Port-sur-Saone, Corre, La Rochere and Exploring France

Walking around Port-sur-Saone

When do you take time to explore new areas?  For us it happens when we travel.  One of the perks of cruising is having the opportunity to check out all the little nooks and crannies of France that most tourists never see.  We are often delighted, sometimes surprised, and always pleased with what we discover.

Friendly Llama in the park in Port-sur-Saone

Sweet deer in the park.

Part of the beautification program at Port-Sur-Saone.

Exploring beautiful Epinal with friends and buying our baguette and dessert.

Reflection

Our view while walking along the Petit Saone River.

Cruising along the Petit Saone we never tire of the scenery.

In Corre I was impressed with the vegetable garden this gentleman was growing.

I love my walks along the canal.

This lock house should get a prize for their flower garden.

Cheerful flowers by the lock house.

Sunflowers

A garden growing on the inside of the lock wall.

Wood pile

We took a drive one day in search of La Rochere, a glass blowing factory.  Our GPS (Peaches) gets confused sometimes.  In our search, at one point she put us in the parking lot of an empty building in the wrong town.  While trying to find the factory we drove through an area gaily decorated with bicycles and yellow shirts.  The Tour de France had come through.  The rider that led the pack the day before gets to wear a yellow jersey.  The Tour de France is a big deal in France.  One year we will be in the right place at the right time, and have the opportunity to cheer the riders as they speed by.  For now, all we saw were the remains of the celebrations that took place.  I had Tom stop the car numerous times so I could jump out and take pictures of the clever decorations people had.

Giant bicycle suspended

Clever decor

Interesting use of a bicycle wheel

A bicycle statue

Once we found the glass factory La Rochere we saw two people blowing glass.  The factory is the largest active Art Glassworks in France.  Founded in 1475 it is situated in the Haute Saone, on the borders of Lorraine, Franche-Comte and Champagne.  We saw the glassmakers’ gather, shape with a shaping block, blow, and form the glass.

Forming the heated glass on a block

It can take two to blow and form the glass.

The glass factory 

This season I've been constantly trying out new recipes.  The Goat Cheese Tart was a success.