An Englishman in Porto: Igreja dos Carmelitas & Livraria Lello

We couldn't resist a bargain flight from La Rochelle to Porto, and following niece Vicky's advice we stayed four nights in an apartment using Airbnb. We will definitely use them for our next city break.

As for Porto, we loved it!

A short walk from the apartment we were in the main part of the city

We soon found the stunning double church named Igreja dos Carmelitas...

...with it's tiled side wall...

...and very ornate interiors.

On the same square, the art deco exterior of a department store, looking a little worse for wear

Just down the road, the famous Lello bookshop, where it is rumoured that J.K. Rowling was inspired to write Harry Potter

It is so popular that you have to buy tickets to enter...

...but you can put your tickets towards purchases. Harry Potter in Portuguese, anyone?

The fabulous stained glass window ceiling...

...and a couple of tourists loving the experience.

La Faute, La Pointe d'Arçay & L'Aiguillon

With the weather improving each day we ventured out on more visits of discovery for our friends.

First stop: La Faute

We showed them the memorial to those who died in Xynthia, the freak storm of 2010 

Top left is the marker showing how deep the water was when the Lay broke its banks

Just round the corner the peaceful scene of boats moored up to the levée...

...and more poignant, land where houses have been demolished since the flood.

 Onto La Pointe d'Arçay

The bird look-out tower

We think these might be where oysters were once farmed, but there's no activity here these days, except for birdwatchers

 Finally to L'Aiguillon with its boat graveyard!

This is on the other side of the river Lay, which was also affected by the 2010 storm.

Last days with old friends & photo-shoot at La Belle Henriette

All good things come to an end but luckily our last few days with Jim & Les and Pauline & David were blessed with good weather and we made the most of it. No visits though as our car only holds five!

A Tine-style lunch

I'm not sure what the girls are watching but it's got their attention!

Pool fun

Excluding your faithful blogger there were 308 years in the pool on this occasion!

A couple of days later and it was my birthday and I received a fantastic present: a new camera. I'll need a bit of tuition though!

Young Sacha, my first subject!

We decided to go on a 'shoot' (no, not the hunting kind) to La Belle Henriette, a nature reserve a short distance down the coast.

They've been working on this area, making access much easier

Not so much bird life to be seen

The beach isn't far away...

...with a very calm sea...

...and a rogue jellyfish!

Out and about with Jim & Les

As you can see, we managed quite a few trips out whilst our 'old' friends were here.

Making the most of a dry spell one afternoon...

...we walked along 'our' beach towards the jetty, and a visit to the Starfish of course.

By November none of these boats will be moored in the bay

One of our favourite local spots: the old abbey at Lieu Dieu...

...now privately owned and being converted into apartments. They seem to be doing a great job of it!

The pool guy preparing for guests of honour (and no, not wearing Speedos)!

Mmm, that 29ºC will do nicely, eh Tine, Jim & Les?

Signs of autumn

We haven't started hibernating yet so I thought I'd share a few seasonal photos with you.

Big Dave's grapes are magnificent - ours weren't happy at all -

but we've had a good crop of pumpkins and butternut squash.

There are lots of wild mushrooms in the woods at the moment. I still don't trust myself to know what's what.

An early arrival of holly berries - don't they say it's a sign of a hard winter to come?!

You can just make out the bird on the feed: good viewing from the conservatory

What about this splash of colour metres from our house?

There are still many fields of maize/corn ready to be harvested...

...but this farmer's livestock won't go hungry!

Meanwhile we'll keep nice and snug this winter with the annual delivery of logs. Hope we've ordered enough.

What a difference...

... a few days make!

St Vincent-sur-Jard, with a high tide and an excellent view of the sailboarders enjoying the swell

Clémenceau's Vendée home which is situated in St Vincent...

...with its wild garden and beautiful view over the ocean.

Three days later and look who's come to visit for the first time: Pauline & David!

Bingley College of Education it isn't, but look at that sky! (Pauline, your faithful blogger and Les)

Boys will be boys: David & Jim

This is where we were watching the sailboarders just three days before!