Trip to the Gironde - Les Sables D'Olonne to La Rochelle

After a scenic walk around one of the marinas at Les Sables D’Olonne we drove down the coastal road towards La Rochelle.

The countryside is quite different to our region being a combination of grain farming, cattle, marshlands and small canals. On the ocean side fishing and mussel and oyster beds could be seen. One town is

known for its unusual fishing huts which we could see in the distance (so have had to steal a photo for the diary).

We arrived in La Rochelle after crossing some rather harrowing and confusing intersections and some midday traffic jams. Now quite French in our parking habits we stopped in a No Parking zone to work out how to get to our accommodation. The hotel was nautically themed and whilst a little old was in a perfect location.

La Rochelle is a seaport town on the Bay of Biscay with a population of 80,000. It was occupied by the Gauls, the Romans and was the place of many significant French historical events including British rule, a Knights Templar bastion, adaption of Protestant ideas and

subsequent War of Religion as well as German occupation and U-boat base.

La Rochelle has beautiful historical architecture and its main feature is the "Vieux Port" (old harbour) which is very picturesque and lined with seafood restaurants. The harbour is guarded by two towers which are very impressive.

The town also has an edgy, modern, urban feel with street performers, markets, music and some weird puppets hanging above the streets of the old town. John, of course, contributed to the graffiti art, a habit I have long tried unsuccessfully to stop.

We met up with Ruth and Andrew and spent the next two days looking around La Rochelle and trying out as many restaurants as we could.

Next: Trip to the Gironde – Île de Ré