Drumming over the Atlantic.

Last night's dinner:

Stopped at a market yesterday on the way from Andernos-Les-Bains to our new camp site here at Pyla; and bought provisions for last night's dinner.

Forgot to take photograph until these two pieces of rabbit were stripped to the bone.

The sun going down after dinner:

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Prior to dinner, the chap arrived to saw off the offending branch whose removal would so enhance our view of the sea.

Before the chap.

The chap.

After the chap.

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Drumming practice update:

This morning I had the most spectacular drumming perch yet. 2 or 3 minute walk away but firm under foot, nobody about and no possibility of disturbing camp site.

Passed the top of these steps down to the beach and found a more secluded position.

Here.

Set up the drum.

View straight ahead.

View to the right.

A few insects flying about including a very long bee with a black and yellow striped coat - a hornet?

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Currently listening to:

Terry Riley

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Currently reading:

And also:

Which I downloaded to my Kindle for £1.83.

Andernos to Pyla

Last night's dinner:

Kir Cassis to start then Rose wine

Skate and capers and potatoes

After dinner walk.

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Drumming practice update:

Last morning practising on this terrace at Andernos-Les-Bains:

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Final shots of the hotel:

Dido the Boxer

The garden.

Some of the bedrooms.

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Currently listening to:

Bought a CD by Andre Minvielle and Lionel Suarez (accordionist) for playing in the car and listened to it on the way from Andernos-Les-Bains to Pyla sur Mer where our new camp site is for the next 7 days.

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Pyla Sur Mer:

Arrived at our camp site near the great Dune of Pyla, just south of Arcachon. Got a great cabin with a sea view and a brilliant internet connection.

The view from the cabin terrace.

Asked for this branch to be cut off to improve the view - they said they would do it.

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Currently reading:

Reading this memoir on the Kindle and it is brilliantly written but I can't connect with the character in the way Viv Albertine bewitched me in her memoir.

Bordeaux for £3.50 return.

Last night's dinner:

Kir Cassis to begin with.

Foie gras

And............

Lamprey eel - delicious

We found this little silver tray on our bed when we returned - heap powerful stuff.

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Drumming practice update:

As usual, up at the crack of dawn practising with my drum pad - the actual drum is too loud for the terrace and the bay is so quiet that even a voice or a dog bark can be heard for miles and miles.

I'm concentrating on increasing the definition between loud (accented) strokes and quiet (ghost) strokes. Easy to do at very slow pace but as one speeds up the ghost strokes get louder and louder and are indistinguishable from the loud notes that they are supposed to contrast against.

The drum pad and the still bay.

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Breakfast:

Took some photos of the large open plan area where breakfast is served.

Coffee table.

Sofa

Hanging lampshade made from a bucket.

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Bordeaux:

Then took the bus to Bordeaux. An hour's journey right into the centre; a journey which must be heavily subsidised because it only costs £3.50 for a day return.

Some views of Bordeaux.

This was a live transmission of the ballet troupe practising.

This was a queue to get into a particular restaurant.

Can't believe it was that special.

We had a midday galette at a more modest affair.

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Miscellany:

Just round the corner from our hotel in Andernos-Les-Bains is a little shop which sells crafts made in Madagascar, including a huge selection of model planes and cars made from sections of tin salvaged from old tin cans and the like. I bought this plane which I reckon is approximately HO scale and has the quirky feel that I believe my model railway layout has. I will dangle it from the ceiling above the layout.