La Rochelle, Ile de Ré: Ideas, Tips, Secrets??!!

[TLCOhio]

From the London/UK Sunday Times Travel Section this morning, they have this headline: “The big weekend: La Rochelle and the Ile de Ré” with this sub-headline: “Cobbled streets and island beaches: get two breaks for one in the French port".

 

On our cruise from Lisbon on the way to Rouen, we will be visit here on Tuesday, June 20. Wanted to share some ideas from this profile . . . AND, hopefully get more tips, ideas and secrets for this part of the historic Bordeaux region.

 

Here are some more story highlights: "The turreted Town Hall and gothic St Saviour’s Church are worth a visit, as are the gargoyles at the corner of Rue des Merciers and Rue des Mariettes. And save some euros for Rue St-Nicolas, which is packed with quirky craft shops, jewellers and boutiques. Have a mooch round St-Martin-de-Ré, the pretty main town — the 17th-century fort walls and moat impress, but not half as much as the pastries at Maison Marin".

 

Lots of options for food, places to enjoy, etc. Hope these potentials are of benefit and interest to consider.

 

Full story at:

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/travel/the-big-weekend-la-rochelle-and-ile-de-re-l8ncnhc5w

 

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Panama Canal? Just completed Feb. 28-Mar. 15, 2017, Fort Lauderdale to San Francisco adventure through the Panama Canal with our first stops in Colombia, Central America and Mexico, plus added time in the great Golden Gate City. Lots of fun pictures!! Those pictures start on the second page, post #26. See more at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2465580

[Turtles06]

Terry: the Vieux Port area of La Rochelle and the surrounding town center are simply charming. Climb up one or more of the castle towers, wander the streets, etc. Very easy to do on your own. We enjoyed our port call there very much. And I had the best Nutella crepe I've ever had, and that includes some great ones in Paris! :)

 

 

(photos by turtles06)

[easyboy]

Thanks Terry for your usual useful lnked nfo.

 

 

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[Morgans]

Both La Rochelle and the Ile de Re are beautiful - you can do both but both places merit a full day (and more) on their own. The crossing over on the bridge is spectacular.

If you stay in LA Rochelle - you must have cider and crepes (or seafood) lots of places to choose from. It's a delightful place - you can mooch around all day.

[TLCOhio]

Both La Rochelle and the Ile de Re are beautiful - you can do both but both places merit a full day (and more) on their own. The crossing over on the bridge is spectacular.

If you stay in LA Rochelle - you must have cider and crepes (or seafood) lots of places to choose from. It's a delightful place - you can mooch around all day.

 

Appreciate so much these pictures and details from Turtles06, plus the great follow-up from Morgans. BUT, as they say on TV, wait, there's more . . . .

 

From the Wall Street Journal coming in their weekend edition tomorrow, they have this headline: “My Summer Vacation Is Better Than Yours”with this sub-head: “For a getaway with bragging rights, try France’s Ile de Re—a beach retreat favored by in-the-know Parisians.”

 

WOW! During our Lisbon to Rouen cruise starting June 14, we have a Tuesday, June 20, port stop at La Rochelle from 8 am to 11 pm. We are planning a ship tour that includes time to see, visit and do this Ré Island. Then reading this long profile story really sparked my interest!! And, EXCITEMENT!!

 

I am on-line subscriber to the this publication and their paywall can be challenging. Here are some story highlights for this "wide, sandy stretch on the Atlantic Ocean—among the island’s finest and a dead ringer for a Hamptons beach" They detail: "The chic Parisian’s current retreat of choice is low-key, high-style Ile de Ré. And word is beginning to wash over the channel: It’s fast becoming the summer-holiday destination to name-drop at London dinner parties."

 

Here is more of its background/history: "A skinny 18-mile-long island halfway down France’s west coast, Ile de Ré was originally four islands, until silt and man-made salt flats united them. It has been quarreled over numerous times since. Settled by the Romans, it was home to Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages—the skeleton of their Abbaye des Châteliers still survives. The island was passed back and forth between the French and the English from the 12th to the 14th centuries."

 

This writer also shared: "Our days began with a walk to the town square’s boulangerie, whose superlative pains au chocolat and tartes aux fruits earned it lines out the door. Next came a trawl of the market stalls. We crossed the town’s wide moat and formidable stone walls, built in the shape of a star by Louis XIV’s foremost military engineer, Vauban, to defend it from the Protestants and the English."

 

Doesn't this all sound wonderful . . . and exciting? Really looking forward to this stop.

 

Full story at:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/my-summer-vacation-is-better-than-yours-4-enviable-destinations-1496330978

 

Keep it coming!! Love to hear more great ideas, experiences, etc.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

 

Enjoyed a 14-day, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and many pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 180,899 views for this posting.