Memorial Day
Like at home France celebrates those who have given their lives for their country. We had hoped to visit the D Day Beaches, but contracting COVID meant extending our stay at the cottage so we could safely quarantine. And because we have to turn the car in May 30th we had to cut out the Normandy Beaches and the Bayeux Tapestry. Oh well, we now have two more reasons to return!
Today was a little cooler in the morning so we took a walk along the tow path that parallels the Loire River to Mauves and back. The round trip walk to Mauves is only four miles, but from our cottage door to the gate at the end of the drive is half a mile one way, so our walk to Gabriel's village and back came to five miles. But it's a pretty walk. We needed to take advantage of the light breezes in the morning, because it's expected to reach 80F (24C) again.
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| A day on the Loire on a flat bottomed pleasure boat. |
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Walkway under the bridge from Mauves boat launch to public park. |
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The beagle's owner was capturing a Kodak moment and he wanted to say hello to another dog. |
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This boy waits patiently for his mom and beagle. |
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| Skiff tied up next to boat launch. |
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| Mauves railway to Le Cellier where we live. |
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The Mauves train station. You can be in the center of Nantes in 12 minutes. Cathy takes the train to work. The station is three minutes from home. |
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| Mauves public park across from the train station. |
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| Notice at the beginning of the tow path leaving Mauves. |
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| The rings used to moor barges along the tow path. |
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Gabriel said this is called Conterfeiter's Cave (it's under the first arch on the left) because legend has it that pirates & other criminals used it as a hideout. |
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| Walkers, runners, and cyclist love this path. |
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| Railway bulkhead along tow path. |
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The walk from our cottage to Mauve, where Gabriel and his family live, isn't far, but it feels longer because the path seems to stretch into infinity. |
After lunch we had a rest and then met Gabriel, Cathy, and Nils at their house. They drove us into Nantes where we walked around Il de Nantes (Nantes Island), the former canning industry and ship building hub of the 1900's. Prior to that, the slave trade to America brought the city great wealth until it ended in 1827 when sugar imported from the Mascarene Islands east of Madagascar proved more profitable and legal.
Today Il de Nantes is being gentrified with start ups, a new Palace of Justice, public spaces, exhibition halls, art installations, cafes and bars. Because the island was once an industrial site the spaces are enormous. There are all kinds of play areas and several new carousels built in the style of the turn of the 20th century. The transformation of this former industrial hub is ongoing but the citizens of Nantes have reclaimed the island for recreation and entertainment.
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| Exhibition hall at entrance of Il de Nantes. |
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| Art—starfish and sea urchin? |
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Carousel of the Seafarers' Worlds. The rides are creatures from Jules Verne's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". |
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| The carousel is massive. |
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| This carousel is scaled for the little ones. |
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Cathy, Nils, Marie & Gabriel under The Titan, a decommissioned crane that has become a symbol of Nantes' former industrial might. |
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The Titan, built in 1954 and used until 1987, carried prefabricated elements for the construction of ships. |
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Enlarge this to read about the Estuary art installation pictured next. |
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Art—The Nest clings to the side of a cliff. It serves as a view point you can walk on to look across the Loire back at Il de Nantes. |
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Art—The White Tree several cliff ledges left of The Nest. |
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Nils checks out "The Moon," an interactive art installation that allows kids to enjoy weightlessness. Mini tramps are at the bottom of the craters. |
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| Dredger off Il de Nantes. |
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| This Loire River taxi carried us across to... |
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| ...a new brew pub. We were happy to enjoy a glass of their craft beer after walking 9.5 miles today. |
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