GSE Visit to District 1510- March 2010
You can follow their progress here in French (with lots of pictures)
Update 30 March 2010
We are now in the down-hill run of our trip.
Reading the last few emails it occurred to me that we missed telling you about one of our favourite places along the way - Pornic. Early in the trip we visited this lovely seaside town. 
The President of the Pornic Club owed a facenerie, which was a factory that decorated the most gorgeous pottery - the girls bought up big in the shop as we just couldn`t leave it there!
(See picture here)
We also visited a semiphore station and heard about 5 ships that had perished along the coast nearby. Our hosts have been very thoughtful and translated the story of each ship into English.
We all agreed that our lunch in a goregous little B&B was our favourite of the trip so far.
So far this week we have been busy visitng many clubs. In Le Sable D`Lonnes we were treated to a mayoral reception and then dinner at a restuarant owned by the most lively Haitian woman. The club were so much fun and sang impromptu songs of the sailors as it was a portside town.
We then moved onto Challans where we saw how frogs legs are processed. Mark was most disappointed that we didn`t get to try them, but I was OK with that after seeing the process!
We also visited a potato co-operative which sold early potatoes which fetched quite a good price for the farmers. We then sampled some of these potatoes for dinner.
From Challans we travelled to Parthenay for the District Conference. The highlight of the conference had to be our performance of Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport. It was just a shame that it was a talent show and we lacked talent... never mind.
On Sunday we had a visit at a most beautiful castle that was occupied but part of it open to the public. The gardens were magnificent - Lisa decided that this was her holiday home in the country. We decided we would all come and visit her there.
Au revoir, Natalie
Update 26 March 2010
Bonjoir Tasmanian Rotarians,
All the team members are still having an amazing time in France, I think we could all get used to this. Since the last report we have had lots more amazing experiences.
Sunday 21/3/10
This morning we left Cholet and headed to La Roche. Following lunch we w
ent to one of La Roche's main fundraising events of the year, a classical music concert.
Monday 22/3/10
Today we spent the day in Les Herbiers. In the morning we visited an old castle called Chateau Dardelay. Whilst here we had a guided tour through the castle and we also visited their art gallery. Following that we had a very nice lunch with some members of the Les Herbiers club at a restaurant on the top of a hill that over looked the city. That evening we had a presentation in front of their club.
Tuesday 23/3/10
This morning we left Les Herbiers and headed to Fontenay. During the morning we visited an apple and pear orchard. The automatic grading system that graded according to size and colour was very interesting. The afternoon was spent at Pepiniers Viticoles, which is a producer and seller of vines for vineyards. We were able to view to whole process that is involved in producing a new vine. We also visited their laboratory and finished the visit by tasting some of their wines. That evening we had a meal and presentation with members of the Fontenay club and a couple of members of the Lucon club.
Wednesday 24/3/10
Today we spent the day with the Lucon club. The morning was spent at Cavac. This company produces insulation made of hemp and flax fibres, with the by-products such as the shive and dust being made into animal bedding, animal food and plaster. We then visited the Agricultural College of Petre, where we saw their nursery, apple and pear orchard, dairy and beef operation. For the remainder of the afternoon we visited a beef farmer, which was extremely interesting for Matthew and Lisa. That evening we had a meal and presentation at Chateau de Rosnay.
Bye for now.
23 March 2010 Mark reports
Go Go Go is the word that springs to mind here is the wrap for the last 4 
days of GSE. In France another day a few more castles and many more lovely Rotarians.
Samur Thursday to Friday 18-19th
Samur is a town of around sixty thousand people situated right on the banks of the Loire River. It is famous for two things; the Cheval (horse) and Wine, particularly those made from Cabernet Franc over chalk soils.
Thursday was a professional day.
I was lucky enough to be accompanied by three lovely Rotarians, together we visited three organic vineyards. The first was a very interesting vineyard situated on very steep land abandoned after the second world war in favour of flatter land more easily worked. It is called the Coteaux de Treille, the original Coteaux du Layon. There they make beautiful wines produced from Chinon in a powerful dry style. Next we visited two vineyards who set about convincing me, with success I may add, that quality wines may be produced from Cabernet Franc planted under the right conditions. For me a perfect vocational day with much discussion of organics Terrior and pest and disease control.
