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Traveling from home - French island vacation a few hours from Paris



We try to go to the ocean or the beach several times a year and here it is already the month of May and covid-19 oblige, I can still only dream ! Oh the lucky ones among you who are already on the coast and can feel the ocean or sea breeze, sand between your toes or swim or sail in the waves. How I envy you !

On essaie d'aller à la mer ou à la plage plusieurs fois par an et aujourd’hui nous sommes déjà en mai et covid-19 oblige, on ne peut que rêver! Oh les chanceux parmi vous qui sont déjà en bord de mer et peuvent sentir la brise de l'océan, le sable entre les orteils ou nager ou naviguer en liberté. Que je vous envie !

 As we can’t travel yet, here’s a sneak peak at a lovely travel destination, as seen from home, while we await the lifting of restrictions (and opening of borders).  Off we go to the western coast of France to the island of Ile de Ré, in the Charente Maritime region, in the Golfe de Gascogne, only a half-day's drive from Paris.

Comme nous ne pouvons pas encore voyager, voici un aperçu d'une destination de voyage "vue depuis chez vous" en attendant l'ouverture des restrictions (et frontières). Nous partons pour la côte ouest de la France jusqu'à l'Ile de Ré, en Charente Maritime, dans le Golfe de Gascogne à seulement une demi-journée de route de Paris.

This may seem a timid destination to remember, as there are so many seaside places to choose from, but I found pics readily on my phone from a trip last August. Why this island in particular?  Of course, on Ré you'll find tourist attractions, port towns, markets, outdoor cafés and plazas, crepe and ice cream vendors, soft sand beaches, delightful rentals with heavenly views or patios, seaside spas, fresh seafood..., I could go on.

C’est un souvenir de voyage qui peut sembler banal, car il y a tellement d'endroits balnéaires parmi lesquels choisir, mais j'ai trouvé facilement des photos sur mon téléphone d'un voyage en août dernier. Pourquoi cette île en particulier? Bien sûr, sur l'ïle vous trouverez des attractions touristiques, des ports, des marchés, des cafés et des squares, des crêperies et des artisans glaciers, des plages de sable fin, de délicieuses locations saisonnières avec des belles vues ou des terrasses magnifiques, des thalasso en bord de mer, des fruits de mer très frais ..., je pourrais continuer pendant un certain temps. 

Another walk in the village, in Sablanceaux, and a sneak peak of an ocean view garden.
But for me, there's something so unexpectedly poetic about the island of Ré.  Just wander around at sunset and there's a sweet stillness during the "magic hour", when we we would hunt as a family for that magic lighting and quiet.  You can see life differently for just a tiny moment in time.

No photo description available.Mais pour moi, il y a quelque chose de si inopinément poétique sur l'île de Ré. Il suffit de se promener au coucher du soleil et il y a une douce tranquillité pendant "l'heure magique", quand nous nous chassions en famille pour cet éclairage magique et calme. Vous pouvez apercevoir la vie différemment pendant un petit moment. 


Open air markets in Saint-Martin-de-Ré
When our kids were small, they would learn to surf for a week or two, fly first small, then quite large kites. We would bike from one end of the island to the other, often going from lively ports and sleepy villages to sea-salt mines and oyster farms. Nowadays, it's mostly reading, yoga or running on the beach, seeking market produce for lunch on the patio, afternoon tea or a cocktail or live music on deck chairs at a beach bar or café. Then dinner in an outdoor restaurant serving local flavor, or grilled fresh seafood on the barbecue at sundown.  It doesn't take much to vacay around here.

Wandering around Sainte-Marie-de-Ré
Quand nos enfants étaient petits, ils apprenaient à surfer pendant une semaine ou deux, ou à faire du cerf-volant. Nous faisions du vélo d'un bout à l'autre de l'île, en passant par des ports animés, des villages endormis, les marais salants et les parcs à huîtres. Maintenant, c'est surtout de la lecture, du yoga ou du jogging sur la plage, aller au marché avant de préparer le déjeuner sur la terrasse. Plus tard c’est le thé ou une glace, avant de prendre un verre ou écouter la musique sur des chaises longues dans un bar ou un café de plage. Puis enfin un dîner dans un restaurant, avec leurs spécialités aux saveurs locales, sinon un barbecue sur notre terrasse. Il ne faut pas grand-chose pour partir pleinement en vacances ici.

Fisherman's houses have been converted into homes or flower shops or galleries.

It's a place I wouldn't tire of, where I will often go, to connect with the beauty and stillness of life.

C’est un endroit dont je ne peux me lasser, où j’irai souvent pour me connecter avec la beauté et le calme.

Here are some more pics, enjoy !

Voici quelques photos, enjoy!

Shops, art galleries, cafés, restaurants in pedestrian only streets in la Flotte en Ré.

Lavender may not be indigenous to the region, nevertheless it's a sight to behold. 

The roses trémières or wild hollyhocks surprise you at every turn, 
in colors and sizes almost beyond the reach of the imagination.

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Comments

  1. Me, My Stamps and IMay 20, 2020 at 9:43 PM

    There is beauty in this place I wish I could visit someday

    ReplyDelete

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