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Life in Brittany, France : An Update
This morning, I was reviewing a few draft posts that I had created but not published. I came upon the one below and read through it. I almost hit the “delete” button, but reconsidered. You see, it’s easy to look at someone’s life on Instagram or Facebook – or even here in this blog – and think “Oh, she’s so lucky to be living in this charming town in France.” Yes, I do feel blessed to be here. I do. It took a LOT of work and a good number of tears to get where I am. I thought that I would share this in the hopes that if people…
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Gratitude in the New Year
In keeping with my “Best in 2020” article from last year, I have decided to post on the top moments of 2021. But first, some reflection … I think we can all agree that we thought, at the close of 2020, that 2021 would be the year for getting “back to normal”. I can say that from my end, I thought we would all be traveling freely again, I thought that our news would consist of topics other than Covid, and at some point we would all be sitting together saying things like, “Wow, can you believe this time last year we weren’t able to travel/visit with friends/go to concerts/hug”…
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An Evening in St Jacut de la Mer, Bretagne
I am seated on the beach with my dear friends. It is August and I will be leaving for the U.S. in a few weeks’ time. Tonight, we have come to a beach that is located in our beloved Côtes-d’Armor department. I gaze our at the vast waters and the clear blue sky. I then look down at the mountains of sand that hold my feet, long buried in the sand. There are two much smaller mounds next to mine, that of my 5 year-old best buddy. He is telling me all of the things that he plans to do this evening, a few of which which include riding his…
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Hiking through Brittany, France on the G34 Trail
Brittany is France’s largest peninsula, jetting far out into the Atlantic Ocean. It’s close proximity to the water makes it ideal for sailing, swimming, canoeing, and kayaking. The G34 trail that winds around the stunning coastline makes Brittany an incredible hiking destination as well. I myself love a good, long hike and have had the great pleasure of spending a fair amount of time on the trail. This summer, for example, I found myself on the trail on four different occasions – in Moelan-sur-Mer, St. Briac, Saint Suliac, and Erquy. I would love to follow the entire route one day, which means covering over 2,000 kms in all (it is…
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The Forest of Brocéliande: Where Legends are Born
There are people whose souls are fed through art and music or lying on the beach listening to waves crashing against the shore. I certainly love and appreciate those things too. When my soul needs nourishment, however, I head to the forest. I am immediately taken to a new level of peace and tranquility when I am surrounded by trees. The smell of the damp earth and the trickling of a nearby creek fill me with immense joy. A few years ago, I visited the Foret de Huelgoat in Brittany’s Finistere department, and it remains one of my most favorite places in the region. This summer, I was thrilled to…
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French Recipes: Le Broyé du Poitou (in French and English)
This recipe comes from my dear friend Isabelle. It is one of her favorites because has been passed down from her grandmothers. Isabelle has fond memories of making this cake with her family and now she has graciously shared this recette with us. Please let us know in the comments if you make this special treat. Cette recette vient de ma chère amie Isabelle. C’est l’une de ses préférées car elle vient de ses grands-mères. Isabelle a de très bons souvenirs de ce gâteau qu’elle faisait en famille, et elle a gracieusement partagé cette recette avec nous. Faites-nous savoir dans les commentaires si vous faites ce gâteau spécial. “Je suis…
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Saint Malo and les Rochers Sculptés de Rothéneuf
When I want to spend a day immersing myself in French history and culture and maybe run into a pirate or two, I head to St Malo. The views from the ramparts (some dating back to the 12th century) are worth the trip alone. For sun worshipers, its sandy beaches are simply stunning. If all that weren’t enough, there is a wide variety of restaurants offering scrumptious dishes and a plethora of shops perfect for browsing or buying. St Malo is une ville made for strolling, and I appreciate its interesting and varied architecture. Sadly, the majority of the city – 80% to be exact – was devastated by bombings…
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A Visit to Saint Suliac, Bretagne, France
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A Visit to Saint Suliac, Bretagne, France
One of the many things I love about France is that a picturesque village is never more than a few kilometers away. In fact, France is home to over 150 official beautiful villages (les plus beaux villages de France). Saint Suliac, a small fishing town in Brittany’s Ille–et–Vilaine department, has held this title since 1999. Under a thousand people call it home but many come to take in its narrow winding streets lined with centuries old stone houses. Saint Suliac is an easy 45-minute drive north from Rennes. It is only a few kilometers from St Malo and the two can be easily combined to make a lovely day trip. Another…
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Bons Moments in Brittany
Hello, friends. If you read my last blog post, you know that I am back in my beloved Brittany. I arrived in Paris on June 14th and in Brittany the 15th. I can’t express how happy I was when I got off the train in Rennes and was reunited with my dear friends. A short time later, I was back in my apartment, looking out the window, content to see the granite houses with their grey slate roofs and colorful wooden shutters. Such homes are found throughout this region and I find them simply charming. The next day I spent a good few hours walking, breathing in the crisp air…
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Traveling to France During a Pandemic
I am in France. Enfin! While information and protocols seem to be changing by the hour – certainly by the day – I wanted to give you an overall idea of what it was like to travel internationally during a pandemic. I hope that this blog post gives you a better understanding of what to expect if you are traveling soon and determine whether it is the right choice for you. Of course, this was my experience during and after my flight one week ago and your comfort level may be different than mine. As many of you know, French President Emmanuel Macron announced in late April that vaccinated Americans…