Friday
Back with the team. Great Day which included a visit to the very impressive Samur national equestrian school, Cadre Noir de Samur. 400 trusty steeds 180 staff including many top riders as well as local and international students made for an informative and different visit of cultural and historical importance. Lisa would say tres impressive.
The day also included lunch in a trogladite, sculpture carved from chalk and a gathering with the mayor in the beautiful town hall.
Cholet, Saturday 20th
Another jam packed day. The town is famous for textiles including its famous red hanky. Highlights include a visit to a ninteenth century bleaching factory and also Blue Beards castle.
La Roche Sur Yon, Sunday 21st
A quite sleepy town, of a sunday anyhow, we are lucky enough to score an audience at a Rotary function featuring some very skillful musicians of classical music both modern and old. A fleeting stay but once again a chance to meet some lovely people and share a glass of wine over great conversation and food
For now I must dash.
Merci, thankyou and
A beintot, see you soon
Mark
20 March 2010
From Natalie and Lisa
This week we have some very interesting visits. Upon arriving in Ancenis we visited the Terrena Laiterie, which is a large cooperative cheese and butter factory. Gill was very concerned about the OH&S at this factory. 19,000t of brie is produced at this factory annually for France and Europe.
One very interesting thing about this club was that the had been bequeathed money to buy their very own club house and importantly they have their own bar. That night we had a meeting and presentation at the clubhouse with Muriel and Francois who are Gills first and favourite hosts.
Our second day at Ancenis included a visit to the Drouet freres (Drouet brothers) where they make wine from lots of small vineyards under contract. This company produces 12 million bottles of wine a year, 4 million of these bottles are recycled. (the bottles not the wine).
Our afternoon visit was to Clisson village which is a town with Italian based architecture. That night we had an inside BBQ at the club house where we were presented with a photographic collage of all the embarassing photos from this visit.
Another very interesting thing about the Ancenis club is that they sold Brioche (french sweet bread) in order to purchase shelter boxes for Chile.
Before departure to Angers we had a reception with the deputy mayor at town hall for a champagne breakfast where we exchanged gifts and walked away with a bottle of chancenis each, which is sparkling wine produced in Ancenis.
We then moved to Angers where we visited the modern tapestry museum in the former hospital building from the 12th century. We then went to Ernest Turc bulbs where they sold 9 million euros worth of bulbs last year.
Day two at Angers included a rendezvous with Jean François Roberti the naughtiest chauffeur we have had so far. After lunch we visited another winery (oh no, not that please!) where we learned how to taste wine properly. Step 1, no sculling. Our next visit was to INRA, a national agricultural and food science facility. Another one for the agronomes. Our dinner this night was a meeting with one of the five Rotary Clubs of Angers.
Day 3 at Angers we went to a college of 490 students between the ages of 14 and 16 which had a focus on students with difficult social and educational backgrounds. We had lunch at a restaurant with a Michelin Star, then visited the Angers cathedral where we think there may have been a pope buried, if Gill translated correctly. Then things got really tough, we visited the worlds only Cointreau factory for a tour and a tasting. After that we went to a cave (a wine cellar) for another wine appreciation course with Monsiuer Mark Robertson.
Wednesday 17.3 was our day off, however this wasnt to be as we had a lunch meeting with another club of Angers. The girls spent the afternoon at the chateau of Angers looking at world famous medievil tapestry, while the boys were looking at much smaller fabrics to buy gifts for their lovely ladies at home. That concludes our visit to Angers, we then moved to Saumur to start a new adventure.
Au Revoir,
12 March 2010; Natalie Everett reports.
Bonjour!
We have been spending this week in La Boule, which is a seaside town of about 12,000 people. Our two sponsor clubs have been St Nazaire Atlantique and La Boule, however most people in the St Nazaire Club actually live in La Boule.
Given the nature of the town there was not actually a Court here, so for my vocational day I was taken to Rene, which is the capital of Brittany. I spent the most interesting day with a Court of Appeal Judge, and learnt so much about the French system of law and also their Parliament. The buildings were so ornate and beautiful, and so rich in history and scandalous stories!
