2nd October 2023
We’re on the final week of our month- long tour of France – taking in the group stages of the Rugby World Cup, plus visiting the three main mountain ranges of France: The Alps, The Pyrenees & The Jura as we look ahead to winter. NEW
More of the mountains later, first the rugby.
We are currently in Nantes, south west of Paris near the Atlantic coast.
Last weekend it was Argentina v Chile as the two skiing nations battled it out.
This weekend it’s Wales v Georgia on Saturday, and Argentina v Japan on Sunday.
Wales have already qualified for the quarter- finals but will want to top their group, while the Sunday game is a winner takes all – the victorious team progresses, while the loser is on their way home.
It is most certainly moving into the business end of the tournament.
Argentina and Chile are both ski nations offering amazing skiing in the Andes.
Cerro Catedral, Argentina, Image © PlanetSKI
On arrival in the city of Nantes the chateau had been illuminated for the World Cup.
Nantes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
The Argentinian victory (59-5) was expected, but it was fabulous for the two South American nations to meet for the first time at a Rugby World Cup.
Chile did certainly not disgrace themselves, despite the scoreline.
Nantes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Nantes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
The game was played out in the best of atmospheres.
Perhaps the friendliest game we have been at so far, and truly a festival of rugby.
Nantes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Nantes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Now regular readers of PlanetSKI in the winter months will know that our favourite resort visits are often onee we visit on road trips.
We have a rough plan but generally just wing it and make it up as we go along.
We end up stumbling across ski areas and resorts that we have not skied in and sometimes never heard of.
We’re now doing the same, but in the autumn:
See here for our main articles on autumn in the mountains:
E-biking in the Pyrenees. Image © PlanetSKI
E-biking in the Pyrenees. Image © PlanetSKI
The Jura. Image © PlanetSKI
But now we’re in Nantes, away from the mountains, near the west coast and are back concentrating on the Rugby World Cup.
After the match last Saturday we turned into PlanetBEACH for a Sunday visit to the Atlantic coastal town of Pornic.
It was not dissimilar to Devon and Cornwall.
Pornic, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Pornic, France. Image © PlanetSKI
With a coastline to match.
Pornic, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Pornic, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Pornic, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Like visits to little-know ski resorts in the winter months that suddenly catch our attention this visit was an utter treat:
Pornic, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Pornic, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Back in Nantes there were some other games of rugby to watch in the bars that litter the old-town.
Nantes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Nantes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
Next we are off to the sleepy-French town of Longre.
“Why Longre?” you may ask.
Well, it’s a couple of hours south of Nantes and, more importantly, it’s where PlanetSKI’s web designer lives in the summer.
It’s back to PlanetSKI work and sorting out the technical side of the web site for next winter.
It’s going to be a long, but necessary, few days.
Then the small matter of next weekend’s rugby matches…
Nantes, France. Image © PlanetSKI
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This article was originally published by Planetski.eu. Read the original article here.
