The sun has set and it is getting close to 11 at night. We are sitting on the harbour wall in St Martin de Ré waiting for the fireworks to begin. It’s the end of a Bastille Day that began with ceremonial events in the various villages across the Ile de Ré . We were in La Courade…
This year’s events while being festive were also a little more serious, coming so close to the hundredth anniversary of the start of La Grande Guerre.
Of course once the band had finished playing and the free plastic tricolores had been handed out it was business as usual. La Courade was busy enjoying a holiday.
Even though it was France’s biggest holiday, the island didn’t seem particularly busy this July 14th. I have seen it busier on a sunny Sunday in May. In fact until the evening fireworks St Martin felt rather quiet. More importantly it was looking rather beautiful.
As the sun started to set we went looking for a comfortable spot to see the fireworks.
When Vauban designed the walls that encircle St Martin de Ré he probably wasn’t thinking about comfort but his thick fortifications were a great place to lie down and watch the sun disappear and the fireworks begin.
To see if our house on the Ile de Ré is available when you are click here….
http://vacances-iledere.fr/location-vacances-ile-de-re-villa-4-pieces-saint-martin-de-re/0312.html
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