When Work leads you to Temptation - le Boute du Monde and beyond!

The chance to go out whilst Mr PJP meets with a new client - yes please, says I...haven't done that for aaaages....how could I not go - a chance to explore, take photographs, use new camera, and spend time with my wonderful husband! A few hours later, lots of talking (Me) and not much exploring around the lovely little town in the middle of nowhere but somewhere in dept. 17 (Me) he did lots and left a very happy client. Realising we weren't as near to our first choice Rochefort to visit we had a decision to make - where to eat our picnic - place found and after a bite to eat of a very lovely cauliflower tabbouleh at a very chilly aire - it was late in the day by now - so what did he do? He took the turning to the Ilê d'Oleron.....it was nearer to us at that time than going home, honestly...

Soon to be Sunflower field - we spotted ONE starting to bloom!

We started at Château d'oleron (wrong turning taken) so we decided to park up and have a quick look around anyway but then the word Ice-cream popped out of my mouth and there's only one place for that the other end of the Island - we did however see some Artisinale cabanes which we should go back and peruse one day!

such a pretty carousel....it had carriages as well as these lovely horses! 

Portside at Chateau d'Oleron you can see the Boats laden with the empty nets ready for Moules and Oysters

I actually need this in my garden :)

We flew around and after a few photographs off we went 22kms up the road to le Boute du Monde not only does it have the best (in our opinion) choices for Ice Cream it is peaceful but busy with people exploring, it's always windy so you get the most amazing waves to watch in winter and sometimes in Summer if it's a very stormy day... the wind was a tad blowy, the skies weren't as blue as they could have been but it was lovely!!

Here we are - our place - feels so right being here!

finally giving my birthday present the chance to show me what it could do - and I am impressed, I have never had a zoom that could show this much detail on the old Lighthouse!

looking up to the top of the Phare (light house) 

Looking to the sea from the lighthouse - full zoom!

a path we have not walked along before - but glad we found it!

#whatarethese?

Lots of talking and lots of picture taking and I admit lots of selfies but some days  you just have to - that's the memories right there or just that I am really very fussy and it has to be just right! Good job I don't worry about what the hair does though, beyond windblown.....!

Onwards ever onwards, well not quite but another stop before we hit the road for home we enjoy the sea for a bit longer I just love this beach - we have seen it calm and tranquil on a hot summers day, wild, wet and windy on a cold Winters day and obviously windy and chilly on a mildly warm Summers day (not exaggerating it was 16 degrees!) and yet we can't come here without another stop.......

another reason I love it here - the seagulls, I miss them!

We can never come to the Ilê d'Oleron and not go to our other most favourite place - that of Port Cotinière here is where Mr PJP has to sit and sup his Grimbergen he says there is only one place to enjoy it properly and as it's only a couple of times a year, simply put - has to be done! So, we hit Le Gaité for refreshments! 

Grimbergen and Badoit at the port that we favour most on the Island

I cannot resist a posing seagull and this one was very good - several poses later and I am a happy lady not sure the seagull was - I am sure he expected some sort of payment in food!!

By now it was getting late and we were a tad peckish a fish supper at a little resto we found by accident (read we never have looked down that lane before now!) We have very rarely eaten before leaving - not sure why timings normally -get home for the dog etc.....I think we were feeling a tad rebellious though - it's been a long time since we have had the chance to eat out call it a date night if you want or hunger and not wanting to eat at very silly o'clock by the time we got home!

SO we did the very considered menu perusal thing that everyone seems to do....what to eat, what to eat...was the question, Rob thought he had nearly got me in one of the restos until my hawk eyes spotted a little shop but no it wasn't it was another little side lane and there were menus...so off we went down to the board to see if there was anything we fancied on there! La Sardiniere is lovely outside eating on a lovely warm evening would have been perfect - clearly we are not so hardened to this chilliness so opted for indoors!
In the end I decided on "Bar" (Sea Bass) served with vegetables (could have had rice as it was part o the plat but that's not for me) It was delish - served with lemons and cooked to perfection on the griddle, the vegetables were courgette and carrot ribbons with tomato - I couldn't have been happier! Rob went for Fish and Chips, the chips were divine (yes I had a couple - how could I not taste tests are obligatory) and the batter was very light and crispy! I even had a very fresh cup of mint tea made for me..... The young waitress was lovely, very attentive and got our English humour - thankfully!! We chose the right place totally to finish off our much deserved few hours off!

PJ's Bar et Legumes

Fish et Chips

Back to the car and another au revoir to the port...with a few Seagull photos to keep me going...

I am looking forward to our next coastal outing - lots of photographs will be taken it's going to be a good one ;)

Thank you for reading I hope you have enjoyed my "Life through the Lens" photographs - mostly they were taken using the Canon Powershot SX710 HS which I am still finding my way around - I am superly impressed by the 30x zoom and even in the wind it kept a steady photograph which I was happy about!

For more photographs of the Ilê d'Oleron please go to my "Life through the Lens" facebook page where there are a few more to view :) 

Life through the Lens by PamelaJayne Photography

La Rochelle - Life through the Lens!

It was just like a wonderful Summers day last Sunday (8th) so we decided to jump in the car and head out to La Rochelle, just over an hours drive from us and a relatively easy one at that - the péage is great for us, only a 20 minute drive away and we can get to the coast far quicker and it's not terribly expensive! Although once off the toll road you do end up on a single lane road where just about everyone has to overtake, at one point we nearly had someone overtaking someone overtaking!!

