Brittany (France) 2007 Good grief, here we are three weeks back from Britt ny (the unusual spelling is a joke if you re really interested ask for an explanation but don t expect to be riveted!) having to fill in the bits that didn t get written up at the time. Please excuse any changes of tense, other grammatical blunders and flagrant changes in writing style (our travelogues are dual-authored nowadays!). Sometimes writing the obligatory travelogue seems a burden but it is really a labour of love in that we already love re-reading them so think how much more pleasure we will get from them when we re really old and crotchety and can t afford any more holidays! Wednesday 30 th May 2007 - Sheffield to Portsmouth - Sun and showers. We had already packed at the weekend but the last minute bits and pieces always take longer than expected, especially as we had changed plans slightly and would not be meeting Jackie and Roger for lunch at Mottisfont Abbey. Instead the plan was to eat on the journeys and meet at Mottisfont at about 2.00pm. We left home at about 9.00am and made good time until hearing on the radio about an accident a couple of exits ahead on the motorway. We were able to take evasive action but this did delay us somewhat. We stopped for a comfort and lunch break and started exchanging text messages with the others. By just after 2.00pm we met in the car park at the Abbey, Jackie and Roger beating us by approximately two minutes. We took our time wandering around the Abbey gardens and finally went indoors for a drink before travelling the final few miles to Portsmouth and the ferry.
We were fairly early for the ferry and once embarked found our cabins and where to get a good view of our departure whilst eating dinner. With the travelling and expectations for the next day, including an early start and losing an hour, we were early to bed. There was not much of a sea but it seemed to rock us to sleep pretty well Thursday 31 st May 2007 - St Malo to Le Lac, Cherrueix - Showers and sun. As previously mentioned we had to be up early to vacate the cabins as the cleaning staff are allowed on before any passengers disembark. We were all raring to go and soon found ourselves parked just outside the walls of old St Malo. Breakfast was slightly more of a problem but after a row of very fermé eating establishments we found a bar tabac where we revived ourselves with petit-dejeuner. We then set about a shopping spree which was intended to denude St Malo of its treasures and our coffers of funds whilst progressing us around the old city and its sights. However, despite finding some excellent purchases the rain was against us and we had to keep dodging inside shops with the primary purpose of dodging the rain. As a ploy to beat the weather we took the Petit train so we got to see the sights without drowning! An early lunch was called for and taken. After lunch we decided to chase a bright patch of sky around the coast and headed towards Cancale (to no avail) and thence to Dol de Bretagne where it rained so hard we were trapped in the two cars and had to text each other on mobile phones to avoid saturation. After a clearing up downpour we were able to wander round the town for a while and reconnoitre restaurants for dinner. Soon it was time to return to the coast and find our B&B at Le Lac, Cherrueix. The B&B was fine, bedroom allocation being made by Madame who having taken triangulation sightings on Big Roger s height told him he d be better suited to the Coral room, not explaining to him however, that he wouldn t be able to get into the shower She did give us a recommendation for another restaurant which we decided to keep for the next night. We returned to Dol de Bretagne to Le Grabotais, where Jane & Roger had enjoyed an excellent meal two years previously when they travelled to Brittany with family.
The holiday fun started at this B&B with the thinness of the walls allowing Jane & Roger to hear when Jackie dropped her wooden leg (was it really only a hair brush?) giving them the giggles. Jane & Roger also had the interesting set of towels with the Simpsons on. Nothing wrong with them just not the sort of thing you expect in a French B&B. Friday 1 st June 2007 - Mont St Michel Sunny. After the previous two days weather we were concerned that the plan for the day would be scuppered but Madame assured us it would stay fine and she was proved correct. So, it was off to Mont St Michel to tackle the heights!
