Blogs from Niort, Poitou-Charentes, France, Europe

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Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Niort April 23rd 2018

I was standing in the early morning sunshine at our camping site in deep conversation with the receptionist who was out listening to the birds whilst smoking her first cigarette of the day. She said how nice the morning was. How lovely the birdsong was? Did I know the Hirondelle? He was back. She described a black bird with a white chest. I had so many ideas but none were right. All of a sudden they appeared. Five or six of them perched on a beam in the shed. Swallows I told her were what we called them. They made such a noise swooping and diving catching insects. We stood for a while entranced in their every movement. Coulon is like that. It is enchanting in every way. I thought one swallow does not a summer ... read more
Wisteria in Coulin
In Britain this would be thrown away

Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Niort August 24th 2016

Faymoreau 2016 Dates: 12 - 21st August 2016 Travel plans: Outward Newhaven to Dieppe - Friday 12th August 2016 Inward Caen - Portsmouth - Sunday 21st August 2016 Fellow travellers Boo Gaz, Keri, Mia, Millie and Lois Bethany, Alex and Eli... read more
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Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Niort September 4th 2012

Had a pleasantly disturbed sleep. There seemed to be owls all round, hooting and toowit toowooing at each other, and as it was such a lovely clear night the sounds carried right across the campsite. I note that now as I type this the evening serenade has already started. This really is a lovely place, beautifully green and very peaceful, except for the owls that is. What a glorious day. Exactly as forecast, summer has finally arrived and long may it last. First day I have put on shorts and sun-top as soon as I got up and the first day I have needed suntan lotion. We scootered into Coulon, only a couple of miles, along the river and followed a couple of 'no entry', 'locals only' signs to the riverbank where we parked the scooter. ... read more
The barque at the front is ours
Off we go along the main canal
This one overtook us and he was paddling it, punt style, with what looked like a long piece of bamboo

Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Niort September 3rd 2012

Time to move on, south-west this time in the general direction of the sea but stopping before we get to the coast. A cross-country route, avoiding Poitiers, through miles and miles of arable farmland most just harvested. Never seen so many bails stacked up / such enormous ‘hay stacks’. We were a little puzzled. If some of this was for winter silage then where on earth are the animals. Not a cow in sight (and we would have seen them if they had been there as the area is very flat) just never ending fields of golden stubble with a few patches of enormous sunflowers and the occasional vine mixed in. The weather got better the further south we went and was really quite warm, for the first time, when we stopped for lunch by ... read more
This wins our prize for the biggest stack ever
saint maixent l'ecole
Flat, endless fields of stubble

Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Niort September 4th 2011

Scooter out of the Tandy garage and time to explore this interesting part of France – Le Pays du Marais Poitevin de Deux-Sèvres. It is a very green area, criss-crossed with canals and the river Sèvre Niortaise which comes out in the bay of L’anse de l’Aiguillion just above La Rochelle. We decided against a visit to the main town of Niort a few miles to the East and instead visited the smaller towns on the river which are specifically in the Venise Verte area. Our departure was delayed for an hour when the heavens opened and threw all that they had at us but after that the skies cleared and it was a remarkably lovely day. First stop, Coulon, 2 miles down the road from our Venise Verte campsite, along the river. There was a ... read more
Venise Verte - Coulon
Coulon
Coulon

Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Niort September 3rd 2011

Campsite = Campsite de la Venise Verte – near Coulon What a grotty night's sleep. Just behind us on the campsite was a large and very scruffy caravan. The occupants of pitch number 77 know who they are (though I doubt they could manage to read this) and are lucky they were not lynched by the rest of the campsite for the incredible racket they made, loud mouthed yobby adults and screeching kids, until 2.30am. At one point, in desperation, I confronted them (in my nightie) and asked them to please shut up so everyone else on the campsite could sleep but they just laughed rudely (and my French was perfect !). I reported them to reception before we left and they were obviously known there. The sunshine of yesterday had become hidden behind a curtain ... read more
Vouvant. Ok but not as pretty as it is reputed to be and not one of the prettiest in France
Vouvant
Artist studio but shut

Europe » France » Poitou-Charentes » Niort July 8th 2010

So here we are in the Marais Poitiven which is a little hidden treasure only known to the locals. In fact, when I mentioned that France's 'Green Venice' was our next destination even alot of french people did not know of it. It was really hard to follow signs on the way to the canals. One would appear and then we wouldn't see another for 20 minutes. I think that mum was getting a bit concerned about taking so long to find the Hotel but my instincts got us there again. We ended up in a sleepy town with three or four buildings and a church all around a square. We took a short rest and then headed to find this 'Green Venice'. Again no signs, but following a dirt track took us to the head ... read more
Crepes
Canals everywhere
Making our own fun




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