Posts Tagged ‘les Sables d’Olonne’



Sunny day out in Sables d’Olonne

Samedi, avril 30th, 2011

We really have been spoilt with the weather this last week.  And though I wasn’t lucky enough to be on holiday to enjoy the wonderful sunshine, I was still fortunate to spend a sunny day out in Les Sables d’Olonne - the main perk of working in the leisure marine industry is that harbours and marinas always tend to be located in dream spots!  Now I already told you about Les Sables earlier this month (and hope you have indeed entered the Sables inside competition?!) but I thought you’d still enjoy looking at the pictures I took to get a better feel for the place…

Sables d’Olonne is the perfect day-trip destination and can get very busy in the season.  That’s why I like to park the car on the other side of the chenal (harbour fairway)- this is called La Chaume and is worthwhile exploring in itself as you will find the Tour d’Arundel there as well as the Prieuré St Nicolas, a striking former chapel turned military fort with sweeping views down the coastline.  You can then easily reach the Remblai (seafront promenade) and the cobbled shopping streets by hopping onto the ferry boat which operates all day long – just think about buying a ticket-card (€6.15 for 10 trips) at the newsagents’ (opposite the gangway) when you first arrive in La Chaume!

After lunch in one of the many seafood restaurants or creperies, the rest of the day can be spent as you like - a spot of sunbathing on the Grande Plage, strolling along the seafront, a little retail therapy in the « chic » boutiques…  Well, I already told you about my favourite pastime so now you can see the evidence of it too!  There’s nothing quite as enjoyable as eating ice-cream to chill out on a perfect day…

   

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Will Sam Davies return to Les Sables d’Olonne in 2012?

Jeudi, avril 7th, 2011

Samantha Davies, the Portsmouth-born skipper, is a bit of a star here in France and particularly in the Vendée after her brilliant 4th place finish in the 2008/09 Vendée Globe single-handled round-the-world race.  Today, I had the pleasure to meet Sam at her book-signing event in Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie.

This girl really « just wants to have fun » on the water (as she sang half-way through the Atlantic) and her idea of fun just happens to be sailing a 60ft boat in the forthcoming 2012 Vendée Globe!  Now the sailors amongst you will already know all about this landmark event and the incredible atmosphere it creates in Les Sables d’Olonne.  

But even if you’re not at all into boating, you should really think about making the trip to Les Sables.  Once there, you can take a long walk along the sea front, stroll through the cobbled shopping streets or simply watch life go by whilst enjoying your ice-cream (always top of my list!). 

If you want a taste of what Les Sables has to offer, the local Tourism Office will be running an exciting competition called « Les Sables Inside » from 18th April to 29th May 2011.  The 6 « immersion weekends » prizes will include luxury accommodation, French gastronomy and the opportunity to have an insider’s view of the main attractions – for instance: follow a keeper in the lion’s den at Les Sables’ famous zoo, get a few poker tips from the croupier at the Casino, or even sail with one of the Vendée Globe skippers and turn yourself into Sam Davies for the day! 

So, I don’t know about you, but I will certainly be putting my name down…  

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Oh, what a perfect day in Olonne sur Mer…

Samedi, mai 22nd, 2010

A lazy afternoon in Olonne

I’ve just had one of those perfectly blissful days that come along every now and again…ten of us met up on our friends’ private marshes in Olonne sur Mer for a day’s fishing, good food and wine, and great crack à la française.

We caught one trout between ten of us, but hey, who’s counting!  He’s chilling now in the freezer (anybody got a recipe they’d like to share?!).  Perhaps you don’t have the fortune to know anyone with their very own bit of marshland but don’t let this stop you if you’re in the area!

Top class cycle track in Olonne

Rent a bike, pick up a cycling map ‘Sentiers Pédestres & Cyclables’ from the tourist office and get pedalling!  The superbly maintained walking & cycling tracks in and around these marshes and the canal take you through some seriously breath-catching scenery.  There’s also another free guide ‘Sentiers Cyclables’ available in the tourist offices, though it’s much more general.

Pack your camera and some sun cream for the journey, Météo France has announced some scorchers for the days to come. Happy Cycling!

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Your dream job in les Sables d’Olonne!

Mercredi, mai 5th, 2010

CREAMERS

It’s a hard job as they say, but someone’s got to do it…

Les Sables d’Olonne, in partnership with Garnier Ambre Solaire, have launched a massive online search for two CREAMERS.

