Our Vacation: Made In France: 06/20/08

juste pour rire: le 20 juin

It's really hard to explain just WHY we are both smiling so much in this picture, but the short story is...

It was taken by Didier's father after what seemed like five minutes (but I'm sure it was less) of explaining not so much HOW a camera worked, rather which side was the front, which was the back and in what direction you must hold the camera so that you take a picture of the desired subject, and not your own face...

I guess a day at the sea-side with an Anglo from Canada was just too much... heh

a la carte édition spéciale: le 20 juin

After our walk along the port, but before we left, we were in dire need of an ice cream, and so we stopped at La Fraiseraie.

Oh La La!

leopard spotting: le 20 juin

I'm not saying that Mama Buisine wore Leopard Print just for me, but then again, I'n not saying she didn't...

a la carte: le 20 juin

Lunch at the seaside.

Resto Coeur et Creme, Pornic.

Toasting with a Ricard...

Mama and Papa Buisine had the Mussels, Didier had grilled shrimp, and Shawn had the salade Gourmand... Smoked Salmon, Foie Gras and Magret de Canard. YUM.

Main Course. Les Buisine had roast lamb, Didier had Petit Curry des Mers, and Shawn had Brochette de coquilles Saint Jacques. Oh, so good.

And them came dessert... for all the Buisine Nougat Glacés and for Shawn... le dessert gourmand... Café, Creme Brulée, Baba au Rhum, et Mousse au Chocolat...

deux pour un: le 20 juin

On the boardwalk at Pointe Saint-Gildas.

du jour: le 20 juin

Two chateaux...

Pornic...

de la Balinière...

day seven (3): pornic, pointe saint gildas et nantes

Just up the street from Didier's Parents is Le château de la Balinière. (now the home of a music school). A beautiful example of a 'folie Nantais', it was built in the 1700's by Ducoudray-Bourgaud family.

day seven (2): pornic, pointe saint gildas et nantes

Pointe Saint-Gildas

After another short drive, we made it to Pointe Saint Gildas (north of Pornic)

It's a beautiful seaside vista full of rocky shores and abandonded WWII bunkers...

Bunker with the Phare de la Pointe Saint-Gildas ...

La Famille Buisine...

Another Salamander...

All this sun and salt air was beginning tucker us out, so back to Nantes we go...

day seven (1): pornic, pointe saint gildas et nantes

Pornic.

Road Trip!

We got up this morning and loaded ourselves into the family car and headed west to the Atlantic Coast and the seaside village of Pornic. If you're looking for quaint, tranquil and picturesque, Pornic is it.

Once we disembarked Papa Buisine insisted on a family pic...