Anes en Culottes

Yes, I do have another lighthouse for you but it's in the extras today.

We went off to Saint Martin which is the main city of Ile de Re. It has strong fortification around the land and sea sides of the town, which date back to the wars of religion in the 17th century. There's also a prison within the walls where convicts were held before being shipped out to French penal colonies such as French Guiana, the most famous of which was used in the story of 'Papillon'. The prison itself is still in use. 

It was attempting to spit with rain this morning when we arrived and although the sun broke through occasionally, it eventually started to rain properly soon after midday. Fortunately, by that time I had been where I wanted to go and was waiting for Marian near where we planned to eat. As the rain came on I got a table for us at Skipper's Restaurant and sat under the sunshade (doubling as an umbrella) while waiting for her. It didn't last too long and by the time we'd finished eating the sun was out again.

My blip is of the harbour with the ruins and the bell tower of Eglise Saint Martin visible above the quayside and the bistros. One of my extras, as I indicated earlier, is of the lighthouse and a second one is of a donkey in pyjamas. Why, do I hear you ask? Apparently they used to be used for hauling the salt that is produced in Ars and they were troubled by the mozzies around their legs and knees particularly. So 'Anes en Culottes' has become a tradition which extends to the desendents of those donkeys which are now used to give rides to children in St Martin.