Market Day in Dinan

Dinan market day was on Thursday. We got there quite early, and our friendly cab driver insisted on dropping us right off in the middle of the narrow medieval street action! I have been to a few French markets and they are always so colourful and mouthwatering. This one lived up to that expectation well. I have made mosaics of my photos mostly, apart from these first three which are my favourites, as there were just so many good things to see! First of all, some hat modelling heads from the fifties or sixties. The lady told me and my friend off for photographing them, but it was too late by this point and I already had. Sorry lady!

Barba Papa with his family and friends fly happily against the blue.

Lacy parasols. I wish I had bought one of these now, as they are beautiful.
 Not a lot of call for parasols here often though!

Every need is catered for...

Colourful fruit and vegetables. Seafood, cheeses, sausages, bread. It was all there! We brought home quite a few delicious things for a barbecue in the evening. The best barbecue food I have ever eaten I think!

The string bag is called 'Filet a provisions'-Filet must mean net I think-Filet crochet! The bag seems to be made out of the fishnet stitch.

I love the covers of these two cat books.

The baskets were amazing-but just too big for my case!

Soap was small enough though. Soap and sweets, such pretty colours.

Goods ranged from the hand crafted to the mass produced and badly translated! (I love beach?)

More Breton tops, and the foundation garments to support them!

An apology to Leenie-yes it is in France-I really should have said that! Northern French coast. It has a celtic history and links to celtic parts of Britain. For a teacher, you would think I would be better at not assuming that everyone else knows what I am talking about. And as someone who often says to other people 'I am not a mind reader'-Oh dear, self improvement coming up!

P.S. I had trouble uploading photos yesterday-hence late post, in fact they would not upload at all. I looked for advice and one piece said to try another browser. I downloaded Google Chrome which for some reason I have been putting off-and it worked brilliantly-almost instant uploads! Bleh to internet explorer! -Just incase anyone is having the same problem.

Brittany Four: My favourite pictures

Beautiful Brittany. Here are my favourite photos, excluding those still to come tomorrow and Wednesday-of the market in Dinan and a bar in St Malo made just for me!

 Hydrangeas were everywhere, and often in these lovely purples, lilacs and pinks. I didn't used to like them, but have come to do so over the years. I think I am right in saying that the ph value of the soil affects their colour, so Brittany has great ph!

 I saw some similar petrol stations to this one when in Devon last week, though didn't get a photo as Devon involved more driving than walking.

 There was a real variety of public planting everywhere we went with imaginative choices of plants and a meadow feel. This is the centre of Plelan Le Petit, looking through to the post office and the market place.

 Andy shopping at the Sunday morning market in the village.

 Gary isn't leaving, he is just leading the shopping party to the intermarché for wine and provisions. Someone had the genius idea of taking a wheely suitcase. Wine is heavy!

 The ubiquitous Breton tops. I bought one whilst there as I love them. Not worn it yet though as it has been too hot.

 I love the way this photo came out. I zoomed in on the seedhead which made the background go beautifully blurred. It is the next door place to ours-I think where little white dog lives.

 Most of the gardens in the village were very clipped and neat. This one was more cottage garden in feel.

 A madly laughing mannequin in St Malo.

 I want these rainbow chairs!

 Klimt style decoration in the post office in St Malo, complimented by the swirly shadows from the cast iron work outside.

 Sand on the beach at St Malo. Glittery sand! It looked silver here, and on the beach at Dinard it looked gold. Mica from the granite I think.

 Baby Breton!

  Colourful teapots in a kitchen shop we visited. We descended on them and bought a load of their lemon and lime spray gizmos. A great gadget! By Lekue.

 Jugon Les Lacs.  We visited for lunch, and to go to the charity shop Andy had seen on google streetview. It turned out to be run by English women. I bought some yarn! We were told by the taxi driver and by a local old man that we could not walk to the lake from the village. But we could-just up a hill out of the square! We had lunch there too and bought some French magazines.

 A mysterious little circus down near the river. A lama and a donkey were grazing in the field outside, the only signs of life.

Holiday Pets and Other Animals

I really miss the cats when I am away, so it is lovely to find a substitute pet for the holiday. This little white dog was that pet. He ran to greet us as we arrived, and saw us off every time we went out. He loved to be made a fuss of, and would rest his chin on your arm so you could tickle him under it! Such a sweetie. He was not the only dog in the local area. There were some big, scary and locked up doberman/rottweiler crosses, a big black dog who I think was a Barbet, who was very old and just stood in his garage, and a little Papillon dog, who got braver as the week went on, and who was the little friend of our dog. I wish I knew his name, but we didn't meet his people, and he would only run into his house next door at the sound of clanging bowls. He had a territory of a square of four roads, and would appear from any direction within this area.

 An admiring glance from the little friend Papillon, as both dogs rush towards me. Patting the little dog was not allowed, and caused  growly cross noises, and running in front of my hand to prevent the move! I didn't try after that as I didn't want to cause a fight. It reminded me of Tiger's jealousy when we are playing or making a fuss of either of the other cats, especially Cassie. She always rushes over and muscles in.

 Little friend appeared on his own one day-so brave! This time he got a pat.

 This is Chardy, the restaurant cat. My first name for him was Stumpy Joe, but on the third and last night that we ate there, the little girl,  Atilia, told us his name. 

 He was very friendly. We didn't find out what happened to his tail. According to Atilia he had always been like that.
Now onto the other animals...

 The dog with the human eyes. He was being ignored by his people, and gave me this appealing look.

 The upended beatle. My friend was horrified that I had touched it, but I couldn't leave it there to struggle. Who knows-it may have been Gregor. Sad to see his outer wing was damaged.

Back to our friend. Saying goodbye. I was quite sad and so was Clare, my friend who loves dogs. If you look carefully you can just see him running after the cab.

Doors of Dinan

Dinan is a medieval walled town with beautiful buildings everywhere you look. We visited it three times, and on one of the visits walked down a steep cobbled street, the Rue du Jerzual,  to the river. All of these doors are on that street.

Back tomorrow with animals of the holiday!

Brittany Part 1: Held Together by Cobwebs and Plants

I took so many pictures in France-no surprise there really!  We had such a relaxing week, and managed to visit quite a few places too. I have picked photos of buildings in various locations and states of decay for today. The first one is across the road from the house we stayed in. I love it!

A door in Plelan Le Petit, the village we were staying in.

An enamel sign in Dinan, crazed, rusted, graffitied, and a lovely shade of green. Could it be any better?!

It looks as if someone has tried their best to steal this sign, but unsuccessfully.

Part of a garage in St Malo. Possibly in the process of being repaired, but possibly not.

Back tomorrow with doors of Dinan.