We decided that a gentle attack punctuated every few yards by window shopping would make the climb seem less so we started off up the cobbled street on the eastern side. After a pause for coffee and some more window shopping it seemed like a good idea to have lunch before tackling the final slopes and the cathedral so we did that. Then, suddenly there were no more excuses and we tackled the final pull up the Mt, including the steps to the Cathedral. Once in the Cathedral there was no let up and we tackled more steps up (and down, and up again!). It was certainly well worth the climb although we were all pretty pooped by the finish. We popped into a local bisquiterie to start the holiday purchases proper before returning to the B&B. We took advantage of Madame s recommendation and ate at Le Point. The food was excellent and the service top flight. A little drama was added with a gentleman at a nearby table being taken ill and an ambulance called. Most of the diners would have been unaware so good was the service and everything very discreetly dealt with. You d almost think it was something they handled all the time! There was a minor hiccup when it came to paying the bill and Jackie forgot her PIN number. We had visions of having to wash the pots and pans but all was well when she retrieved the number from her mobile phone - ain t life complicated nowadays!? Saturday 2 nd June 2007 - Le Lac, Cherrueix to Quiberon - Mist then sun. We didn t dare to try and explain the pervious evening s excitement to Madame but luckily another couple at the B&B were French speakers and had been in the restaurant so between us we enlightened her. Then it was pack and pay and On the Road Again. Jane, whose turn it was to map read, slept through the turning off the E401 near Dinan but luckily some good country roads got us back on course. We stopped for coffee at St Méen le Grand then lunch at Ploërmel before
joining the N166 to Vannes and then Auray where we stopped to do our housekeeping shopping. We then experienced the trip down the Quiberon peninsula for the first time. We did originally have concerns that travelling up and down this road for a week would get tedious but it proved not to be so. We found our first week s home easily but there was nobody to greet us so we were just making ourselves free of the patio furniture when Old Roger tried the front door which proved to be unlocked! Inside we found a note saying that the owner would return the following Saturday at 10.00am to see us. On our return to England we also found a message on our answer-phone saying she was unable to meet us at the house. We soon settled in and found our way around the house and its quirks. It was a very pleasant modern house but with a half-heartedly converted garage. This garage still sported its sliding floor to ceiling door which was covered on the inside with a long, wide curtain although this didn t prevent a certain amount of road/traffic dust entering! There was a gas boiler, a washing machine, a double kitchen style sink and an eye-level oven and grill.and a shower cubicle! The second loo was in the cupboard under the stairs and was the proud owner of a wooden towel rail (plus towel) put up at a rakish angle with two instead of four screws, but no basin for handwashing! There was also a second sitting/dining room at the back of what had been the garage but as this had only limited outlook we only used this as a utility/ironing room. Oh, the other delightful quirk was on investigating some of the cupboards and drawers of the furniture in this room (as you do!) we discovered a.. loo seat and lid set! Sunday 3 rd June 2007 Carnac sunny until evening then raining. We took Sunday fairly easily; leaving the house in time to arrive in Carnac in time for lunch and after a leisurely meal visiting the Megaliths of Menec,
Kerlescan and Kermario. After all that excitement we returned home for the evening. Monday 4 th June 2007 Around the Golfe du Morbihan by car cloud with some sunny intervals. We travelled out through Plouharnel, Auray, Vannes and then turned south and then west to describe the majority of a circle around the Golfe. We stopped at Pointe du Ruaud for photos and then continued on to Port Navalo where we lunched. Unfortunately we were led astray by a guide book in the afternoon and eventually found that not only had the craft community we were searching for been relocated but they were closed on Mondays. We returned to Quiberon to catch the boulangerie just before they closed and due to some clever misunderstanding we were sold about twice as much Far Breton and Kouign Aman as we actually required! We also had a walk around to suss out possible eateries for the next day.
