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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Another June in France

When Marine asked us if we wanted to spend an extra long weekend with her and Jason and her family on Île de Ré, France we didn't hesitate is saying yes! Île de Ré is an island just off the coast of La Rochelle.  It's about 30kms long and 5kms wide, and known for its fishing and salt production (salted caramel everywhere!).


Looking forward to our longest break since starting work we set off on Wednesday morning to Stansted to get our first Ryanair flight - what an experience!  It's a bit like getting the tube to another country.  Ads everywhere, people fighting over seats, even a problem with closing the door because there was something in the way.  Even so, much faster than getting the Eurostar and then the TGV.


Pierre, Marine, Jason and I riding to St Martin de Re for ice cream


Our first port of call was cycling to St Martin de Re to have 'the best ice cream in the world'.  Excited much?






While I haven't tried all of the ice cream in the world, this would have to be close!  I enjoyed a Speculoos and creme brûlée waffle cone with croc caramel - diet?  What diet?



The harbour is gorgeous!




The next morning we set out for some more traditional pursuits - to collect some oysters and palourdes (like mussels).  You dig the oysters out using the pick end of the hammer, and you crack it off the rock using the hammer end.  The newbies were a lot slower at spotting and then removing them, but we did ok!




 Ross broke his shoes after about 3 minutes!



After this we took a trip across the mud to get the palourdes.  I'm not sure I've ever laughed as hard as I did trying to get across the mud and the creeks.  You never knew when you were going to go sliding or end up up to your knees.  So exhausting!


 Me, kneeling in the creek after deciding it was easier than trying to stand in the mud



 The boys trying to get rid of some of the mud



Our catch was cooked by Marine's family and served for lunch and dinner over the next few days.  It was pretty cool to go and get your own lunch! 


 Gazpacho, oysters and bread

Palourdes, cooked in butter and garlic with bread and salted butter

Marine, Jason and Ross trying to work out the keg

When we weren't eating we were either at the beach or out on the boat wake boarding or waterskiing (I just watched - I'm chicken and didn't want to re-injure my shoulder!).








Altogether a fabulous week(end) with friends!


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