The first evening, our host Veronique welcomed us with a nice bubbly rose and a lovely meal served outside. Our conversations wandered from shared experiences such as the delight of travel in Ireland to revelations of hopes for the near and distant future.
Our first full day, we began working together on the flower gardens. Since she too has just recently arrived from travels, there's plenty of weeding, pruning, trimming, and clean up. Three of us working all morning manage to wrestle the front garden into better appearance. Some photos show Veronique and Michael tackling invaders in the garden and the large gathering of materials to bring to the town collection point for green waste.
We are rewarded with another repast served outside...pates, salad, bread, and fine cheeses. Then Michael and I have time to ourselves for a dip in the pool, to catch up on news and email, and to make our first exploration beyond the walls of the B & B.
We drove to La Rochelle, the city that is the tourism magnet for the region. We traversed arcaded sidewalks en route to the "vieux port", where we caught our first glimpse of the quay with its two 14th-century stone towers and a 15th-century lighthouse. The waterfront is a mecca. Some sit to relish the views and breeze in the shade of trees. Others nurse cool drinks at cafes while people-watching. We found the ideal refreshment at Ernest's Glacier -- a cup of green citron basil-flavored sorbet! It was divine. This initial visit whet our appetite for future adventures in town.
We expect this pattern to repeat itself over the next few weeks. The B &B does not have bookings for several days. For a few hours each days, Mike and I will continue to help Veronique prepare for her guests. Afternoons we will rest and explore. Evenings the three of us will cook and dine together before we collapse from exhaustion.
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