Tuesday 5 th June 2007 Lazy around Quiberon Sunny Today was the day for the seafood Royale we had been promising ourselves for a few years now. It has been one of those silly things that built up over a few visits to Brittany, together and separately, culminating in a promise that we d tackle the big one together and not steal a march on each other! So, yet again, a lazy morning and the sun helped us here by really coming out to play at last, then a gentle stroll down to the restaurants and a decision to eat Au Bon Accueil, where their seafood extravaganza for two is called the Capitaine. Despite the quantity of seafood it can t be a very fattening meal as all it is is shellfish and bread and butter, oh and a little wine to celebrate our Pearl Wedding Anniversary (that was in fact the 4 th but we d decided to have this as the celebration meal). After the meal we wandered back to the house and Jackie and Roger took themselves off to find a rock to sit on and variously read and/or contemplate the Côte Sauvage. The sun was a bit much for Old Roger to join in this pastime so we took to the shade at the house and read (or maybe snoozed?!) until it was time to make a move to all meet up at the Champion supermarket.
Despite the kitchen s limitations Old Roger produced an excellent meal of Magret de canard et saucisses. Wednesday 6 th June 2007 The Golfe du Morbihan Sunny We had researched various boat trips from Quiberon and the environs and had decided on a shorter trip with no stop on any of the islands. We were however slightly earlier out in the morning and took time out at Plouharnel to buy postcards etc. We then continued via Carnac (and various diversions due to market day) to St Locmanaquer where we purchased our tickets before lunching with a beautiful if breezy view of the R. Auray joining the Golfe. We saw some (still) unidentified birds as we were finishing lunch - the size and look of white herons but with downward curving black bills.
We walked along by the waterfront houses to the boat jetty, admiring the flowers, lizards and the hard work of the men installing new wooden railings (we re convinced they were doing Community Punishment!). The boat was not full so despite managing to secure the best seats we were not restricted when we wanted to move from side to side to take photos. The trip was idyllic, beautifully warm and the sea very calm. Plenty to take photos of but equally plenty of time to just sit and enjoy the sights. We stopped at a roadside fruit stall we d noticed previously, on the way home but were unfortunately unimpressed with the wares. Unlike our impression of the restaurant we went to in the evening.
Thursday 7 th June 2007 Rochefort-en-Terre. Sunny We hadn t anything planned for today but luckily Jane had found mention of Rochfort-en-Terre in one of the guide books and despite both she and Jackie sporting bad backs we tootled across country to the beautiful little town. The day was a glorious mix of exploration, shopping and of course eating! Purchases of jewellery and paintings were made as well as other bits and bobs.
Can t think why Jackie decided to throw a half eaten artichoke at Jane as we were clearing the table after dinner.. Friday 8 th June 2007 Around Quiberon Sunny We really did chill out this week with our late getaways! This morning there was the extra task of tidying and cleaning the house prior to tomorrow s departure but with four of us at mop, brush, vacuum, duster and scrubber it doesn t take long. We lunched together in the town before parting to do some serious shopping (does everyone now understand why we have to take two family cars despite there only being four of us!?). During lunch Jane had a bit of a problem with the combination of huitre and vinegre hitting the back of her throat and Big Roger narrowly missed being sprayed and assaulted by said mollusc! (I could claim that I thought I d found a pearl and didn t want to swallow it except that even I know pearls in edible oysters are a) unlikely and b) worthless. J)
Saturday 9 th June 2007 Quiberon to Ergué-Gabéric Hazy sun We finally met Mme. and sorted out about her not being at the house the previous week and made all the usual pleasantries. Then it was off up the Côte Sauvage side of the peninsula for the final time (this holiday!) then from Plouharnel we turned north-west towards Etel and then to St Cado where what must be the most picturesque cottage on an island is situated (well, it s on every third painting, postcard and print in the shops!). This stop cost Jackie and Roger as they bought another painting not of the house on the island though.
