Monday 21 November 2011
Favourite cards
Not much card-making in September with holidays, but plenty in October so I'm putting them all together.
Sunday 20 November 2011
L'Houmeau
Nearly finished our French holiday!
Our last campsite was Le Petit Port de l'Houmeau. There is a big municipal campsite in La Rochelle itself, but this one was very near and on a regular bus route into the city, so we decided to go for it. Not as nice a site as LaRoche Posay, but very pleasant and helpful staff and a lovely location. In our short time we fitted in a couple of walks along the seafront, a swim (me only), and crepes at sunset in one of the few cafés that was still open at the end of the season.
We never did make it out to the Ile de Ré - but looking at the bridge out to the island I am fairly sure I would not have enjoyed the journey, either by car or on a bicycle. Personally I was content to admire it from a distance.
Our last campsite was Le Petit Port de l'Houmeau. There is a big municipal campsite in La Rochelle itself, but this one was very near and on a regular bus route into the city, so we decided to go for it. Not as nice a site as LaRoche Posay, but very pleasant and helpful staff and a lovely location. In our short time we fitted in a couple of walks along the seafront, a swim (me only), and crepes at sunset in one of the few cafés that was still open at the end of the season.
We never did make it out to the Ile de Ré - but looking at the bridge out to the island I am fairly sure I would not have enjoyed the journey, either by car or on a bicycle. Personally I was content to admire it from a distance.
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Red skies
On the days that haven't been overwhelmingly grey we've had some lovely sunrises and sunsets. The disadvantage of living in a built-up area is that you can't really see them that well - or get good photos.
The sky really was that pink for a brief while the other morning: I could see the glow when I went out to put a wash on, so I grabbed the camera and went out the front door, but within less than ten minutes it was all gone. That was also the morning I saw a heron fly over - but that was before I grabbed the camera.
In the night sky you can see the ivy flowering in the garden next door. I'd actually taken a photo of the ivy flowers when I walked along the canal last week.
Warm off the knitting needles, I posted this little jacket off on Monday morning. The little hood is detachable. I always wonder about long hair getting caught in the buttons, though! I'm currently knitting a neck-warmer to use instead of a scarf on the motorbike, and then I have a couple of projects for my nieces and nephews with some wool I got from my sister-in-law when we visited recently.
The sky really was that pink for a brief while the other morning: I could see the glow when I went out to put a wash on, so I grabbed the camera and went out the front door, but within less than ten minutes it was all gone. That was also the morning I saw a heron fly over - but that was before I grabbed the camera.
In the night sky you can see the ivy flowering in the garden next door. I'd actually taken a photo of the ivy flowers when I walked along the canal last week.
Warm off the knitting needles, I posted this little jacket off on Monday morning. The little hood is detachable. I always wonder about long hair getting caught in the buttons, though! I'm currently knitting a neck-warmer to use instead of a scarf on the motorbike, and then I have a couple of projects for my nieces and nephews with some wool I got from my sister-in-law when we visited recently.
ISunday 13 November 2011
La Rochelle, le fin
The 15th century Hôtel de Ville (town hall) is undergoing extensive renovations - we didn't go in, just admired the amazing details from outside. You can see the marine heritage showing through, and the fleur de lys emblem of the French kings.
This plaque was on the perimeter wall. It's a memorial to Léonce Vieljeux, the mayor from 1930 to 1940. Originally an army officer he remained in the reserves when he started working in his father-in-law's shipping company. He actively resisted the Nazi occupation, refusing to hang the swastika from the hôtel de Ville when he was asked to, and helping Resistance members to escape. He was expelled from the town in 1941; when he returned in 1944 he was arrested and then executed, aged 79.
Double-decker carousel in the square where the bus station is. I was hoping to capture the sound on the video, but it doesn't come through, sadly.
This plaque was on the perimeter wall. It's a memorial to Léonce Vieljeux, the mayor from 1930 to 1940. Originally an army officer he remained in the reserves when he started working in his father-in-law's shipping company. He actively resisted the Nazi occupation, refusing to hang the swastika from the hôtel de Ville when he was asked to, and helping Resistance members to escape. He was expelled from the town in 1941; when he returned in 1944 he was arrested and then executed, aged 79.
Double-decker carousel in the square where the bus station is. I was hoping to capture the sound on the video, but it doesn't come through, sadly.
Saturday 12 November 2011
La Rochelle again...
We walked out to the pleasure marina, which is possible the largest in Europe with 3,300 berths. On the way we passed the maritime museum. C didn't want to go and see it, saying it couldn't possible be as good as the one in Barcelona. I think it's a pity we didn't walk further down the quay, though, as apparently Cousteau's Calypso is moored just beyond the museum ships. There's a municipal bike hire scheme in La Rochelle - you can see some of the bicycles in the second photo.
We walked along to the end of one pier in the marina.
Quick snaps around the town - not quite sure what the first one is all about!!
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| Porte des Minimes |
Quick snaps around the town - not quite sure what the first one is all about!!
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| Cinema and café in the square where the bus station is. |
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Mandarins
I've had a cold the last few days so as usual I'm behind with editing and uploading photos. I have some more La Rochelle photos edited but hadn't got as far as saving a draft post.
So instead here's a video clip of the mandarin ducks in the park last week.
So instead here's a video clip of the mandarin ducks in the park last week.
Monday 7 November 2011
La Rochelle continued
With its importance as a port dating back so far, the harbour entrance is well fortified .
On the approach to the tower in the third photo (La Tour de La Lanterne, used as a prison for Dutch, Spanish and English sailors between the 17th and 19th centuries , and apparently with interesting graffiti from that time, though we didn't go inside), you can walk along the old walls. It's actually pretty much a street till you get to near the end, with some lovely houses along it.
I can't help wondering was it always so tidal!! It doesn't seem that such major fortifications would have been necessary if that had always been the case. I'm sure the ferry captains are well used to navigating the narrow channels at low tide, and they were well buoyed, but still...
You can see the modern part of the city to the left in the first photo.
On the approach to the tower in the third photo (La Tour de La Lanterne, used as a prison for Dutch, Spanish and English sailors between the 17th and 19th centuries , and apparently with interesting graffiti from that time, though we didn't go inside), you can walk along the old walls. It's actually pretty much a street till you get to near the end, with some lovely houses along it.
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| Rue sur les murs / Road on the walls |
I can't help wondering was it always so tidal!! It doesn't seem that such major fortifications would have been necessary if that had always been the case. I'm sure the ferry captains are well used to navigating the narrow channels at low tide, and they were well buoyed, but still...
You can see the modern part of the city to the left in the first photo.
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