Château Marquis de Vauban, Blaye (day 2)

Our second day at the Château Marquis de Vauban. 

Today with temperatures due to peak at 41c we decided to walk out early, taking the path alongside the river Gironde to the town.

This is the Gironde where the German U Boats would have travelled from the U Boat pens in Bordeaux to the Atlantic during the second world war. We visited those pens in a previous blog.

The route passed through the citadel where a horse jumping event was taking place. With the heat building the horses well groomed coats glistened.

After each horse was ridden around the short course it was hosed down. We thought of the donkeys and horses in Morocco who toiled all day, and were left to graze on bare ground amongst the rubbish. How they would have loved to be cooled down like this.

A river cruise boat sat on its mooring, some of the visitors, mostly Americans had disembarked to take a look around Blaye. The fair is in town, which masked the true identity of the town.

 Coffee and pain chocolates at a popular cafe our Sunday morning treat. But the cost! We'd become used to coffee, tea and pain chocolates in Morocco for less than four pounds, sometimes less. Back at the chateau, after a busy night many of the vans began to drift away. We originally were only staying one night, but with the intense heat, and being in no rush, we thought we should stay for another.

So a lazy afternoon of reading and showering, using our pressurised lifesaver jerry can, before the day crept into evening. It's strange how on days when you do very little, they seem to pass by quickly. A bit like life. Don't spend too much time planning for the future, live for the day. Tomorrow is not guaranteed!