After this short stop we answered the call of our stomachs by moving on to Port Louis where we fell upon a restaurant built into the quayside wall. At least, the kitchen was built into the wall; the tables were just on the hard outside, well covered with an awning against all weathers. As is the case, when you would prefer slightly quicker than usual service in a French restaurant it just doesn t happen. The young lady serving us appeared to be very much a trainee so we just went with the flow and after leaving Port Louis took the faster roads to Quimper. We were well early for the pre-arranged time of between 5.00pm and 6.00pm so after checking the exact location of the accommodation we went in search of a supermarket. On our return we discovered we couldn t pass through the property gates so were just sitting in the cars rummaging for telephone numbers when the next door neighbour spotted us and alerted his wife. She wasn t expecting us but didn t hesitate to show us where the key was hidden and once establishing it was our first time of visiting showed us round most of the house (sorry, manoir!). We made the assumption it was she who maybe cleaned and prepared for visitors and generally kept an eye on the place but as we said wasn t expecting us despite the holiday company arranging our arrival. In fact, we never did see anything of the owners, never did pay the extra for the bedding or the security deposit and we now know where the keys to a C17th Manoir are kept free holiday anyone!? It has to be said here that we major in quirky holiday accommodation! As we entered the manoir Jackie and Jane s hearts sank the smell of damp was almost physical. The first thing our guide did was make sure the hot
water boiler was on it was. As boilers go it was on the large size! About 5 by 5 by 2 and kept in the older wing of the house which was very much a work in progress. The rest of the house was shown to us and had its ups and downs but after the guided tour and a period of the girls rushing round taking photos (we ve learned to do this before we empty all our rubbish into a property!) we settled down to proper exploration and to throw our meal together. By the time we left the property we had got used to it and it wasn t quite as daunting as at the beginning but it has to be said that there were some features we discovered over the week that we would have preferred fixed. Luckily, after the initial overwhelming smell of damp, as we opened doors and windows, this disappeared from the main rooms. The main living rooms were huge and sparsely furnished. There was little likelihood of us using the dining room as it was about half a mile (well, at least 30 metres) from the kitchen, across the hall and salon, so we used this for dumping the contents of the car boots. By the time we left we could have opened a respectable shop! The salon we used very little the four chairs were not the most comfortable particularly with Jackie and Jane s dodgy backs! Our neighbour/guide had omitted to show us the (quote from the property description) cosy 16 th century sitting room but we discovered it eventually for ourselves. Now, this was one place the smell of damp did pervade and persist and, despite more comfortable looking leather furniture, it had a decidedly dank and depressing ambiance and was, to our English sensibilities, just plain dirty!. The photos we took give it a positively cosy feel but even the boys didn t feel comfortable in there. The stone pillar remains used as a centrepiece gave it a slightly malevolent quality and we won t even mention the broken pinball machine (er, why? in a 16 th century sitting room?!). This left us with the usual place for everyone to congregate the kitchen. Well, the kitchen came into it s own in the evenings with the setting sun but was a little depressing in the morning, especially if the weather was not at its brightest. It did have a good big solid table though and the chairs were fairly comfortable.
Above - Kitchen Above - Salon Below - Dining Room Below - Cosy Sitting room Below - Jackie and Roger s bedroom Below - still for renovation Below - our bedroom
As we have come to expect in French kitchens you have to do some serious exploration to find cutlery, crockery and glassware of similar intent to make up four place settings. This property was no exception but with knobs on. Cutlery was OK, plates we managed to find some without cracks that even matched and plain glasses were again OK. There were four, and four only coffee/tea mugs without cracks (two matched and the other two were complete strangers to all) and in the wine glass stakes we started off with a set of three and a set of two. Not bad for a property to accommodate up to 8 people! This is the first property where we haven t had a dishwasher but that s OK, we regard them as a bonus but we do hope for an oven and or grill nope, just a tiny microwave which took us half an hour to re-heat a meal one evening. Even the hob had one duff element grrrrrrrrrrrrrr. On to the other accommodation bedrooms we knew there were four, one with en suite on the first floor, and the other three were on the second floor; but there was also supposed to be a shower room and loo on that floor too. Hmmmmmmmmm, well, we re not sure how much penance we have to do with Jackie and Roger but Old Roger claimed 20 years age difference and a damaged Achilles tendon to secure the first floor bedroom and I m afraid the stories from Jackie and Roger from the upper storeys were not fantastic. The first night was very warm and until the bedroom cooled it was a bit stuffy (to be fair though, so was the one on the first floor) the greater problems were the shower no hot water and it seems neither Jackie nor Big Roger are fully signed up masochists preferring cold showers (can t think why..) and the loo one flush and that was your lot for some considerable time. So unfortunately they not only had a set of stairs to contend with for their bathing facilities but a good 30 metre walk along the passageways before and after the stairs. Not good if you forgot your loofah. One infuriating aspect to this property which was clearly in the process of renovation and our experience, which Jane described as C16th, C17th restoration camping, was that there were locked rooms marked Private which were obviously more habitable than those of which we had the benefit.
