Wysh Zwing Thwang Boom - It must be Bastille Day

Chinon took off last night. Crazy, fun place to be! Oh to have got a photo of wine producer Patrick Lambert line dancing in the main square with wife Nadia and a host of others. Hot, packed and noisy. On July 14, Bastille Day, that's how we like it to be. Cordite filled the air, following the usual dazzling firework display, which lasted for a good twenty minutes,  against the backdrop of Chinon Castle - La Forteresse, and accompanied by some stirring classical music. The fireworks were due to start at 11pm and bang on time - oops sorry - all the lights went out, then came a brief introduction and off we went. The bangs and booms were timed to perfection and looked stunning. No one wanted it to end. The day was long but at this point, the night was young and Chinon was clearly in the mood to party.

We'd been in Chinon the night before (13th) as La Forteresse had a late-night opening, until midnight. Not been around for one of these before. Such a lovely atmosphere and the views over Chinon from the ramparts was gorgeous. On the other side of the river near the campside, live jazz was wafting across from La Guingette, which had been lit up specially. It's an open air cafe and dance/entertainment space, which also at various times in the summer, hosts open air film shows. Also discovered the café area at La Forteresse was open and that a friend of ours who runs Café Français has the concession,  so stayed for a chat and a coffee with her. Met some other people up there who we know. Got in late. 

So Sunday morning - 14 July - we came into Chinon early. There was a small parade of war veterans and local politicians to mark the official nature of the day. Being a Sunday, we wanted to pick up a few things from the small market in the square and grab a cup of coffee.The town was bustling with the market, church goers, firework specialists and the marching band. There were various family events planned for the afternoon. Our own plans involved going to dinner at Les Années 30, which we'd booked a couple of weeks before - just as well. All the restaurants were full that night. Dinner was fabulous - the six of us had a marvellous time. Got there for 8pm and left around 10.45. Legged it to the bridge in the centre of Chinon which is the best place from which to see everything. It was of course heaving, but we found a spot, literally just in time as the fireworks started about a minute after we got there. Goodness knows how many people were watching. The road over the bridge and the main road leading to it had been blocked off, so we could all move around safely. After the fireworks had finished, the crowd mostly headed towards the main square, where a stage had been set-up with a DJ and a decent dancing area in front of it. Danced around for a bit before the line dancers moved it. Line Dancing is hugely popular over here. Seriously thinking of joining a group. It is such fun.

Started looking for a table to have a late-night drink, but no chance! So in the end went back home.Cravant of course has its own celebrations which we would normally go to. But we wanted our friends to experience Chinon. It is special. Cravant of course celebrates in its own way and it's really well done. There are events for children in the afternoon, a boule competition and later a big bonfire,fireworks and music and dancing till the early hours. We've been to it at least three times since we've had the house. Something you want to go to with neighbours. Met one of them this morning - Alain. He'd been into Chinon like us and then came back to Cravant. Finally crawled into bed at 2am. So he'd a good time as well.