle and blustery rain. Unusual weather that did make us wonder if we getting the tail end of the hurricane which was hitting Britain. Felt lost without the internet to find out what was happening in the world. The plan for the day was to go to La Rochelle. This is a place I have always wanted to visit and Glenn and I had decided last year on our way back from the Catalunya MotoGP that we would have a few days ... read more
nous avons se trouve le soleil
Published: August 31st 2009Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » La Rochelle
August 31st 2009
28-08-09 1st week in France and the future is looking brighter in shades! We sailed from Plymouth to Roscoff with a fine smooth crossing, getting into port at 10.00pm and we were the first vehicle off the ferry. Things quickly took a turn for the worse when 15 minutes later our sat nav. sent us into ever narrowing backstreets in search of a mythical overnight camper stop. A fairly high level of stress was endured by both our vehicles occupants; however Liz did a great job of getting me reversed in an incredibly tight spot (in the dark). She only told me later about the 20 foot drop (pit) which I missed by inches, apparently she didn’t want to frighten me (female logic?) That aside, France has been terrific with some fabulous overnight camp stops ... read more
The Andy and Eoin Triumph Tour
Published: August 7th 2009Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » La Rochelle
August 7th 2009
All is ready for the start.Andy arrives in La Rochelle on the afternoon of the 11 august. I will be arriving after a horror trip from Fuerteventura. Fuerteventura - Las Palmas - Madrid - Paris - La rochelle. As soon as i have the chance I will let you know our route. At the moment we are undecided.Malaga is a must as we must meet Andys wife there !! I will be heading on to Cadiz to get the ferry to Lanzarote. See you !!... read more
Tours, Towers and Tiny Speedos
Published: June 26th 2009Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » La Rochelle
June 26th 2009
Ola chicas!! When we last spoke to you we had just arrived in Tours. Not much to mention about Tours, just a quaint town straddling the Loire river, deep in Chateau country. Despite its small size we still managed to busk twice and make a reasonable €40. After another dead on train journey courtesy of SNCF we arrived on the West coast into the town of La Rochelle. This bustling seaside town boasts the Atlantic's largest Yachting port, home to over 3,500 boats. It´s watery entrance is guarded by three imposing towers dating back to a while ago. Our 1st few days were spent lazing on the beach and getting towered off our faces! Ok! Lesson number one for all you budding travelling troubadours out there. . . . . . nothing happens until you busk! ... read more
April 5th 2009
Oh my, Oh my!!! Couldn't load photos earlier. So just in case you have forgotten how we look!!!! Check out Brian's Stable. XXXX... read more
Nose Bleeds and Lemon Wedges
Published: November 4th 2008Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » La Rochelle
November 1st 2008
Yes finally finally finally, a week later, I am taking time out from my 2,000 word Shakespeare paper to tell you all about my trip to La Rochelle. First of all, the basic outcome of this trip is that I am in love with France. If I spoke better French, that is where I would live. At first, the entire city, well the entire country, made me nervous. I knew that I would have to do all of the communication and that scared me more than you might think. I always freeze up when people speak French to me and my mind races to translate what they said as fast as I can, that it just gets all jumpled and I mix up even the simplist phrases. It would be so much easier if everyone was ... read more
Comme dans une carte postale
Published: October 30th 2008Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » La Rochelle
October 30th 2008
Le vendredi soir, je suis arrivée à La Rochelle, avant-dernière escale dans mon périple français. L’auberge de jeunesse se trouvait presque directement sur la plage et on avait une vue fantastique sur l’Atlantique. J’ai gardé toutes les visites pour le samedi et j’ai commencé par les deux tours protégeant l’entrée du port. La première est la tour Saint-Nicolas qui a été construite au 15e siècle et qui a été habitée par différents capitaines au cours des siècles. Elle a aussi servi de quartier général pour les soldats surveillant l’accès au port des navires anglais qui tentaient d’attaquer la ville. Juste de l’autre côté, se dressait la tour de la Chaîne (connue aussi comme étant la tour du Québec) dans laquelle une toute nouvelle exposition sur la colonisation de la Nouvelle-France a été inaugurée par l’Honorable (et ... read more
