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Brittany: Finistère - June 2007
By Linda Thalman
A long weekend in Brittany was a perfect break from the Ile-de-France.
I must say the train quais in Massy are dark, dingy and boring although the
main hall and waiting area are bright and nice.
One does wonder why in the world
there aren't more lights and/or even some big billboards with flashy ads.
Arriving in time for dinner at 21:00 in Brigneau, which is a village near
Moëlan sur Mer, I was wisked to the local pub.
That was the warm up before we headed to the local disco at about 23:30... no dinner!
My friend, Tiphaine, had promised me a weekend I wouldn't forget, and my oh
my, dancing at the Recife Disco was memorable.
The D.J. keep the music going without missing a beat and we whooped it up until
five in the morning. It wasn't easy to keep up with the youth but I gave it
a good try.
Sunday was a lazy day until late afternoon when we went to a gathering at
Jean-René's, who's a local, how shall I say, "character".
"Where is summer?" headlined a local newspaper... indeed the north of
France and especially Brittany has been cool and wet for the last six weeks.
The rain certainly helps bring out the pink, white, rose and blue flowers of
the hydrangeas that are ever present in Brittany. And, they are gorgeous.
By about 17:00 following a few apéros 30 people from
the village settled in for roast pork, potatoes, vegetables and semoule,
followed by fruit salad liberally dosed with a tasty apricot liqueur.
As usual, my slight accent when speaking French encouraged the locals to ask
where I was from. The guesses ranged from Belge to Swiss, Irish or English,
German, Dutch or even Russian.
Not too many guessed Eugene, Oregon as my origin.
What fun to assure them that I did not speak French with an accent.
The late lunch turned into second helpings around dinner time as we talked
and ate and had more wine and beer. The folks in Brittany know how to do a party
let me tell you.
Monday was a day of total relaxation as my friend had to work. In the early
evening we took a spin down to the ocean and around the countryside looking at
lovely homes and flowers.
I had my mind on some kind of seafood for dinner and we found exactly what
we wanted with moules-frites (mussles and French fries/chips) at a local eatery.
Perfect.
The sun almost came out as
we wandered about the stalls with summer clothes, beach shoes, handbags, baskets,
skimpy tops, flowers, local specialties, fish, chicken, meat, fruit and vegetables.
Roasted chicken and potatoes bought at the market, plus a bottle of Bordeaux
from a local wine shop and our lunch was set. We'd hope to eat on the patio
but, alas, the sky opened up with more rain.
Nothing could dampen my spirits as it was such a fun three days.
Thank you to everyone I met for such unabashed and sincere friendliness.
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For the trip on Saturday afternoon I got a TGV train from Massy Palaiseau to Rennes
where I changed to another TGV to Quimperle.
There was a huge pig on a home-made but professional-looking rotisserie slowing
turning and being tended with ladles of sauce while the rain sputtered from
grey skies.
This was a gathering of friends and friends of friends from the area. One not
only shakes hands with new acquaintances, you get a kiss on each cheek too.
The market in Moëlan-sur-mer is Tuesday morning.
Paris
