Fiesta & fireworks

There are quite a few video clips in this post so I hope you’re up for it!

It's now 13th July and the holiday season is in full swing with the town organising entertainment most evenings

The samba band and dancers are a regular event...

...this time our friends' daughter (the one on our right) joined in too.

The following day was La Fête Nationale or Bastille day...

...and we had our first firework display since before Covid.

I know it's not the most perfect photo but I love this one, with the rising moon peeping through the smoke

What a finale!

Sadly the August display was cancelled, this time because of the risk of fire in our parched forests.

Odds and ends but lots of Sacha

Back in La Tranche heatwave followed heatwave this summer

It was often too hot in Sacha’s temporary classroom so some cooler downtime with Mamie & Papy was appreciated…

…especially when playing his favourite ‘Anticipation’ game…

…or old French classic ‘Mille Bornes’.

In the garden I let the bees enjoy the last artichoke flowers…

…and despite the cooking oil shortage at the time, the fields were full of sunflowers. (Mustard is still in short supply as I type this.)

Heatwave with not many people…

…a choice of the main beach with or without frame!

We discovered a new beach bar further on from Marie’s, and had to have a beer of course…

…but the Starfish is still a favourite…

…Sacha perched on a barrel.

Heatwave means lots of pool-time too. On this day Cynthia came with Sacha’s cousins Tilya & Gianni.

Just like in the UK we had big heat this summer…

…but we weren’t alone (‘er from Brittany won his one)!

In the end the sky says it all.

La Rochelle with H&M

I had an appointment in La Rochelle for an MRI scan (IRM en Français!) on my knee. It was a good excuse to take our visitors to look around.

Mo, Helen, Tine & Bella crossing the bridge into the old town

Along the city walls to the Lantern Tower…

…and the Chain Tower, looking over the entrance to the old harbour.

La Porte de la Grosse-Horloge, once the main city gateway to the port

The old Hôtel de Ville…

…complete with happy sundial.

But of course, this is the La Rochelle that most people remember.

Helen & Mo come to visit

It’s always great to have Helen & Mo come to visit us in La Tranche. This time they stayed at the Baie d’Aunis campsite but we saw lots of them!

Especially when it was a certain someone’s birthday (Tine, that is)

We celebrated at our favourite restaurant, La Gargote des Épices, Helen & Mo in fine form

Matt & Cynthia joined us…

…and Sacha too.

Sadly we can’t remember what we chose (the menu’s always changing)…

…but I’m sure you’ll agree it looks VERY good!

 

Domme & La Roque-Gageac

We’re heading back to La Tranche for the summer now. But let’s stop at a couple of beautiful spots en route!

Loulou & Sylvie recommended Domme…

…and its hilltop position certainly merited a visit.

However the very picturesque village was invaded by a TV film crew and it was very difficult to get around

It looks pretty quiet in my photos though!

Jacquou le Croquant seemed oblivious to it all (a fictional character from a 1899 book based in this area). 

Next stop, La Roque-Gageac…

…a medieval village nestling alongside the Dordogne river…

…and a good place to buy a sandwich for lunch.

Final stop, Grun-Bordas where we caught up with Anil, Anita & Arun, 'little’ Arun here towering over Tine!

Lunch & visits

We climbed to the top of the village and were treated to lunch by Jo, niece Caroline’s partner.

Sister & brother reunited!

Locally produced sausage and our favourite aligot mashed potato, complete with a ‘Canailles’ mascot!

By then Caro had finished work so we finally got to visit their house…

They have a quirky taste in decoration. Star Wars anyone?

On the way back to Figeac we stopped at Salles-la-Source with its impressive waterfall

The obligatory group shots…

…and a sneaky view of a rainbow.

Back in Figeac a meal outside with Rémi and a few friends. Memories of family meals under these vines in past years.