Hello, Sunshine!

We were sorry to leave Brittany, but the brilliant sun and cloudless blue skies over the Île de Ré have brightened our moods considerably. Our rental in the village of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré is a perfect spot for enjoying this delightful weather. Large doors let in the sun and can be fully opened, making it feel like we’re outside while we’re sitting at the dining table. Of course, we can also actually sit outside – with a choice of three different seating areas! Little lizards run around on the deck, checking the cracks between the boards for anything tasty, we presume. So far they haven’t run into the house through the wide open doors…

One of our first orders of business was to rent bikes. We barely use the car while we’re here – there are bike paths everywhere. J is trying out an e-bike for the first time, while M is staying old-school. The majority of bikes we see are e-bikes, ridden by young and old.

Our second order of business was to figure out which nearby bakery has the best bread and pastries. Fortunately, it turned out to be the closest one, just a short walk (or bike ride) away. We already have a major crush on their chaussons aux pommes, a type of apple turnover. Good thing we’re riding those bikes everywhere!