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Post by htmb on Jul 13, 2014 9:02:27 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jul 13, 2014 9:26:53 GMT
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Post by mossie on Jul 13, 2014 9:50:24 GMT
Envy your apartment in La Rochelle but it has provided you with some super photo opportunities.
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Post by bjd on Jul 13, 2014 11:12:03 GMT
I guess you are suffering from jet lag if you are already up and posting photos. Nice pics and I see you were quite lucky with the weather, at least before you went back to Paris. I have only been to La Rochelle once, stopping during a drive south, but if my memories are correct, the beach was a disappointment -- lots of mud rather than sand. But we hardly went through the town at all -- I just remember seeing those two towers at the entrance to the harbour. Your view from the apartment was great -- it's always nice to have changing scenery, especially boats.
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Post by htmb on Jul 13, 2014 11:23:08 GMT
Bjd, in my mind I'm still in Paris. I slept from 2 to 8, Paris time. So, yes, big time jetlag, at the moment.
I wasn't expecting much in the way of beach, especially since I'm from Florida. My friend talked me into bringing my bathing suit, but I never went into the water. My friend ran her several miles and then swam across the bay every morning. On the last day we walked near where she and many others had been swimming just in time to see a pipe with raw sewage pouring out of it into the very spot.
There are actually three towers on the remaining ramparts. You probably saw the Tour de la Chaine and the Tour Saint-Nicholas, which are opposite each other at the port entrance.
Yes, the weather in La Rochelle was perfect the whole time. Not too hot, with full sunshine every day. I don't think I saw rain until the last ten days of my trip.
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Post by htmb on Jul 13, 2014 13:07:38 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 13, 2014 14:36:14 GMT
Whoo ~~ echoing Bjd with my amazement that you're up & posting pictures! Wonderful views from your window and love the way you segued from those to the walking-around photos. Your evening photos are delightful. I particularly like the one with all the masts and the ferris wheel in the distance.
I have to say, the town seems even more appealing for not being a beach town. Thanks for using your wakeful hours to show us this. Can't wait to see what else you have in store.
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Post by nycgirl on Jul 13, 2014 15:30:42 GMT
Looks like you had a wonderful trip and made the most of your time. Love the photos of the charming Mouzaïa. It's a shame you couldn't go to the Picasso museum. I want to see it one day and would have liked to visit vicariously through you. Hope they can get their act together.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2014 17:35:12 GMT
Thank you for the pictures of La Rochelle. As I mentioned before, I have relatives who emigrated from there in the 16th century, and I'm looking forward to visiting. What a great flat you must have had!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2014 17:36:57 GMT
I have been to La Rochelle about 5 times but unfortunately never for more than one day, which is a major character fault that I have. I would love to spend a week there.
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Post by htmb on Jul 13, 2014 17:38:18 GMT
Thanks, Lizzy. Yes, it was a nice place. Nothing all that modern about it, but the location was good and it was comfortable. The listing was found via the La Rochelle tourist bureau. I'm happy to send you a PM with a link to this particular place if you are ever interested.
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Post by htmb on Jul 13, 2014 17:40:04 GMT
I have been to La Rochelle about 5 times but unfortunately never for more than one day, which is a major character fault that I have. I would love to spend a week there. My friend's husband just told me he wanted to go to La Rochelle over the Christmas holidays.
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Post by htmb on Jul 13, 2014 18:56:01 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2014 1:17:01 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2014 1:32:44 GMT
That does look very lovely, htmb, I can see why it appealed to you so much after the city. The barn door is gorgeous. Never, in a million years, could an interior designer specialising in "French Provincial" get the patina just right.
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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2014 1:44:04 GMT
Thank you, Lizzy. I'm sure you're right!
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Post by mich64 on Jul 14, 2014 2:22:04 GMT
Outstanding photos of La Rochelle! I am fascinated by tides and would have wasted a day sitting there and watching. Looks like there would be many wonderful spots to do this from.
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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2014 2:37:45 GMT
For sure, Mich, and that's exactly what I did. Watched the water and the tides. Plus, the sailing school was down below our building and every day there were different groups of children and young adults taking instruction. I always tried to have my camera in reach in case it looked like something exciting was happening outside. I took at least 1,000 photos that week (and promise NOT to post them all!).
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2014 3:07:22 GMT
I was noticing how your posting was very restrained, htmb. It leaves 'em wanting more!
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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2014 3:15:01 GMT
Well, Flickr is giving me a fit today, or there would be more. ;-)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2014 5:00:46 GMT
One thing that has slowed development of the Ile de Ré is the fact that the bridge was not built until 1988. Naturally, there are many people who feel that the bridge should never have been built in the first place.
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Post by bjd on Jul 14, 2014 6:36:26 GMT
I believe Ile de Ré also has a lot of vacation homes of wealthy people who can influence development to keep it nice for themselves. Lovely pictures of countryside, htmb.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 14, 2014 11:00:29 GMT
That must be why it looks so relatively "untouristed" - I did expect a bit more glitzy tourist crap, as it is a popular destination. I was happy to see some working farms. While I can see the downsides of a bridge, it would be a lot easier for farmers to get their goods to market.
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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2014 11:15:52 GMT
My younger, triathlete friend and I rented bikes at a local cycle shop in Saint-Martin with the intent to ride to the Ecomusée. The bicycles were okay, but I certainly missed my own ancient bike and could have used several more gears. Since I was not younger and not a triathlete it was a more challenging day for me. We seemed to be riding into the wind the whole time, but there were terrific bike paths that were well away from traffic. We unfortunately missed our turn and went miles out of our way before realization set in. Instead of immediately turning around, we stopped in the next town which was Ars en Ré, walked through the market, and had a terrific lunch at l'Ocean. We later backtracked and found the salt farm where we purchased tickets for a tour.
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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2014 11:27:49 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2014 11:52:21 GMT
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Post by bjd on Jul 14, 2014 12:20:37 GMT
You had wind against you but at least it's flat. Imagine having to ride up and down hills.
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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2014 12:28:49 GMT
Yes, true, bjd. We absolutely loved the place and really did have a wonderful time. Of course, we came to that realization much later in the day. For the first several hours we were very rushed to see get to the salt tour, missed it, and them caught the afternoon version. Add to that my frustration with not really knowing what we were doing for sure (my fault, really). There were so many times I just wanted to stop and take photos because we had just come around some bend in the path to be treated with a beautiful vista, but no, we were on a deadline. It was only after the deadline had passed that we began to really enjoy the place. It can also be chalked up to two strong-willed and determine women, educators no less, trying to work together. Neither one of us are the type to blindly follow along without question.
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Post by htmb on Jul 14, 2014 13:11:13 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Jul 14, 2014 13:27:38 GMT
Great great great!! I've been looking forward to your photos of Ile de Re` and it's how I imagined it would be. Windswept and almost lonely. In one of my many books there is a chapter on a holiday on Ile de Re` and it sounded so heavenly I have wanted to go there ever since. The closest I've been, is buying a pound of butter from there when I was at Borough Market in London! Looking forward to your next chapter on Paris!
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