The "Golfe du Morbihan" and "Finistère"

Summer weekends, they're usually good opportunities to get out and see the world. So Elo and I have been taking advantage of some great weather, and exploring westen France.
One weekend, we visited the western coast of Brittany. Around the Pointe du Raz.
Finistère


View Larger Map


This was a very cute old town, Locronan, that has been credited with being one of the most beautiful villages in France. Quite an accolade considering the competition.

This is the main square at Locronan.

Below, the view from Pointe du Raz. It was a very light stroll from the carpark out to the point, accessable by wheelchair, but then we continued onto the rocks to get a better shot. The weather was overcast, as usual in Brittany, but not oo cold, and not raining.

The beautiful girl surrounded by the rough coast.

Me, taking a break.

This fortofied section of wall belongs to the Ville Close(Closed Village) which is connected to the city by a drawbridge. The clock tower on the right is recognised as a symbol of the city. After a walk along the city walls, we descended into the old town to do some tourist shopping. It was a warm, tiring day, obviously.

Mr no friends.

 with the clock tower.

Above, this was a great little town, full of artists and old mills. The old inhabitants took advantage of the natural abundance of granite formations along the river to build their houses and mills 'on' the river. There are canals of running water winding throught the centre of town.

Pont-Aven, after visiting several galleries we bought a few local treats, biscuits, beer, lollies. Then walked along the river, in a quiet garden that follows the water's edge.

 : One of my favourite photos. He's actually smiling

The small building to the left is actually the public toilet. Great view.

Another weekend.

Golfe du Morbihan

View Larger Map

Parc de Brière

A massive, beautiful natural park, with a huge swamp area. There is a small village that has been recontruced by several heritage programs, who maintain and operate the town as a tourist attraction. This house has packed straw for a roof. It was the common material used many years ago.

Elo and I took a canoe ride at the end of the afternoon on the swamp. It was very peacful and calm.

The swamp system has created a lot of paths, channels, and large open areas, that are home to a huge variety of birds and animals.

Not sure what this creature was, otter?rat?ragondin?

The fearless captain.

Quiberon.
This area is almost an island. The ithsmus is large enough for a train line and a road. On one side of the piont, is the golfe du Morbihan and the other, the Atlantic.

So the rough Atlantic side has created a savage coast line, exposed rocks, rough seas. We walked along a trail called the "Savage Coast".

The happy couple at sunset.

Nice to take time to watch the sun go down.

This was the beach on the other side, at our camp ground. Quite a contrast to the rough Atlantic ocean.

Back at the start of the point, there is an area of special interest for historians. Carnac. This is the site of several Dolmens like this one. They are similar to many spread out through this part of Europe.

There are also some incredible Megalithic sites.

One of the largest upright stones.

Then, the pièce de résistance, the 3000 odd upright stones that stretch for several kilometers. It is the largest collection of these in the world.

The stones were erected from 4500BC to 3500BC

No one really knows what they're for, but legend has it, they are soldiers chasing the Pope, when he turned them into stone? Not sure.

It is incredible to walk around them, see how carefully they have been layed out, and still not know why they exist.

One last note for you, I've turned into a real adult. OK, we're married, house and a baby on the way, but the day I bought my lawn mower, was the day I felt like a real man. Apparently I'm a Honda Man. Look out grass.

The baby

The baby bump. This one was taken just after the wedding, around three months. We were still sleeping upstairs at that stage.

Just last week, I got a good shot of the belly when Elo was wearing a nice, tight top. So this is about a month later, at four a bit months. Bigger and bigger. (The bump of course, not my pumkin)

A close up. (This photo serves a dual purpose, check out the mirror)

These are some older pictures, taken of the first Ultrasound from the end of May.
The heartbeat on the right.

Already cute at 6.2 cm.

The doctor said that Elo transmits very well. Is that a compliment?

And a nice close up. You can already tell they'll be a good medium pacer like Dad. I fhe can just keep them away from Volleyball.

Oradour-sur-Glane

The last day of our long weekend, 14th July, we visited an incredible place in the centre of France, near Limoges. It's called, Oradour-sur-Glane.

It was a very 'real' experience, moving, and Elo and I didn't really say much for the rest of the day.


Here is a quote from a 1974 British Tlevision documentary on Oradour-sur-Glane.

Down this road, on a summer day in 1944. . . The soldiers came. Nobody lives here now. They stayed only a few hours. When they had gone, the community which had lived for a thousand years. . . was dead.

This is Oradour-sur-Glane, in France. The day the soldiers came, the people were gathered together. The men were taken to garages and barns, the women and children were led down this road . . . and they were driven. . . into this church. Here, they heard the firing as their men were shot. Then. . . they were killed too. A few weeks later, many of those who had done the killing were themselves dead, in battle.

(Main Street with the old Tram lines)

(The main square where all the men were shot)

They never rebuilt Oradour. Its ruins are a memorial. Its martyrdom stands for thousands upon thousands of other martyrdoms in Poland, in Russia, in Burma, in China, in a World at War...


At the village of Oradour-sur-Glane, the day the soldiers came, they killed more than six hundred men, women . . . and children. Remember.