Monthly Archive: May 2022

Contemplating my return home…

This being my first time blogging, I have focused primarily on what I thought were entertaining photos and videos of my travels, with minimal content. But, blogging generally includes one’s thoughts and reactions to experiences in life. Just prior to my departure for a month...

Day trip to Le Mont St Michel

Ever since I saw the first photograph of Mont St Michel years ago, I have wanted to visit. Just seeing the gorgeous cathedral rise to its majestic pinnacle above the seafloor was inspiring. So my dream became a reality yesterday, May 28. I traveled to...

L’Erdre

Today’s adventure, my last full day in Nantes, was a cruise on the River Erdre. L’Erdre flows into the Loire at Nantes so the trip was upriver on « the most beautiful river in France » according to François le premier. L’Erdre is a broad...

Day trip to Angers, May 23

Today I woke up and decided to take a day trip to the city of Angers, just 45 minutes by train from Nantes. I had heard it has a beautiful castle and the neighbor below my apartment said it’s a great place to visit. There...

Jules Verne’s île des machines

Nantes is the birthplace of Jules Verne, in 1828. He authored 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in 80 Days, and Journey to the Center of the Earth, among many others. I learned that he is the second most translated author in history...

Nantes!

Took these videos in Nantes, from the Château des ducs de Bretagne. (Check out my other pictures of Nantes under that tab.)

French kids taking sailing lessons

On my bike ride to Île de Ré I came upon this group of kids taking sailing lessons. I laughed and watched for a while and thought, who wouldn’t enjoy THIS?!

Bicycle Ride to Île de Ré

I rented an electric bike and rode to the beautiful Île de Ré for the day. While not the Tour de France, it was like a dream come true — bicycling through a beautiful part of France. Biking 20km to Île de Ré made me...

St. Émilion

Took a day trip by train to the wine destination of St. Émilion. The train dropped us off at the very rural, pastoral Gare St.Émilion from which we walked uphill 2km to the city center. We stopped by a local bar for some morning wine,...

Cité du Vin

Visited the famed Cité du vin museum and tasting room in Bordeaux. What an amazing place!