La Rochelle is a city and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay and it is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department. The town has played a huge part in French and English history, from Huguenot rebellions to sieges. In the Hundreds Year war it became part of England. Until the 15th century, La Rochelle was the largest French harbour on the Atlantic coast, dealing mainly in wine, salt and cheese.

 The only thing is I have always loved is that first sighting of the sea, we don't get that the route we take to La Rochelle but even so I could feel the smiles spreading over our faces as we approached the station, knowing that very soon we would be port side in the warmth of the winter sun, feeling the stress leave our bodies and embarking on some "us time" in other words me and the camera ;) *joke* Parking is now a joy as well, the new underground car park is easy to navigate and lots of spaces, so providing you go the right way around and don't mind not getting on the first floor life is good for the car!

Coming out of the car park and yes....seagulls and salt hit the senses - I did point to the direction of a Brocante but lunch was on their minds and that was it! Hitting the harbour wall and I had to stop - this is one of the places that the gulls like to gather and I fancy we had a welcoming flypast!

So calm and serene!

Welcome to La Rochelle!

Over the top - just right for the first couple of shots of the day!

Walking alongside the boats and dreaming that one day - wouldn't it be lovely to go out on one of these? We haven't been on a boat since the "ferry" around to the beach! I miss the fun of sitting on a boat sometimes especially on days such as this one! Sun, warmth, blue skies, calm water and a light breeze! The after taste of salt in your hair and on your lips...oh yes the joys of sailing but I am wandering off track - this is what the sea does to me. Now onward to the "Vieux Port" which will lead us to the eateries of which there are plenty! We did not expect each of them to be packed to the gills though!

We always make a joke here - "take your pick Mr S" 

forgot the bread - oops!

So onto the restaurant of choice Café Leffe - we have been several times before and always enjoyed the food, especially Moules! I sadly think that the did not expect the world and his wife to be out though! We waited rather a long, long, long time....we did try to leave but told to wait just another few minutes - which we did but that turned to another half an hour! Finally our food arrived and so disappointed - clearly the wrong time of year for Moules! Very small and not very tasty (this is our first bad experience so not bad in 10 years!) We have been lucky when we have eaten out and maybe had I not been trying the healthy option the burger would have been the better decision! But we still had quite a fun time - watching the world go by as we sat waiting and waiting!  Eventually after leaving our very apologetic hosts, we went back out into the beautiful sunshine to go for a walk down to a little promenade we discovered a couple of years ago.

Now to spend some time just wandering aimlessly! 

The old Lighthouse

New Ferris wheel!

Through the gates to cross the bridge - soon we will see the sea properly!

We tend to walk out of town for the ice-cream/sorbets - not only much cheaper but you get a seaview whilst enjoying something utterly delish! I almost contemplated Lemon Meringue flavour but went Lime and Rasberry instead and we get to keep the bowl!

OK so we got a little distracted along the way - sorbet time!

Love the way the trees grow!

Whilst enjoying the sorbet and view - it's nice to sit and watch the world go buy, I think sometimes just sitting you see much more. The way the trees grow,  the sea sparkles, and much more...I think next time we may have to go round to to the other side and go on the Ferris wheel!

Another area I wish to see - not sure what the statue is so really should go and find out!

Time started ticking all too fast - the last day of the half term holidays, which as we all know means panic and bedlam once home! So we walked back taking another route back - La Rochelle isn't huge but there is always another route to choose, so this time we stuck to the main walk back to the harbour, which is basically a road of restaurants on either side, in the side roads and above on second floors as well, again nothing much really changes, a new resto that may have opened or one that we liked that has closed down, thrilled to find this bike though - that's new!

Everything looks amazing against that blue sky - but  a lot of renovation works havee been undertaken over the last few years to clean the buildings, all worth it for photos such as these with the colour of the stone against the sky!

Boats coming in accompanied by the Gulls - not as many as we have seen before however - gulls that is not boats!

Homeward bound!

La Rochelle - capital city to Grafitti! and Tasteful artwork it is.

Both Mr S and myself fell in love with this beautiful wooden sailing boat!
But can you imagine how much work that takes to look after?

One more drink and then it was all over far too soon, back to the car and the journey home.....and back to normal until the Easter Holidays arrive :)

I had to take this out of the car window - I love this  building so much La Gare de La Rochelle - so impressive I think!? 

For more photos of La Rochelle please do visit me at https://www.facebook.com/PamelaJaynePhotography 

I can honestly say the skies could not be much different today! Grey and very cold out - but officially it is still winter and we do have a full moon!

We have also had Pollution warnings here in the Poitou Charentes as well - quite high for this time of year, but it didn't stop the Lycéennes roaming the streets of Melle and Niort for Pere Cent.. an unusual way of collecting money these days students collect money 100 days before the BAC to go out and celebrate all dressed  up and giving sweets for "donations" - we even saw Minions on our way to Niort! 

And finally - my Kerria is out! I am so thrilled with these as this is one of a cutting that my very Green-fingered Mum took, it's quite established now, and one of 3, this is however the first to flower! #sunshineflower

Have a fab week!

PamelaJayne

https://www.facebook.com/PamelaJaynePhotography