A week in Charente
Friday 14 August 2009 at 11:41 am. Used tags: angouleme, aubelleflaur, bbking, bluepassions, charente, cognac, holiday, photographyWe recently took a short break in France spending our time at a wonderful B&B in the rolling hills of Charente. Most striking and memorable to visitors to the region are the endless fields of bright yellow sunflowers intermingled with vineyards.
Charente Winding Road - Canon EOS 5DmkII, Canon 16-35 f/2.8L, ISO 100
I can imagine at this point you're asking yourself where is the stunning landscape of yellow sunflowers? So abundant was this sight upon our arrival (and with the Cognac Blues Festival deserving my full attention) I decided there would be plenty of time to capture this magnificent site - I was wrong! As the week progressed they progressively drooped until they resembled something from my home window sill.
Feeling the Blues
Thanks to some excellent planning we managed coincide our trip with the Cognac Blues Festival, otherwise known as "Blues Passion".
Cognac is normally quite a sleepy city the rest of the year (or so the locals tell us), once a year however it comes alive with an influx of fantastic musicians from around the world who for little more than a ruffle of applause will entertain you for free on the local streets.
We spent the first 3 days consumed by the wonderful and vibrant atmosphere, enjoying everything from an impromptu honky-tonk playing in cafés, to queuing outside the Museum to see BB King.
We had the time of our lives, and will most definitely be returning next year!
Home Sweet Home (well nearly!)
It's amazing how twitter can influence our lives, or more accurately how people we follow can impact our decisions.
I'm unsure quite how I came to be follow @darrenporter but doing so introduced me to the wonderful B&B he and his lovely family have been renovating for the last couple of years.
I am admittedly a right 'fussy bugger' when it comes to accommodation (I've been known to reject rooms in the London Hilton before now) so deciding to stay, in a then unknown B&B, took quite a leap of faith. I needn't have worried, in fact it's one of the best risk-based decisions I've ever made, it was simply fabulous!
Leaving Darren's wife Franca with a bouquet of flowers of our gratitude upon departure I knew we would undoubtedly soon return, and be cherishing our time there for many months to come.
Ghost Town
You have to hand it to the French, they not only have stunningly cheap wine and c'est la vie attitude, but they take half the working day off. I swear to God everytime I wanted a supermarket or tourist information office it would be shut, in fact even a city like Angouleme could resemble a ghost town.
Angouleme Street - Canon EOS 5DmkII, Canon 16-35 f/2.8L, ISO 100
Caroline especially fell in love with Angouleme a little. Despite me equating it to Manchester in terms of status and feel, it does have some charming architecture reminiscent of Paris and well worth a visit.
Dancing Queen Princess
I have to accept that now progressing through my mid-thirties I'm no 'spring chicken'. I do however consider my energy and stamina levels pretty good!
Well that was until I saw young Fleur (daughter of B&B owners Franca and Darren) dispense energy like it was going out of fashion.
The shot you see to the right is just one example were she caught us unaware, although ironically I simple love it, for all it's technical faults.
Truly an amazing little girl, not only did she spend much of her time teaching us French, but danced like an Angel for the camera. Thank you Fleur!
French picnic - tug of war anyone?
Whilst in France I had the extreme pleasure of meeting one of my favourite photog's - Jonathan Charles.
Having recently purchased a house in the region Jonathan and his lovely wife Marie were kind enough to invite us for lunch at their georgous house in the Charente-Maritime countryside. Although Jonathan and I had exchanged many emails and critiques we'd never actually met, making their invitation all the more special.
To our delight some days later they invited us to their local village picnic at the maires residence with their daughter Juliette and son Guy. We had the most smashing time, and were even asked to partake in a 'tug of war' match - which we won!
Knock Knock!
For some unfathomable creative reason I took a shine to French doorways whilst wandering around Angouleme and promptly began snapping away.
Interestingly I not only have a favorite, but am eager to resume this project upon my return to France. There is a charm and mystic about their architecture and exterior I feel compelled to document.
Watch this space! .. and yes, future ones will be square on :)
Random
With an immeasurable workload since my return from France it's taken me nearly two weeks to write this post and process some photographs. Here are a few more random ones that made it through my quick pick.
five comments
. As you know it was more than a pleasure to have met you and Caroline.
Looks like you had a fabulous time Ian. Some great shots as well. I know what you mean re the doorways. I think you’d love Bruges for architecture and if I’m right I think you can get the Eurostar out there from your neck of the woods.
John (URL) - 15-08-’09 15:15
Even without the yellow sunflowers, that’s a fantastic landscape. I love long winding roads and lone trees, and you capture them just perfectly. And those big fluffy clouds!!
Daniel (URL) - 18-08-’09 15:06
Brilliant pics!!
Regarding ghost towns – Shops are usually closed on Sundays/Mondays in France and it’s indeed so quiet … (and depressing for some)
Nice to read about France through the ‘English eye’ – Thanks for sharing this, it was a great read :)
Nathalie
Nathalie (Email ) (URL) - 14-08-’09 15:59