As Provence is in my blood through my mother's ancestry, Vendee is in my blood through my father's family.
Interestingly enough, he ended his life there quite by accident, mainly because my sister chose to buy a house in Les Sables d'Olonne for her retirement.
We used to come to this part of the world and to Noirmoutier in particular for summer holidays and to visit my horologist great-uncle Victor in La Roche-sur-Yon.
I have great memories of these visits, as many a child would do, being left alone to our own devices, roaming the beaches, climbing trees and being treated to somptuous meals populated by all the wonderful local produce that Mum would accomodate in endless and delicious permutations.
I have just updated my "Travel" page with stories and photos of this pleasant part of France. Click here for more.