This and that...last days in Bretagne

Well, yes, I know...I misspelled kenavo in my last blog! This shows you that I may be at saturation point for languages!!

I guess all the blue sky and sunshine was only part of the weather in Bretagne...gray skies took over on Thursday as we went over to famous Pont-Aven...

I wanted to see where Gaugin painted.

We had time to buy some biscuits and walk a bit before it began to rain.

All the umbrellas were at home (bien sur) so we decided to return too.

The door to the Musee Bigoudin was open where we saw a display of Breton costumes

and photos of families from several generations as well as celebrations.

wedding portrait

Look at this embroidery...so refined and decorative.

There is an embroidery school in Quimper and Pont l'Abbe has a special fete des brodeuses (embroiderors) and they elect a queen. This is a summer event so we did not attend.

I thought you might like to see where we stayed...this is the front of the building

Our studio is up the first set of steps to the right then once inside a double amount of steep stairs to reach our rooms. I really hated it when I forgot something upstairs once I was out in the street!
Kitchen area

Sitting room/bedroom

The narrow bathroom is between the two areas. It was fine for a few nights and had a very "beachy" feeling...only drawback besides the alpine stairs we had to climb,were the rather smelly old pipes...we made sure to keep the shower door closed at night!
Here is some of the wall art on display and a slice of the view out the sitting room window...this is the window I leaned out of for an earlier photo. You can see how high above the rooftops we were.

This fellow is on his way home with some baguettes...

hope he gets there before the big downpour.

I thought JC and maman make a great contrast for the black cloud behind. This is the residence where she lives in a small pavilion on the far right (you can see a corner of it).

It just poured Friday and we went out for our final dejeuner nearby in Plomeur. This relais doesn't look too spectacular....it is right at the edge of a busy road...

but when you get inside this is it...

That is piqué Bigoudin (a type of finely crocheted lace) on the wall above the wines(!!!)
I had St.Jacques à la mousse de poireaux

and Simonne chose....foie gras!!! Talk about appetites!

Saturday morning we take the plane for Paris...what a visit it has been. We were so lucky to have three days of sunshine and blue skies and...practically no wind. It was such fun to spend time with maman and look at photos and eat and visit little towns and eat some more! Don't you like this very "Breton" style placemat in a restaurant:

Lots of these stripes everywhere and this strong blue color too:

Next time I will write from JC's old neighborhood in Paris. A bientôt!

Out and about in Bretagne

la maison du gouverneur 

It was time to take "maman" out and about with us. We turned the car towards Concarneau which has a really quaint enclosed/walled city at the edge of the harbor.

harbor side

crossing the stone bridge

entrance to the old fort

So many pretty little stores and cafés:

They seem to love sweets in Bretagne!!! Here is a specialty shop that makes the famous buttery cookies and apparently this is the largest chocolate store in France too.

I have seen these meringues everywhere.

These are mini size actually...there is a boulanger/patissier in Pont l'Abbé who has melon sized meringues in the windows!

I liked the views under arches and through the streets of Concarneau.

I made a quick tour through the ancient streets then met JC and Simonne for crèpes and cidre.

On the way home we stopped off for a baguette at the boulangerie next to the Hôtel de Ville of Pont l'Abbé....is this a familiar spot for anyone???

This decal was on the car next to us...I see them everywhere (even in Portland)!

To celebrate the nice day we went off to have a haircut:

Then...returning to our little apartment we took a walk to the beach. This is a good sign to have...can you see the beach straight ahead?

Blue sky as we walked by the beach.

The sky stayed blue (oui!!!) and we went off to visit a "charming little town" Locronan the next day.

This place makes you feel like you have traveled back in time. The whole town is built of dark grey stone and apparently is a chosen site for period French films.
You can hardly tell there are shops in the town except for some very ancient hanging signs.

We strolled the narrow streets and were able to have lunch outside in the sunshine. All the locals were talking about the "heat wave"...I still had on several layers and a light jacket but it was very comfortable for a day out.

I liked the contrast between the walls of this building, the sacred statue and the sign in the window!

This shop sells real feather pens and ink and has a very philosophical owner.

There is also this bookstore (in case you speak Celt).

I loved this horse head carving and horseshoes and this house with anchors down the side.

This sculptors studio could probably work for felting too...

What do you think??? Will it stay sunny like this for the rest of the visit?

At any rate I have a nice little thought for you which I think I do agree with as long as it is dark chocolate! Kenavou!