I have posted four separate blog entries.
The first is Cycling in France - June/July 2010 (this posting)
It is followed by three additional postings:
Paris Gay Pride Parade - June 2010
The Train Stations of Paris - June 2010
French Food - June/July 20
I hope you enjoy reading and viewing all four postings.
The tour started in Nantes (pronounced Nant). It was a two hour TVG high speed train ride from Paris. My hotel was a six minute walk from the station. Luckily this hotel was air conditioned. For the rest of the tour we suffered in hot, non air conditioned rooms.
We had the same two guides as my last cycling adventure in southern France - Pierre and Charly. There were only four people on the tour.NANTES
Nantes was once the capital of Brittany. We started with a sightseeing tour through the narrow streets of Nantes, which is located on the banks of the Loire River. It is the eighth largest city in France, and was once called Europe's most livable city. One highlight was the Jules Verne Museum. Following the tour, we relaxed with a glass of wine, overlooking a well preserved medieval castle - see below.
We had a fantastic dinner at La Cigale, an elaborately decorated 115 year old bistro in the heart of Nantes.
I wonder what the difference colors on the labels of Dom Perignon mean? Any ideas?
The first day of cycling took us from Nantes to Noirmoutier-en-L'ile. The ride was so different from my last French cycling tour. There was only one hill all day. On the way we passed many fields of wheat and corn. I didn't see any sunflowers until my last cycling day.
There was one causeway that can be crossed at low tide to get to the island. It is completely covered by water at other times. We were lucky and low tide occurred just as we arrived. But first we had an exquisite lunch - see my French Food posting for descriptions of the fantastic meals I had, with lots of mouth watering pictures.
We rode across the causeway before the tide rolled in. Along the way there were many locals collecting their clams and muscles for their evening meals.
We had a fantastic dinner at La Cigale, an elaborately decorated 115 year old bistro in the heart of Nantes.
I wonder what the difference colors on the labels of Dom Perignon mean? Any ideas?
The first day of cycling took us from Nantes to Noirmoutier-en-L'ile. The ride was so different from my last French cycling tour. There was only one hill all day. On the way we passed many fields of wheat and corn. I didn't see any sunflowers until my last cycling day.
There was one causeway that can be crossed at low tide to get to the island. It is completely covered by water at other times. We were lucky and low tide occurred just as we arrived. But first we had an exquisite lunch - see my French Food posting for descriptions of the fantastic meals I had, with lots of mouth watering pictures.
We rode across the causeway before the tide rolled in. Along the way there were many locals collecting their clams and muscles for their evening meals.
The ride for the day was posted at 72 kilometers, but 82 km or 50 miles was more accurate. I was exhausted and hot - I would have done anything for an air conditioned room.
NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L'ILE
ILE-D'YEU
NOIRMOUTIER-EN-L'ILEWe spent two nights in this quaint village.
Above, some channel buoys.
ILE-D'YEUThe next day we took a ferry from the small harbor of Fromentine at the neck of the island to Port Joinville on the even more remote island of Ile d'Yeu.
I had a pleasant day leisurely cycling the island.
One highlight along the way was this partially destroyed castle.
The houses reminded me a lot of the Greek Isles. All the houses were white, with blue trim.
Who knows? Maybe a future painting for my NeubarthArt blog.
While walking through town I saw this interesting sculpture outside a toy store.
On leaving Noirmounter the next day, we passed through a colorful street fair.
We had the traditional Alyson Adventures picnic near this still functioning windmill.
Guess where our next stop is? 9 kilometers to Challans.
This is the menu for tonight's meal. The chef is below with my strawberry creme dessert.
This interesting sculpture was at an art museum the following day.
If you look carefully, you can see my reflection in Charly's sunglasses.
I never knew that my father, Fred, had a a chocolate shop in Brittany.
Our guide, Charly, disappeared for the entire afternoon bike ride.
This sign means no bikes on this trail.
I had a pleasant day leisurely cycling the island.
One highlight along the way was this partially destroyed castle.
The houses reminded me a lot of the Greek Isles. All the houses were white, with blue trim.
Who knows? Maybe a future painting for my NeubarthArt blog.
While walking through town I saw this interesting sculpture outside a toy store.
On leaving Noirmounter the next day, we passed through a colorful street fair.
