Trajet à Noirmoutier

We left La Rochelle on Saturday after cleaning the apartment and saying good-bye to Madame.  We had planned to be in Noirmoutier where we were going to be staying with French friends of Trish and Holona  who are from Lower Hutt. 

Christmas decorations

Getting out of La Rochelle proved to be a bit problematic as it seemed that Veronica kept giving me weird directions and I missed a couple of turns so instead of a quick route out I must have made it by the longest ever.  Perhaps we were not meant to leave too quickly.

Braving the cold

Once on the road Veronica guided us accurately to Noirmoutier until after La Roche sur Mer when it kept trying to take us one way when the signs were directing us to the bridge that would take us to Noirmoutier.  Fortunately Trish and Holona had told me that there were two ways on to Noirmoutier, via the bridge or causeway. If it was the causeway it had to be done at low tide.  Armed with this knowledge I carefully followed the signs to the bridge. 

Le diner

We arrived at Paul and Dany’s place with no problem once Veronica had figured out the alternative route.  I had sent them an email to expect us at about 1pm.  Paul had texted me and phoned but I had heard neither, so they were wondering if we were going to show.  However, in anticipation they had a veritable feast and greeted us warmly. 

We started with an aperitif (kir) and then had a wonderful meal starting with local huitres (oysters) with a lovely vinegar and onion sauce.  We then had jambon and haricots (white beans) which were grown on his brother’s farm.  We were also treated to some Noirmoutier salt to put on the beans.  Finally we had a dessert of galette de roi where were to get the bean.  It is traditional in France during January. 

After this wonderful long lunch Paul took us for a very quick but comprehensive tour of Noirmoutier where he talked about the history, including Dany’s brief involvement in a film that featured Romy Schneider.  It was on a beach very close to their house.  The tour was really interesting and it would have been nice to stay longer to linger in some of the places and around the pretty villages.  We got to see where the le Gois was; the causeway was not visible due to the very high tide but it was possible to see where it went due to the refuges available if caught by the tide. 

Le Gois

In the evening Dany prepared another delicious meal, a tartiflete which is an alpine dish which is rich and warming and ideal for cold nights.  Prior to dessert we had a wonderful liqueur, Glacier, which can only be brought in the Alps and came via a friend which was served exceptionally cold with it being almost like syrup.  It was delicious.  Finally we had some more Galette des rois and glace (ice-cream).  It was rather late when we got to bed after a wonderful evening. 

Paul and Dany were wonderful hosts and it so nice to be with French people and get an insight into their way of life. 

I should have spoken in French while there but I have felt less confident about my use of it more than I probably should.  I am finding this time I can read French really well and that I can understand some a bit better than last time I was in France but just about everywhere I have been people have spoken English and will talk in English even if I continue with speaking French.  I find that I have to think a bit about what I am going to say and that means  if they have more competence with English than me they tend flick into it.  Thus it has not been so good for practising French.  Maybe I need to go to an area of France where not many English speakers spend time.……