Sunshine after the rain

Making the most of a beautiful day and a day off from the Starfish before Tine's lesson in the evening, we headed for La Pointe d'Arçay, near La Faute. We couldn't believe how high the water was, lapping over some of the footpaths an hour before high tide.

I think this jetty has seen better days...

...as has this rowing boat!

Tine from the bird watch tower

Tine up the bird watch tower!

One of the locks

This was our garden a couple of weeks ago. The water table is very high at the moment!

But when you have a log fire to snuggle in front of each evening, who's complaining?

Paris with Nadine (3)

We woke up next day to glorious weather, and after a hearty Ibis breakfast we followed our usual route to the métro via Eiffel Tower to meet Nadine's friends Natalie & Emilio at the Opera for a first time look around. What a truly stunning place - highly recommended!

An excuse for yet another photo of Eiffel Tower!

The youngsters on the stairway to heaven

The library contains archives and models of the staging of many productions

The opulence is breath-taking

The ceiling in the main theatre

After an au revoir to Nadine we wandered to Place Vendôme with its trompe l'oeil mural...

...and famous tower...

...followed by a glass of rosé in Le Jardin des Tuileries. We then wandered along some of the Champs Elysée before catching the métro to our train home.

These & more photos at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4420893093655.163632.1628772035&type=3

Paris with Nadine (2)

Our only full day in Paris but we made the most of it, walking miles and visiting some new (to us) sites. As you can see the weather was cool and grey, a bit like me really!

La Rue de l'Abbaye?

Yes, Hallowe'en fever has hit France too!

Papa & Nadine by the zany fountains at Beaubourg...

......where the 5m high statue of Zinedine Zidane infamously head-butting Marco Materazzi is a big attraction

A spruced up Conciergerie in the background 

We visited Le Jardin des Plantes for the first time...

...where we made acquaintances with Nénette, a wonderful Orangutan playing up to a crowd of onlookers. 

Next, Le Jardin de Luxembourg...

...and a couple of frightening cats at St Sulpice.

Le Pont des Cadenas, where lovers lock their padlock before tossing the key into the Seine!

Paris with Nadine (1)

Yes, we've been off on our travels again, joining Nadine in Paris on her Half Term break, visiting her friends who have moved to work in the capital. Sadly Si had to return to the UK for lectures so we missed him. It was great to spend a bit of quality time with our favourite daughter though!

United Buddy Bears (and Nadine) with their message of peace, international understanding and tolerance. 

Our hotel was right by Eiffel Tower so we just HAD to wander there!

Next we ventured up to an amazingly quiet Place du Tertre...

...wandering around Montmartre and Sacré Coeur...

...complete with a footballing acrobat...

...and a chocolate Eiffel Tower!

Later on we walked past the Opéra...

...and the Olympia theatre, not knowing any of the groups playing but there were huge queues waiting to get in!

Then back to our hotel via a floodlit Eiffel Tower and a meal just round the corner.

Return of blue skies

How fantastic to be able to walk along the beach without torrential rain, but as you can see, recent high seas have been eating away at the dunes again. At least the surfers were happy to make the most of the waves!

Stand up paddle boarding is becoming more and more popular

Three photos to show how near the sea is to breaking through again.

The good weather brought people out for a stroll along the jetty

and local firemen on manoeuvres

The obligatory sun behind the clouds photo to finish, of course!

Vendée Globe 2012

Yes, four years have passed since the last Vendée Globe and we made the most of a beautiful day to view the yachts along with many other visitors. The competitors set off on their single-handed round world race on Saturday but I think I'll watch the departure from the safety of the living room.

Here's the main stand with some of the larger-than-life skippers watching over their yachts.

Mike Golding is one of the three Brits competing. His yacht was dismasted (yes, a new word for me!) last time on the 38th day.

How do you fancy this job? Look carefully at the next photo without the zoom!

Alex Thomson had to give up on the 6th day last time with a cracked hull.

I'm rooting for Samantha Davies this time, the only female in the race. She came 4th in 2008/2009.

As you can see here, it's a very spectacular & popular venue.

For more information, see http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/