Day 1 – Saturday
The story begins at Bristol Airport on the July Saturday before most schools break up. We had an EasyJet flight to Nantes Atlantique booked. After a
smooth run through the security processes we waited to board — it was one of the new quiet Airbus320neo aircraft and it was nice and quiet inside.
Here we all are at 30-something-thousand feet and Noa is enjoying her first adventure in an aeroplane! And it was only an hour in the air.
We picked up a hire car from Eurocar, a five-seater which was a hybrid — glide-along electric with an engine that was hardly noticeable providing more power for main roads. No range anxiety! And we only used 22 litres for the whole week which as you will see, took us out and about as we explored the area.
Would we all fit in — with Noa’s car seat and collapsible buggy and all the other essentials? Three big pieces and our cabin bags. With a bit of experimenting we did it. No leg room but it was only three quarters of an hours to Savanay.
Here’s the house in La Feuillée which was four farm workers cottages in the 1700s — now creatively modernised. And with a generous-sized pool!
The owner told us we were likely to meet a black rabbit...
... and sure enough 'Lapin Noir’ came to meet the English visitors and nibble the lawn.
Day 2 – Sunday
La Roche-Bernard is on a river estuary but not the Loire (like Nantes and St Nazaire) but La Vilaine which curls its way out to the Atlantic. Unsurprisingly, it has a large population of yachts. Some are veterans, proudly displayed with information boards like classic cars.
We found a café overlooking the waterfront and the café au lait was excellent — and inexpensive!
After a steep uphill walk into the town we found our way to ’la vielle ville’ where there were interconnected squares busy with people relaxing under colourful sunshades.
On the other side of town, the friendly Carrefour supermarket manager was getting ready to shut up shop and, like us, looking forward to watching the England-Spain final that evening.
But first, Noa had her first go swimming in her ring in the pool. She soon learned she could move along by paddling her feet vigorously.
## DAY 3 – MONDAY
Today we decided to explore Guérande — much recommended by others who have had holidays in this area. It is a town surrounded by a defensive wall with four gatehouses, just as it was in the 1400s. First Noa had a ride on a traditional merry-go-round.
Inside the walls, the narrow streets leading to the central church square are full of shops and visiting shoppers.
This may be the only place where you can find some shops selling one thing: salt!
It comes in different colours, flavours and textures from the familiar rock salt, to the more delicate crystals of ‘fleur de sel’ which is carefully raked off the surface of the evaporation basins which the area is known for.
The Google Earth view shows the marsh area that floods at high tide and the pattern of salt pans that are part of a trade that has been carried on for hundreds of years. That pot of pink Fleur de Sel’ came from Bay of Biscay sea water captured here.
## DAY 4 — TUESDAY
SNCF experience — first with the ticket machine (nice man with SNCF peaked cap made it work for us and produce return tickets for about less than we could manage) and then the actual train. Less than half an hour into Nantes and there was a park opposite the station to explore.
Funky park bench motif and flower pot playground.
Noa enjoyed the experience.
This city boasts an impressive moated castle, former seat of the Dukes of Brittany.
And a cathedral in a spacious central square with streets and smaller squares radiating out.
Nearby are shopping arcades...
Fountains...
... and café lined streets. Noa enjoyed the café!
Noa enjoyed the café! Back through the park to the...
... train station. Notice the stylish concourse with the roof suspended on elegant tree pillars.
This time it was up to the top deck of the train for a better view.
DAY 5 -- WEDNESDAY
A trip to Pornic which is a seaside place a bit beyond industrial St Nazaire and its huge shipyard which built some huge transatlantic liners. There are about three small beaches with sand and rocks either side.
The sea was noisy — that’s the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic out there — and Noa wasn’t sure whether she liked it at first.
In the background (above) are the fishing ‘pecherons’ which are a tradition of this coast. A large square net is lowered into the water at high tide and raised up again with the catch. You can rent one for a day's fishing.
Another little beach and fishing platform. Then we explored the waterfront overlooked by its castle.
Pornic was a busy little harbour in its day and home port to a fleet of privateers — or pirates, depending on your point of view. A bit like Cornwall.
Now more a sailing centre.
DAYS 6 and 7 — THIRSDAY AND FRIDAY
Too hot to do much except stay by the pool. Synchronised jumping not quite Olympic standard yet!
Noa more out of the sun than in it. It was 28 degrees C.
Last evening — another barbecue. Less
stingy with the charcoal this time and the ever performed much better after using the gigantic ‘mug’ to start the coals
And here we all are for the ritual selfie before packing up ready to drive back to Nantes Atlantique — which is a nice name for an airport.
A great week! Quite a bit of variety and exploring fitted around the needs of a nearly-one year-old who was very good and enjoying different sights and sounds and les Francaises.