A volunteers weekend in France

Although the volunteer work is pleasant; it doesn’t compare to the volunteers weekend at La Giraurdière.  Technically, though the volunteers weekend at La Giraudiere may start on Friday, there really is no reason to wait that long.

Singer Alice Francis entertains La Guardiere volunteers at Lac Brossac during their weekend break

On Thursday evening, the local village or Brossac features a music concert alongside the picturesque etang valliere or Brossac Lake.

This week, the song stylings of Alice Francis, are featured.  A somewhat mysterious singer, rumored to be anything from Romanian to German to American, she got the crowd up on their feet and she didn’t let them go. 

Think Beyonce with a European flair and you’ll have a good idea to what the audience was treated.  Marlene and Colin were so enamored with her that they walked away from the concert wearing tee shirts with the image of Alice Francis emblazoned on their chests.

In the small neighboring village of Bardenac, only 5 km or so from La Giraurdière, there is a small restaurant devoted to serving lunches to the area workers.  The ambiance may be simple but the food is anything but.  There is no menu as the daily course of food is pre-set.  It’s anyone’s guess what the offerings will be for the day but that is irrelevant, as no matter what is served, it is sure to please.  And did I mention it is a seven course meal?!  

Vegetable soup with bread is followed by a vegetable platter of locally grown produce.  Crab wrapped in salmon is next up and feels like it could be the central plat.  The pork that follows gets that honor and it is a melt in your mouth affair.  A small salad follows to clear the palate before the cheeses arrive.  Brie, Gouda and Blue Cheese from local dairies are a feast in themselves.  Somehow we all find room for the pudding topped with blueberries that rounds out the men

Volunteers weekend chilling out

Of course, wine is plentiful throughout the entire meal and only adds to the high spirits of the lunch.  a meal like this, if it could be found at all, in Paris might set you back a weeks wages; But in the little village of Bardenac our wallets leave only 12 euros lighter.

After necessary naps, the evening is spent relaxing to a game of petanque. Hoping to show off new found skills learned earlier in the week, the La Guardiere volunteers are disappointed by the more seasoned villagers who prove they are not to be trifled with.

They prove La Giraurdière proud by placing  first in the tire roll.  A marvelous video of this is posted on Facebook and Youtube visit Volunteers weekend Intervillage

Warning – it is as dizzying to watch it as it must have been to 

After the long weekend, Monday is relatively quiet, but an outing to The Monday Market in Chalais is a must for anyone who wants to capture the true flavor of the region.  A sleepy village during the week, like a real life Brigadoon, it comes alive when vendors from all over the region set up tents in the winding street of the village. Everything from pigs and chickens to leather goods and artisan crafts can be found while the crowds are entertained by the strains of  “La Vie En Rose”  wafting through the air provided by street musicians.  

A peaceful communal meal will end the volunteers weekend as everyone gathers together to share stories of their adventures for the past four days.  Tomorrow will be a workday, but for now everyone just basks in the memories of a magical weekend.

Post Volunteers weekend in France Written by Terrence Cremin USA whilst on his working holiday volunteering in France