Festival de Loire d'Orleans

On Thursday morning, a day after I got back from Maine, I was at Gare de l'Est on the train to Orleans.

For the FESTIVAL DE LOIRE. The trip took just 1 hour.

We passed through Place JEAN D'ARC .

Walking through town down to the Loire river. 

And stopped inside the beautiful gothic Cathedrale Sainte Croix d'Orleans. 

Arriving at the 5-day delight of boaty and watery events for the whole family. Sea chanties, rope knots, fireworks, boat races, antique boats, Dutch making smoked herring, English jacket potatoes, Cancal oysters.

You can  spot guest mariners wearing their red neckerchiefs and black pirate hats.

Of course there were plenty of scenic rides on the boats. The French call this a 'Balades en bateaux' meaning a ride, tour, promenade (not to be confused with a romantic song in English).

A few years ago I took a 'balade' to see the famous cliffs of Étrétat, imagining it to be a gentle romantic boat ride. Instead it was a bouncing, rocking boat with no getting off till the end of the tour. Not to worry.

These are very gentle boat rides along the Loire. I wouldn't say I'm very boaty much as I love seafood and clams, but this was all around a lovely experience.

And I loved all the little flags and banners waving in the wind. Great fun to paint. Sunday the 22nd is the last day until 2020. Definitely worth a day trip if you're in Paris. Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. If you enjoyed please share with a friend. *Get monthly subscription Paris letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox at ETSY xxx💋Carolg and Bear 🐻in Paris🇫🇷