Tales from the Vendée, France

Yesterday I spent most of my day travelling from Rome to the Vendée. It was quite a journey. I had to take a plane from Rome to Paris, to then catch a train to Poitiers, and change to another train that would take me down to Niort, where Roger Stowell from Camerahols was waiting for me.

Whenever I travel, I take my Ipod with me. This time I did not bring it since it got wrecked (well if I had to look at the bright side of it, my ears are still functioning). Yet, I did not need my Ipod since I got my dose of music, which came from other Ipods sources during my trip: on the train to Poitiers I had a teenager girl sitting behind me listening to Rihanna all the time, and on my way to Niort I had Ice-T-meets-Eminen-rapper dude in front of me pumping the Ipod’s volume. Unfortunately, their music taste was far way different from mine (I love U2, Coldplay, Keane, Kings of Convenience, Jamiroquai, Travis, etc), so that put the icing on the cake. My head was BANGING and I was nauseated!!

When I got to Roger’s home I meet his lovely wife, Jenny, who gave me two tables (don’t remember the name but it was the French version of Extra strength Tylenol – I guess), and my headache went away miraculously!!

Roger prepared a marvelous four course meal in such a short amount of time!! The menu was composed of a first course – Parmesan soufflé with chives (it was light and fluffy!!), the second course was Salmon steaks in a white wine sauce (tender and delicate), the third course was a tasty Neufchâtel cheese from Normandy (a good start in French Cheesucation) with a salad, and for dessert we had a fragrant and delicious Charentais melon with peaches.

No words to describe what a lovely evening, full of delicious food and great conversation with two wonderful hosts – a great start of my Photography course.

Even though today it’s been a cloudy and chilly day with scattered showers, I am having a wonderful time and learning so many things – and compensating yesterday’s horrid music experience with a great track from Travis – “Why does it always rain on me”. According to weather forecast, tomorrow will be sunny so I hope that tomorrow’s track is Travi’s “Walking in the sun”!