Since being here we have discovered the traditional Creperie, with crepes, galletes and cider on the menu - very nice!
Close by is the small town of Gerande. Here there is the main part of the town behind fortress walls. There are two gorgeous churches, many little shops and houses with very low doorways that are hundreds of years old. The main occupation of the area has been in the past based around the salt-marshes. Gerand is very famous for it`s salt, and a salted caramel product.
The towns and cities are such an amazing fusion of old and new.
We visited a port in La Turballe, which is predominantly a fishing village. Anchovy fishing has now been outlawed for conservation, so many of the fisherman now fish sardines. Many of the boats are equipped to fish only one type, therefore if there are changes to the laws as to what can be caught, they may lose their whole vessel and have to start again. We had the opportunity to board a vessel, and found that the fisherman would have had very primitive conditions and very close quarters. We felt very claustrophobic and could not imagine how they would spend so much time at sea with the rolling of the waves in such a confined space.
We also visited the village of Kerhinet which contained very old thatched-roof houses called chaumières.
Yesterday we went to an oceanarium that contained the sea life that is found in the Atlantic. We felt most at home when we saw a display about Australia, focusing on our sharks! We saw some very well-dressed penguins being fed and most intereseted in the fish nursery, which contained baby sharks, seahorse and eels.
We then went on to visit a biscuitery that was very popular with the town - 80 per cent of production was sold from the shop-front.
This afternoon we are going to visit the Royal Hotel and check out the spa and pool (on a professional visit!)- it will be a very hard afternoon!
Au revoir for now,
7 March 2010 Lisa Abblitt reports
We have arrived safe and sound to France, our arrival Sunday morning was a very rude shock to the system being greeted by extremely cold weather (tres foid).
MONDAY - Our first rendezvous was to Chateau de la Cassemichere for some wine tasting. Mark was already in his element. In 1789 the owner was beheaded in Nantes for hiding priests during the revolution. This was followed by a four course lunch, which included lots of wine. In the afternoon we visited a local nursery owned by a Nantes Rotarian. Pepinieres has int
roduced the kangaroo paw to France.
TUESDAY - In the morning we visited DFC2 (hardware distributor) which was owned by a man who is recognised by Rotary as having high ethical standards in business. Followed by another four course dejeuner (lunch)at a very fancy French brasserie (La Cigale), Mark had to move to the next belt buckle. In the afternoon we visited the Chateau of the Dukes of Brittany which was an enormous chateau whos moat was made by diverting the Loire. Here Nat pulled a sickie to get out of our first presentation. Bad by Nat. That evening we did our first presentation in front of 6 Nantes Rotary clubs (80 people present) and the district governor (le grande fromage). Following some technical difficulties, Mark being rather stressed and Nat being home sick in bed we got through our first presentation in French.
WEDNESDAY - Following some lunch we visited the School of Agroalimentaire, which is school of food science. After this we visited The Elephant, which is a giant wooden robotic elephant which was 8 metres high and cost 8 million euro to build. That evening we went to a shelter box presentation.
THURSDAY - Today was a vocational visit day. Mark visited vineyards and drank more wine, Nat visited a court house, Gill went to a nursing home and Lisa and Mattieu visited an organic dairy, glasshouse tomato operation, Atlantic Vert (rural merchandise company) and Oceane which was a vegetable marketing warehouse.
FRIDAY - Today we left Nantes and headed off with our new Rotary family to Pornic. Along the way we visited another vineyard (Domaine de Herbsauges)for some vine tasting. Gill was starting to be some kind of an expert on the topic. This was followed by a visit to a glasshouse cucumber and gerbera operation. In the afternoon we visited a dairy farm with a robotic milking machine. That evening we had a tres bon dinner at the home of one of the Pornic Rotarians house. We also gave an informal presentation.
Nantes facts and figures - 6th largest city in France, largest city in The Payes de Loire, former capital of Brittany, contains very beautiful cathedrals, chateaus and other architectural gems, population 500,000, royal family used to reside in Nantes, beautiful people, food and wine.
Pornic facts and figures - very beautiful seaside town, population 16,000, Pornic is close to the mouth of the Loire which is where 5 large ships have sunk
Au revoir for now