We are still amazed that the owners who patently use the property themselves haven t seen fit to update the kitchen. Oh, one final whinge was the washing machine which certainly had a mind of its own and Jane never managed to tame. Jackie persevered and managed to induce it to complete a cycle without flooding the floor and using most of the washing powder. This makes our time at the property sound like purgatory but on the whole we had a good stay, although we wouldn t put it at the top of our list of places for a return visit! Besides, being us we made everything a joke rather than an issue. Sunday 10 th June 2007 Quimper and some coast. Overcast then rain. Not surprisingly we were up and about fairly late, finding our feet slowly and lazily and loitering over breakfast. We then pootled into Quimper and after a couple of orientation passes around the city parked up and strolled through the cathedral grounds to St Corentin s Square. The Faïence shop was just closing so it had to be time for lunch! Not the best experience as the service was poor, Jane was served the wrong meal and at one stage we had to seek refuge under the awning due to a short shower. The food was good though and as compensation coffee was sur la maison. After lunch we investigated the old city but before that we were attracted to a busker with an unusual instrument which Old Roger correctly identified as a Psalter. Jean-Louis Gault (the busker) told us about the instrument and his music and we bought one of his CDs. After wandering around the old city we returned along the river to the car and set out towards Ile-Tudy via a regional produce shop. Jane managed to direct her Roger as far as Il-Tudy but by the time we got there it was drizzling quite heavily and Jane had gone to sleep. The others, undeterred, found their way to Benodet but didn t find better weather so we gave up and returned to our own little fiefdom! We relaxed with drinks and books before Jackie and the microwave cooked dinner. After dinner came the usual mixture of reading and planning of the trips for the week.
Monday 11 th June 2007 Douarnenez and Locronan Through dull to rain to sunny. Despite the weather being inauspicious we set out for Douarnenez where we managed to get a sight of the skeletons of some of the boats left to rot along the river and of the apparently closed but still functioning maritime museum. The weather started to close in so we headed inland to Locronan, a quaint village, where Roman Polanski filmed Tess of the d Urbervilles. The weather improved during lunch and afterwards had returned to our expected holiday style. The town was compact enough for the girls to leave the Rogers sitting on stone benches or absorbing drinks at a bar while they did the serious shopping and photography, although they did disturb the grumpy old men to drag them (kicking and screaming you understand!) into a shop selling the largest selection of local and regional drinks and foods.
Today it was Big Roger s turn to start throwing things around a bouncing cheese was his weapon of choice! Tuesday 12 th June 2007 Ergué-Gabéric, Concarneau - la Foret-Fousenant, Fousenant Sunny. We started our travels today by heading out towards the village of Ergué-Gabéric, the centre of the district in which we are staying. We did a quick once round the church and continued, deciding it s not a particularly pretty village and not worth stopping to explore. Having started out on minor roads it took a bit of wiggling to make sure we were heading in the right direction but we did make it to Concarneau (briefly via St- Yvy and la-foret-fousenant) without mishap. Surprisingly, not long after we parked up and entered the medieval walled city it was time to start checking out the restaurants for lunch what impeccable timing we have!
