Here is a view of the running and biking path north of La Rochelle/L’Houmeau. It goes along the coast for miles and miles, and is occasionally paved but mostly gravelly dirt.
This is the beach that is closest to L’Houmeau, about a ten minute walk from my apartment. It is composed of stones between pebble and English muffin size, and yet people sit and sun on the beach as if it were sand.
All across the North of Europe (at least France and Germany) many of the fields are covered in these yellow flowers in the spring. From a distance, it just looks like a solid yellow carpet. This is on the walk between my apartment and the grocery store.
This is a view of L’Houmeau, the little village where I lived in France. It is surrounded by agricultural fields, and this field is between the town and the beach.
All the towns and cities in France do this…there is no confusion about exactly when you step foot outside the city.
This is a view of the nature reserve on the south side of L’Houmeau. People are completely barred from entering, and there are tons of waterfowl in the marsh.
