Jessica Viel - Loire

Jessica Viel - Loire Valley As the city came into sight the cheers got louder, crowds thronged the quayside – the Armada had begun. I made my way to the tall ship Thalassa, where I was sleeping that night. She usually serves as a training ship, run by tough salty sea dogs from the Netherlands. All gleaming wood and polished brass. From the deck I watched the fabulous nightly Armada fireworks display. From morning to midnight, the river was awash with boats floating past these majestic tall ships and getting a great view. Pleasure boats, restaurant boats, lifeboats, eco boats – collecting waste and sustainably disposing of it, there’s a serious message here too. There were boats full of people enjoying chilled beers, wine, music, some have a party atmosphere. After dark the quays throbbed to the sound of music, uplifting and great, great fun. You can explore the ships during the day and chat to the crews - the Mexican ship was very popular! You need to get up early to see the sailors servicing the ships, painting their hulls and doing their morning exercises. This is an unmissable event. Enjoy a boat ride, eat, drink and be merry. And sunscreen, take sunscreen! The next Rouen Armada will take place in June 2027. Details: armada.org Don’t miss the Maritime, Fluvial and Harbour Museum of Rouen Emma Horsfall - Alpes Joanna Dalet Midi-Pyrénées Anne-Sophie and Nynke Nouvelle-Aquitaine Start a new career as an independent sales agent Scan for more information Brad and Simon Bordeaux Helena Hermanns - Paris/Île-de-France Andrew Guck - Occitanie Declan McCann - Brittany Right by the Gustave Flaubert Bridge along the river front pop into the marine museum which is run by volunteers to gen up on the history of the port of Rouen. Model makers on site create incredible ships, there are fascinating exhibitions and artefacts, and when I was there members of the International Guild of Knot Tiers’ were demonstrating their skills creating knotted rope art. 1.musee-maritime-rouen.asso.fr Join our team in France and become part of a company unique in it’s field! If you would like the freedom to grow a successful business supported by an award winning team, please contact our recruitment department: www.leggettfrance.com +33 (0)5 53 60 82 77 recruitment@leggett.fr 60 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 61