27/02/2026
Two attempts to get away with my new VW van.
Two returns to the château.
A shower leak.
Endless storms.
And plans quietly rerouting themselves.
Still — I went.
And even without the season starting, everything was beautiful in its own way.
I drove the west coast in winter.
The small islands, almost empty.
Wild, windswept, and completely still.
Noirmoutier,
Île d’Oléron,
Île de Ré —
all connected by bridges, all shaped by salt, oysters, and the ocean.
In summer they’re buzzing.
In winter, they feel raw and quiet.
I loved them like this.
I even checked myself into a thalasso hotel in Pornic, right on the beach,
while yet another storm passed through.
Jet massages, algae baths, saltwater beds, seaweed wraps —
everything centred around the benefits of the ocean.
Highly recommend it on the west coast.
Just imagine it with blue skies and sunshine… haha.
Here are a few of my favourite images 🤍
I know, I’m a bit obsessed with lighthouses — once practical, now purely magical to me.
