It is the eve of September 1st and we are madly packing for our departure from Brittany and the Atlantic Ocean. This morning we took one last walk on the coastal path, I went to the fish restaurant a block away from our apartment for one more “choucroute de la mer” for the road, and we organized the car for the drive back towards the Mediterranean Sea and Céret. Over the next week our road trip will take us to Angers, Guéret, Clermont-Ferrand and Toulouse in five of the 95 different Departments of France (the Maine-et-Loire, Creuse, Puy de Dôme, Tarn and Pyrénées Orientales).
We will miss this area. We’ve had more than a respite from a hot, humid and tourist-laden city. We’ve had experiences of nature and folklore that would have been difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Will Brittany remain this kind of throw-back, rural and peaceful haven? Probably not. We’ve noticed fields turned over to repetitive housing developments, and newly built glass-walled contemporary architecture tucked in-between the granite houses. Rennes, Saint Malo and Nantes are expanding their suburbs at a fast clip. It’s probably got a few good years left, however. We’ll be back.
kmazz 
… and there you go – talking up the area enticing tourists to come here! You should be ashamed of your behavior!
Ruth, I love ya, you’re so funny.
Kathleen, each time I read one of your enticing posts I am seized by a strong desire to immediately head off to Brittany or wherever you happen to be at the moment. Please keep writing and taking photos!
Come on over, Ian.
Departing almost anywhere in France stirs a melancholy that’s like nostalgia in advance. A lingering, longed-for sweetness. You capture the feeling well. But so many lovely places lie before you. Bonne route!
Merci, Ted.
Beautiful photos! Looking forward to seeing them from Ceret! 🙂
Sent from my iPhone so please excuse the brevity
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What did you see in Angers? I lived downtown a stone’s throw from the Jardin du Mail. I loved the pared down lifestyle, not to mention the French variety, and the work at the Universite Catholique de l’ouest where I directed a study abroad program for NW universities. It all seemed like a dream. We took several fall semester groups to a long weekend in Brittany where they stayed at the dorms of a sister Catholic Univ. on the Cote d’Armor. We attended a Fest Noz and danced with the locals. Now you are living the dream. I’m glad you also believe in carpe diem. I love your photos and posts. Bonne continuation.
I remember that about you, Nancy. Angers was very nice. We were only there one day on our trek south. The chateau is spectacular. I loved the gardens and vineyards on the ramparts. It’s a hopping place. The students were all back in town, so you can imagine.