BUSINESS IN L’ORIENT

June 8, 2005

Today, Wednesday, we took the boat across to Port Louis, and rode our bikes across the town to the other dock, where we caught the boat to l’Orient.  The boat let us off right at the Port du Peches, so we were able to ride through the fish packing houses, warehouses and industrial areas to the submarine base. 

There seemed to be no problem for us to wander around in the area.  We got right up close to one structure and we could see inside and see how a lock system was used to get the submarine inside, and then drain the water so that work could be done.  There was an old submarine, post WWII, there also.  Nowadays many of the buildings are used to manufacture sailboats.  We saw a catamaran that was in the process of being built and another mold for the fiberglass being built.  There were many fancy sailboats moored nearby.  There is apparently a museum there, but it is only open on the weekends until summer season sets in.

After a full exploration of the submarine base we headed down town to the cyber café.  There was a nice bike lane marked out on the road, so there was no problem getting there.  We found it without any problem and they were just opening up, so Don was able to get in and get a station before the teenage boys took over all of the computers to play their games.  I sat in the nice park across the street and Don uploaded several reports.  Then we checked email and the bank. 

Next we went to check out car rentals and train schedules.  We are thinking about how we want to get from Gavres to Breville, our next home exchange.  Don wanted to reserve a car online and just drop it in Granville, without any prearranging.  But, I was worried about a possible nasty drop charge, so we went around to all of the car rental agencies asking about the possibility of dropping in Granville.  Of course, they all said no.  So, I bought train tickets to Rennes.  Our exchangers had telephoned us and said they could pick us up there on Sunday.  The train tickets were very cheap—only e17 each. Don was disappointed though.  He really wanted to be able to drive and see the countryside.

We took the ferry boats back to Port Louis and then to Gavres and tucked ourselves in for the night.

The following day, Thursday, we again took the ferryboats over to l’Orient and this time we rode south, around to the resort area of Larmor.  First we stopped for lunch at a seaside restaurant, Le Pavillon.  I had a nice salad with seafood, followed by an entrée of red snapper, and cheese.  Don had smoked salmon, duck and chocolate cake.

Then we continued our ride around the perimeter of the beach town, with miles of very nice beach.  We see many more people here than in Gavres.  The beaches are very busy and the restaurants and cafes are full.  In season I imagine that this place is a zoo.