You could be working this summer on one of the most beautiful beaches in France, explaining in French, English and German the benefits of sun protection cream, and then be paid the luscious sum of FIVE THOUSAND EUROS for your six weeks of trouble!

Sorry, but I’m still gasping!  Why was there never a job offer like this around when I was a student!

So for any of your young ‘uns now biting at the bit to get applying, here are two easy steps to landing your ideal summer job…

Grande Plage, Les Sables d'Olonne

Firstly, apply online and download your self-promotional one minute video (via Youtube, DailyMotion or Vimeo), the jury are looking for something fresh and fun.

Then get twittering! Be a Facebook fiend!  Mobilise your online network and get everyone you know in the whole wide world to vote for you!  ‘Cos at the beginning of June, the ten most voted for candidates go through to the next round!

But don’t give up hope if you’re not in the top ten, the jury could still call you in for an interview… Oh, to be twenty years younger!

Here’s that link again, all in French: http://www.lejobdelete.com

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Vendee – St Petersburg Multihull Boat Race

Dimanche, mai 2nd, 2010

The Vendée St Petersburg Village

Brand new for 2010, the Vendée – St Petersburg Multi Hull Boat Race!  (link in French). Setting off from St Gilles Croix de Vie on the 16th May, nine boats  will be taking part in this adventure, with a three man team aboard each boat.

The Village is now open to the public with all boats present on Pontoon No 8, that’s down near the bandstand on the Croix de Vie side of town. 

The two pyramids you can see on my picture are jam-packed with fabulous info on the race, they’ve really pulled the stops out, we loved it. There’s lots of fun interactive games for the kids.  Including a computer simulated boat race on the big screen!

St Petersburg

The race will cover around 3791 nautical miles with a ten day stop-over planned in St Petersburg (some guys have all the luck!) before setting off again on the return journey on Monday, 31st May.  The first boats should reach St Gilles around the 4th or 5th June.

The idea is that this race will alternate with the Vendée Globe (which takes place every four years in Les Sables d’Olonne). 

I’ve managed to visit the Vendée Globe Village twice but sadly never got to see the boats actually leave the port.  However, St Gilles’ Pontoon 8 is a ten minute drive from home, so perhaps I’ll get lucky this year!

The Village is over 1000 m2, and it’s set up on the Carpark opposite the Conserverie, once again, on the Croix de Vie side.  Really and truly and absolutely worth visiting!

Open from Friday 7th to Monday 24th May and from Tuesday 1st to Sunday 13th June from 10 am to 7 pm.
Public loos, coffee shop, souvenir stands and even a ‘Change Bébé’, they’ve thought of everything!

FREE ENTRY

More info in this link (all in French)

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Two hours of fun – The Zoo in les Sables d’Olonne

Lundi, mars 22nd, 2010

lion

A lot of attractions start revving up for the season early April but this family-run zoo is open all year round (the link is mainly in French). 

It’s set 200m in from the coast, behind the lake Lac de Tanchet.  Our visit lasted almost 2 hours. 

It’s a relatively small zoo, but very well laid out, plenty of greenery and shade.  Feeding times of the animals are chalked up near the enclosures, try not to miss it!  

This zoo has nothing to do with the zoos I remember as a child.  It is above all a santuary for endangered species run by a dedicated team of biologists.

Graceful Giraffe

My son loved the white-handed gibbons (I can still hear their shrieks) and I fell for the grace of the giraffes.  Admittedly, it wasn’t  cheap, 13 € per adult and 8 € for Liam, but it was a fabulous family day out. 

But be more organised than we were, pick up a  Pass Côte de Lumière at the Tourist Office, it’s valid for 2 adults, you’ll pay full price on the first place you visit, and a reduced rate there on in to the other places marked in the pass.

I must have forgotten my camera that day ‘cos I haven’t a single picture of us.  Have had to borrow from the Zoo’s images, sorry!  Will update on our next visit.

Prices without the pass, adults 13€, kids 3 - 10 yrs old, 8€.  With the Pass (and it’s free!) – adults 11,70.  At the moment, it’s only open from 1.30 pm to 6.30 pm, & from April 3rd onwards, will open at 9h30 am.
Agrandir le plan

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