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An Afternoon in Vitré
Imagine spending an afternoon visiting not one, but two castles, both under 30 km of each other. Such an opportunity exists in this magnificent region, as Brittany is home to well over a dozen magnificent châteaux. Last July, we spent a lovely afternoon visiting Vitré and Fougères, two communes that lie in the Ille-et-Vilaine department of central Brittany. While we visited both towns in one afternoon, I would recommend spending at least a few hours in each, allowing for long, leisurely strolls and taking in every bit of the charm that they have to offer. Today, I will highlight our visit to Vitré with an additional post coming soon about…
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Dessert Recipes from Brittany: Flan d’oeufs and Cake Nature
Many of us are spending much (or all) of our time indoors these days, and, while challenging, it forces us to reach into our refrigerators and cupboards and cook up more homemade meals. Not only are cooking and baking wonderful diversions from life’s stresses, the process leaves our homes filled with smells that remind us of happier times. In every culture, people come together around food, sharing stories and following cherished family recipes, following instructions on old cards, in handwriting that belonged to someone we loved. Those moments bring us comfort and joy in both good and difficult times. I asked my dear friend if she would send me a…
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On Keeping the Faith
I will admit, it’s been challenging putting words on paper the last few days. People everywhere are struggling with the many changes taking place and are trying to make sense of this new way of life. For me, what keeps things in perspective is that people have faced extraordinarily challenging times before, and that in those dark times, there was always light. And such is the case now. This will indeed pass, and once it does, we will realize just how very resilient and resourceful we were. Many people around the world are worried, not only about becoming ill, but also about the changes to their daily lives, and how…
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Things to See and Do in Lehon, Bretagne, France
Léhon, located in the Côtes-d’Armor department in Brittany, France, is a Petite Cité de Caractère®. Anyone who has visited this quaint little town can appreciate how and why it received this honor, as it does indeed have a lot of character. I’ve been to Léhon several times, and with each visit I am more and more enchanted by her. The town is never overrun with tourists, as Dinan can be, especially during the summer months. Rather, it is calm and quiet, and it feels as though time has stood still for a long while, as if everyone has simply gone out to lunch and hasn’t returned yet. Léhon is 56.2…
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My First Trip to Western France
My first trip to western France was many years ago, and, while I knew it had made an impact on me, I didn’t know just how much until years later. One seemingly small decision ended up altering the course of my life and introducing me not only to a new part of France, but also to someone who would teach me some valuable life lessons, lessons that I strive to incorporate into my daily life and work. During my study abroad in Paris in 1990, I immersed myself in French language and culture, and I found myself feeling oddly at home there, more at home than I had anywhere up…
