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Lymington Twinners trip to Vitré
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LITA twinners visited Vitré in late May 2012, most travelling together by coach; and three by bicycle. After the usual warm welcome from our hosts on the Friday evening, we enjoyed an evening meal with our hosts. Those of us staying with people we had met before caught up on family news, while those visiting families for the first time were soon feeling at home.
Saturday morning saw us up bright and early to catch the coach to Nantes, where we were treated to a visit to ‘Les Machines de l’île’. This popular tourist attraction has been developed on part of the site of former naval dockyards, and was devised in part to capitalise on the skills used there in the past. It focuses on the creation of amazing mechanical models of animals and plants. The highlight is the great elephant as high as a four-storey house which walks around the site. We also saw a heron with an 8-metre wingspan which ‘flies’ carrying four passengers the length of the Gallery of Machines., while one of our party enjoyed a ride on a huge mechanical caterpillar. We also saw a model of a proposed Heron Tree due to be built elsewhere in the city and walked up a prototype branch. Many of the group decided they must return again one day to see a vast Marine World Carousel due to open in July.
After a picnic lunch in warm sunshine we then enjoyed a guided tour of the Chateau de Nantes, returning to Vitré quite weary after a grand day out.
Sunday and Monday were spent with our host families, but we all got together on the Monday evening in a village hall for a very enjoyable meal where we were entertained by a traditional band and were swept up in some Breton dancing. On Tuesday morning those travelling with the coach assembled for the drive back to Caen, stopping on the way at the Airborne Museum at Pegasus Bridge.
Saturday morning saw us up bright and early to catch the coach to Nantes, where we were treated to a visit to ‘Les Machines de l’île’. This popular tourist attraction has been developed on part of the site of former naval dockyards, and was devised in part to capitalise on the skills used there in the past. It focuses on the creation of amazing mechanical models of animals and plants. The highlight is the great elephant as high as a four-storey house which walks around the site. We also saw a heron with an 8-metre wingspan which ‘flies’ carrying four passengers the length of the Gallery of Machines., while one of our party enjoyed a ride on a huge mechanical caterpillar. We also saw a model of a proposed Heron Tree due to be built elsewhere in the city and walked up a prototype branch. Many of the group decided they must return again one day to see a vast Marine World Carousel due to open in July.
After a picnic lunch in warm sunshine we then enjoyed a guided tour of the Chateau de Nantes, returning to Vitré quite weary after a grand day out.
Sunday and Monday were spent with our host families, but we all got together on the Monday evening in a village hall for a very enjoyable meal where we were entertained by a traditional band and were swept up in some Breton dancing. On Tuesday morning those travelling with the coach assembled for the drive back to Caen, stopping on the way at the Airborne Museum at Pegasus Bridge.
Other exchange visits with Vitré:
Lymington twinners trip to Vitré 2018
Vitré twinners visit to Lymington 2015
Lymington twinners trip to Vitré 2014
Vitré twinners visit to Lymington 2013
Vitré twinners visit to Lymington 2011
Lymington twinners trip to Vitré 2018
Vitré twinners visit to Lymington 2015
Lymington twinners trip to Vitré 2014
Vitré twinners visit to Lymington 2013
Vitré twinners visit to Lymington 2011
Lymington International Twinning Association
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