Five days away with the village choir

We have been away with the village choir several times. It is always around the feast of the ascension and alwayss in France. This year we are off to the area around La Rochelle on the Atlantic coast.

The trip starts early in the morning when we all board a bus, drive for a while and then stop for a picnic breakfast while our driver takes bus compulsary break.  This year it was a little on the cool side, so the coffee (with tea for me) was welcome.

We then continued for a lunch stop, which was a picnic organised by the choir, which started with aperos in the dual way. 

Again we boarded the bus, this time for a siesta.  

We arrived at our destination, île d’Olereron with time for a rest before dinner. 

As always on the choir trip, we were staying in a holiday camp.  We always stay with the same chain which once was part of the post office. The camp sites were intended for post office employees and their families and are basic but adequate.  They are often on the coast, but a good walk to the sea.  This year, breakfast and supper were at the camp site and we ate at lunchtime in restaurants

The first day, we went to L’Isle de Aix, passing by the fort Boyade. This fortification was built in the early years of the 19th century, initially by Napoleon. On completion, in 1871, it was no longer suitable for its original purpose and was used as a prison.  The building then fell into disrepair and is now used only for filming.



The île d’Aix is small with tourism as its main industry.  It has briefly been British in its past, but not for long. Napoleon fled there after Waterloo and surrendered to the British before being deported to Plymouth and then to St Helena. 

There are various old fortifications, one of which is open to the public.





In the evening, we walked to the coast ri see the sun go down. 



The following day included a visit to Saintes,  clearly roman and well preserved.   This is the amphitheatre.



By the tourist office.


The the cathedral of St  Eutrope.

There is also a magnificent arch


A wine tasting followed and then lunch. 

In the afternoon, we went for a boat trip on the river, which was not noteable. 

In the evening, after supper, we danced in the holiday village. 

Our final day of sightseewas in La Rochelle and Île de Ré.

The first stop was to a very good aquarium, giving the cameras plenty of exercise and with reasonable success.







We continued with a tour of the harbour and shopping areas in the rain and were pleased to retreat to a restaurant for a delicious fish lunch.  The afternoon included a stop at St Martin and a brief walk round before returning to the holiday park and packing. 








We are now back at home. 







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