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Published: August 13th 2007
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Bretagne Folk Music
Celtic Music Night. We were just taking our evening constitutional when we came across a group of Bretagne's huddled together for warmth and enjoying some local music. Everything from Irish to Canadian and French.... Tuesday, August 7, 2007. As you can tell by the writing, Monday was a pretty blah day, with the rain and all. But good food was again had and enjoyed. Today, since we found out our favorite restaurant is closed for “en vacance”, we made rezzers at another that was very good as well. I was entranced with the most wonderful Chicken curtain material on the windows. Kevin was impressed that Johnny Depp had dropped an 800 Euro tip a couple of days earlier. Wendy and I spent the day shopping and had a great time, buying all sorts of small things that could be worked into corners of suitcases. Since we were going to be up early Wed to leave we went home and right to sleep. I am sad to leave Paris, and the next time have promised myself to stay a month.
Wednedsay, August 8, 2007. We picked up Wendy and Ed after circling the Bastille roundabout at least 3 times. Not deliberately. It’s not true that all roads lead to Rome - they lead to Place Bastille…… After I got us out of Paris, Ed led a hostile takeover of the Navigator position. I think he
Market Day Collage
This is a collage of photo's taken on Market Day which we enjoyed with our friends Wendy and Ed. Click on the photo to see more detail and note Ed disrobing to buy a new pair of shorts.... just wanted to get closer to Kevin, and off we went to Brittany. We stopped for lunch at a lovely village restaurant/hotel and had huge lunches. We finally rolled into Trevignon, southeast of Quimper, about 7 PM. We were ready to get out of the car. After a light dinner we walked down to the village where we listened to a duet who specialized in Chantes de mer from Quebec and Ireland. An odd combination? Not really, since the area is Celt in origin and much of the music is related. It was enjoyable, and I would like to get a CD if possible. Oh good, something more to pack!
Thursday, August 9, 2007. Up bright and early, because the weather was spectacular, so we went for a walk on the beach for quite some time. We stopped at an information booth that provided all sorts of eco-info, unfortunately all in French. But we were able to see all sorts of wonderful birds that live in the area. There is a wonderful wetland much like ours in Russell, so we felt a little at home. That afternoon, we piled into the car and started driving, eventually ending up in
The town of Aven
The artists town of Pont-Aven where Gauguin had spent several sumers painting before taking off for warmer climates and fuller figured women. Concarneau (pronounced, we think, “Cone-Car-Know”). This town is a wonderful walled city that definitely warranted further exploration so we vowed to come back tomorrow for Market Day. Dinner at home tonight consisted of great pates, salads, and a wonderful local custardy cake thing for dessert. FOOD WITH FLAVOR!!!!!
Friday, August 10, 2007. Again, up bright and early, because first in gets the hottest shower. Actually, we have had no problems with hot water with 4 of us showering at the same time, and I figure the hot water tank must be HUGE! Off we went, again, to Concarneau, for Market Day. Purchases consisted of the best garlic in the world, Lautrec Garlic (only sold by the kilo), a couple of artichokes, a French Market Bag which I am hoping will make it home, and miscellaneous items of clothing (see pix). Kevin and Ed were lusting after the paella being made in the Market, and Wendy and I were lusting after the pan. We had some time to kill after morning Café and before lunch so we went to the walled Cite, across the street, which dates back to the 1300s. The moat was the ocean. Wonderful architecture but very
Kevin in Carcaneu
This one was taken after lunch, so I have a fairly satisfied look on my face. - Kevin touristy with lots of souvenir shops. Prices weren’t bad at all though, and Wendy and I spent a lot of time in the shops browsing, if nothing else. The boys started hearing the siren’s song of the paella so back we went for lunch, picking up bits at the market. We found a bench under a tree and ate our lunch. People would walk by and say “Bon Appetit!” which we thought was wonderful.
After lunch, since we had lots of time for the afternoon, we took off to Quimper (pronounced Kim-PAIR) to go through the faience pottery factory there and possibly pick up a piece or two. The tour of the factory was great but the prices were exhorbitant and even I couldn’t justify spending that amount of money on a plate. I have put a much higher value on all those hand-painted pottery pieces Harrison has done through the years. After walking around the town, which again was very pretty, we headed home to yet another light dinner of salads and sandwiches. We have decided the best way to do things was to have a big meal at lunch and then walk it off in the afternoon,
Brittany Girls
A couple of local girls that Ed and I unsuccessfully tried to chat up.... with a small snack at night I am not sure if the strategy is working though.
Saturday, August 11, 2007. Today was an interesting day. Some things we were looking forward to ended up in disappointment and others turned out to be wonderful surprises. We went into a small town to go to yet another market, much smaller, and found wonderful sausages and pates. After making a quick trip back to the house to unload the food, We again went back to Carcaneau for a “Fete des Poissonards” or Fishermen’s Fete. We thought it was going to be a great lunch with tons of fish like a food festival, but when we got there we weren’t too impressed with what we saw, and ate lunch elsewhere. Then into the car again and off to Pont-Aven, a big surprise. It was written up as an understatement and turned out to be wonderful, in spite of all the tourists. Much like Russell in summer, but, hey, that’s what it is here! We found a place for dinner Monday night and then looked around the town, known for its mills and the Pont-Aven artists’ colony started by Paul Gauguin and a few
Megaliths
OK, so what are your thoughts on lines of stones that date back 4000 years? Don't forget that these whacky Bretagnes originated from the Cornish coast. other artists. Breton art is very distinguishable in its style and naïve, as I would call it. The town was very pretty and I personally would like to spend more time there - perhaps next trip.
Sunday, August 12, 2007. Expecting everyone to be in church this morning, we all took off to the prehistoric megaliths about ½ hour east of Trevignon, to find many had the same idea. These megaliths are similar to the ones in Avebury in England, built around the same time. The stone is local though. And many fields of these stones are in straight lines, only visible as such from the air. On the ground they just look like a jumble of upright stones. The whole area is covered with them, along with burial sights and other related construction. Sometimes it is hard to think of the world as having pre-Roman history and yet it is all around England and Europe. This afternoon was spent tiki-touring around an old walled city of Vannes. What a find!. After Vannes we headed off to see a chateau around 15km away. Privately owned and many times worse than a boat as a money pit!! On our way
Vannes Old Town
This was a real find. An extensive walled city with lots of streets like the York Shambles. back to Pont Trevignon we exited the motorway as another small picturesque village had been spotted. What's more, "Benjamin Franklin had slept here...." And this was all basically in the same area. We finally made it back home at 8 PM for “Hoovering out the frig” as Wendy refers to it. We got rid of a lot of the food, and it was all good!
One thing that is striking us is all the flowers all over the cities, baskets, window sills, pots everywhere. I realize it is summer, but it is so incredible to be bombarded by the amount of color everywhere. No wonder the artists loved this area!
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Maryvonne
non-member comment
Stop Buying things
Hi guys, glad your having such a fab time but you really do need to stop buying things! Sorry to be a joy germ but it has to be said. You wont be home for ages and your only allowed 20kgs each! Am totally jealous that your getting all sorts of "food with flavour" Im starving. Love you lots, maryvonne. oh, and Harr has promised that passport is sorted xx