We had the traditional Alyson Adventures picnic near this still functioning windmill.
Guess where our next stop is? 9 kilometers to Challans.CHALLANS
We arrived around 3 pm, but the hotel didn't open their lobby until 5 pm. So we cycled back to the center of town and had a drink. I tried a local tradition - a mixture of beer and lemonade - which tasted horrible to me.
This is the menu for tonight's meal. The chef is below with my strawberry creme dessert.
This interesting sculpture was at an art museum the following day.
If you look carefully, you can see my reflection in Charly's sunglasses.
I never knew that my father, Fred, had a a chocolate shop in Brittany.
Our guide, Charly, disappeared for the entire afternoon bike ride.
This sign means no bikes on this trail.
We took a small ferry to LES SABLES D'OLONNE
I took a long walk up and down the beachfront. It reminded me a lot of Nice, but there was real sand here.
There was beautiful architecture up and down the beachfront.
I have no idea what kind of flower this is, but they were everywhere, in varied colors.
A local artist was know for his stone sculptures on the walls of the city. I always like penguins.
This street is the narrowest street in the world according the the Guinness Book of Records. I could barely fit.
Some beautiful flowers on the way to dinner.
Our final day of cycling was also the longest, scheduled for over 100 kilometers. The rolls of hay were everywhere, just like in the impressionists paintings.
LA ROCHELLE
Finally I got to see a sunflower, but not in the fields. Since Pierre and I passed the lunch stop by seven kilometers, I opted for the van ride to the hotel in La Rochelle.
What a beautiful city - here's the fruit, vegetable, meat and seafood market. It's only open in the morning.
I've always said the flowered balconies in France are amazing.
There are two mideival towers near the Vieux Port.
In the evening, the streets are crowded with people enjoying a late dinner. It was light until 10pm this time of the year.
The next morning, I said good buy to my cycling friends and moved to an air conditioned hotel. For breakfast I went to a bakery and enjoyed fresh croissants.
Oh well, another flowered balcony. You have only seen a few of the 100's I took.
These are the law courts.
This is the House of Henri II. I think I could have enjoyed living there, even without the A/C.
This is the train station in La Rochelle. Don't miss my other posting on the Train Stations of Paris, following.
On my last day in La Rochelle, I went shopping. My only purchases were a few shirts and three jars of French mustard.
This is the Lantern Tower.
Three flags by the St Nicholas Tower.
The following day I took a train to Paris and a bus to the airport.
I took a long walk up and down the beachfront. It reminded me a lot of Nice, but there was real sand here.
There was beautiful architecture up and down the beachfront.
I have no idea what kind of flower this is, but they were everywhere, in varied colors.
A local artist was know for his stone sculptures on the walls of the city. I always like penguins.
This street is the narrowest street in the world according the the Guinness Book of Records. I could barely fit.
Some beautiful flowers on the way to dinner.
Our final day of cycling was also the longest, scheduled for over 100 kilometers. The rolls of hay were everywhere, just like in the impressionists paintings.
LA ROCHELLEFinally I got to see a sunflower, but not in the fields. Since Pierre and I passed the lunch stop by seven kilometers, I opted for the van ride to the hotel in La Rochelle.
What a beautiful city - here's the fruit, vegetable, meat and seafood market. It's only open in the morning.
I've always said the flowered balconies in France are amazing.
There are two mideival towers near the Vieux Port.
In the evening, the streets are crowded with people enjoying a late dinner. It was light until 10pm this time of the year.
The next morning, I said good buy to my cycling friends and moved to an air conditioned hotel. For breakfast I went to a bakery and enjoyed fresh croissants.
Oh well, another flowered balcony. You have only seen a few of the 100's I took.
These are the law courts.
This is the House of Henri II. I think I could have enjoyed living there, even without the A/C.
This is the train station in La Rochelle. Don't miss my other posting on the Train Stations of Paris, following.
On my last day in La Rochelle, I went shopping. My only purchases were a few shirts and three jars of French mustard.
This is the Lantern Tower.
The following day I took a train to Paris and a bus to the airport.
My final night I spent at an airport hotel watching CSI Miami in German.
I hope you enjoyed this blog, and the three additional postings that follow.
Your comments and emails are always welcome.
