Destination FRANCE

Going to La Rochelle, FRANCE

After getting confirmation from my new host Susie, that I could indeed come and stay with her in Le Grand Bourg, France until my new host will take me as scheduled in Athy, Ireland, I spent many hours online trying to find transportation from Athy to Le Grand Bourg.  It all had to line up timing wise using planes, trains and busses hence the lengthy time on the computer.  I found that flying from Dublin into La Rochelle, France and then taking a train to Limoges was the best way to go.  Susie would then pick me up from the Limoges train station at around 10 p.m. and drive the hour trip to Le Grand Bourg.
Flying into La Rochelle afforded me with the ariel view of this beautiful coastal city on the Atlantic.  I got to see miles and miles of beautiful, unpopulated beaches and left me with the idea that I might want to come back this way on my way back to Athy, Ireland and spend a day or two here instead of rushing back to Athy and the B&B.
Stepping off the plane at the tiny airport in La Rochelle was like stepping into a little piece of heaven.  The sky was crystal clear blue and it was WARM.  So different from the dark, gray and cold of Ireland that I had just left 2 hours ago.
At the bus stop to go to the bus station to take me to the train station in downtown La Rochelle, I met a lone traveler like myself, Caroline from Ireland who was traveling to France on a much needed week-long vacation.  We exchanged travel stories and a light lunch at a cafe' across from the train station.  She was my age and needed to take a break from her life of caring non-stop for her elderly parents; one with dementia.  I know we will remain email pals with lots of traveling stories to exchange.
Waiting for the bus in town at the bus station gave me a glimpse at what I could do if I was able to return here for a day or two.  There were lovely city bikes to rent of which I saw many on the streets going along as casually as the cars were.  Definitely a bike-friendly city.  In the middle of the square was a carrousel.  Besides a few horses as is on most carrousels, were more unusual sitting apparatuses such as carriages and carts, all very colorfully decorated.  This is a town I could be happy to just sit and watch the people go by.  It reminded me a lot of Italy with its' open squares of people walking and shops under archways and apartments above.  But my visit to La Rochelle was short as I was leaving soon on my way to LIMOGES!