A little further up the Atlantic coastline, we made our next stop at La Rochelle, France. We took a shuttle bus into the city core, aware that it was a Labour Day holiday. After about a twenty minute ride to Place de Verdun, we got off the bus shortly after 8am and started walking down the deserted cobblestone streets in search of some better coffee than the ship had to offer.
With the holiday, we were pleasantly surprised to find a nice little bakery open, with good coffee and some croissants. Fully caffeinated, we headed for the vieux port and a few notable landmarks. The narrow entrance to the old port is guarded by a picturesque tower on either side, with a third tower a little further down along an ancient harbour wall. We walked further around the old walls and back up through a beautiful park, before heading back into the downtown.
Skirting the harbour, we stumbled upon a farmer's market bustling with activity and fresh produce, meat and seafood in street stalls (Wednesday and Saturday), clustered for several blocks around a more permanent market building. I practiced my French a little more and we came away with a ham on baguette sandwich and some local strawberries. There was even a food truck where the entire back section opened us to reveal racks of rotisserie chicken!
Walking slowly back to the port via more side detours, we found a quaint table harbourside and enjoyed some more fine wines of Bordeaux, all while soaking in the atmosphere.
We eventually walked back to the Place de Verdun and caught the next shuttle bus back to the ship. After dinner at O'Sheehan's, we took to the balcony and watched a skilled crew show us how the gangway is supposed to be removed, with military precision. We threw off lines and the Norwegian Star headed back out into the Bay of Biscay, past the nearby Ile de Re and its new and iconic bridge.
We really liked La Rochelle - it felt like the kind of place one could live for a few months in retirement. Lovely old world charm but without much of a tourist vibe, and a good size but not too big. It felt real.
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