July 2024
We went here for an aikido seminar with a group of 8 people. Rented a minibus, the road took about 16 hours, half of which was through France. Stopped about every 3 hours, France has very well-developed rest stop infrastructure with normal toilets and cafes. Unlike Germany, where there are no free toilets, out of principle apparently. Out of the same principle I haven't paid for them once in 10 years in Europe, pull the doors towards you.
Left Friday evening, arrived Saturday afternoon. Ate mussels in a restaurant for about 15 euros for a huge pot
The island is famous for being where they filmed Fort Boyard
There are several towns on the island, we lived in the very center of the island. Town layouts are identical, small center, and around it lots of individual houses
All social life of the town happens at the market, like in childhood. Seafood prices after Prague are funny, 10 euros per kg of big shrimp
You can walk around the town in 15 minutes, but better to bike or drive
Went to a fortress
Marine theme everywhere
Even on me
Ocean nearby
Between towns there's quite decent bike infrastructure
They grow mussels on the island, in mini-swamps
Process of growing mussels
Lunch from the market for five people 30 euros
Nothing to say about beaches - they're normal, sandy. On the very first day I lost my swimming trunks because I undressed in front of a French woman and threw them in the bushes, then forgot
House for eight people for a week cost a bit over 1500 euros for the week
Around the house like this
Second place where everyone hangs out - supermarket
Traffic very slow, including thanks to quality infrastructure
Central square
We came during the Olympics, by the way
And were almost the only foreigners. Hardly anyone speaks English, keep in mind
Center at 9 pm
Nothing to do there, so need to grill kebabs at home
Which is what we did
No real point going to restaurants, wine and seafood are dirt cheap, recipes are easy. French feature: on the way out, when everyone pays their own, just say the amount you're paying. If you tell them what dishes you had, the waiters will be stumped. After Prague it's quite a surprise.
Wine of amazing quality 5-7 euros per bottle. At the market tried oysters for the first time, tasty
And also did aikido twice a day, the humidity in the house was so high that gi didn't dry at all
But survived the week
When I'm old, will definitely move to the sea. After a week of chilling Prague seems too much on cocaine
Rare photo: me at the beach, under the sun, and not whining