After lunch we split into couples to trawl the shops and admire the old buildings and views. Purchases were made (quelle surprise!) and we met as agreed for an afternoon treat of handmade ice-creams before leaving the walls. Flavours sampled were; coffee, caramel, banana and rum, lemon meringue and mango. Everyone agreed the flavours were fantastic and the prices very reasonable. We returned home via la Foret-Fousenant where we stopped for a visit to yet another regional products shop this time coming up trumps for the cidre that Jackie and Roger were looking out for. Then on to Fousenant and back via the Quimper ring road. Feet up and relaxing after a heavy day! Jane suddenly had a rush of blood to the brain and realised we could play the Jean-Louis Gault CD on the lap-top so we had atmospheric music in the Manoir.
Wednesday 13 th June 2007 Penmarc h and shopping Rain! It was still heavy drizzle / rain by about 10.30am so we decide to implement Plan B which was to bring forward our usual final day that is traditionally spent in separate couples raiding the local supermarkets of comestibles to take home. Jackie and her Roger included a trip to Pont-Aven in their day. We set off to check out the Faïence pottery, or more accurately the shop attached to the pottery. Unfortunately, despite trying very hard, we were unable to justify a purchase! We then moved on to Pont-l Abbé, down to Loctudy then along to Kerity where we found a restaurant with sea views and excellent food. After lunch and a short drive around the rest of the tip of the Penmarc h peninsula we headed back towards Qiumper and the Geant supermarket. We managed to purchase about two-thirds of what we wanted and an added bonus was finally finding a new man-bag for Roger to replace his 20+ year old one. We made a further stop at another supermarket on the way back to the Manoir and nearly completed the shopping list. On our return we discovered Jackie and Roger already back from their outing to Pont-Aven and we frightened the pants off them by utilising the security phone at the gates.
A quiet evening stocktaking purchases and eating our usual dinner. Thursday 14 th June 2007 Pointe du Raz. Sunshine and Showers. Today we headed west, our goal being the Pointe du Raz, and we somehow contrived to stop at a little village called Confort which, we discovered, has a church with a very remarkable set of monuments dating from the XVI century, the most interesting of which was the chime wheel which visitors are encouraged to sound. We continued through Pont-Croix and on to Audierne a pretty town on the estuary of the Goyen River. Strangely quite a few of the waterside restaurants were closed and the owner of one we approached didn t seem inclined to want our custom. Most unusual most clock the Four Gourmands and welcome us in with open arms! However, we continued along the harbour and discovered Le Bar Breton. Here we were told that despite having no electricity they were offering everything on the menu. So maybe it was the lack of electricity that turned the previous proprietor against us.
After lunch we continued to the Pointe du Raz where we caught the complimentary bus to the Pointe after checking out the shops. Unfortunately once at the Pointe the weather turned and we saw a squall heading towards us, making us race to catch the bus back to the car park and shops. We managed to get fairly comprehensively soaked so sat and steamed while consuming warming hot chocolates. Then we returned to a shop we had earmarked previously for purchases. Jackie and Roger bought a print and a CD and we bought the same CD and a book.
This being Jackie s birthday we went out to eat (any excuse!). Friday 15 th June 2007 Crozon Peninsular - Showers giving way to sunshine. This being our final full day based at Ergué-Gabéric we had to make it a good one. So, Jane, being awake, for once, guided us up the E60 to Port Launay and Châteaulin both of which bear revisiting, and then west to Menez-Hom. Menez-Hom is a small mountain which lagged behind the rest of the Montagnes Noires and now stands in glorious isolation to give fantastic 360º views of the surrounding countryside and the Crozon and Plougastel peninsulas. After admiring the views and nearly being blown away with the model aircraft we continued through Crozon itself and on to Morgat, where we lunched.
The peninsular bears revisiting as we only had time to visit the Pointe de Morget, Pointe de Dinan and Camaretsur-Mer. We can recommend the icecreams at Camaret though! Saturday 16 th June 2007 - Ergué-Gabéric to Lannion - Rain in the morning, showers in the afternoon. Having heard nothing to the contrary we left the keys of the manoir in their usual place and left it as we found it - actually a bit cleaner than when we found it! The miserable weather didn t allow us to see much of the Montagnes d Arrée which is a pity as they appeared to be similar to our own moorland. With not stopping much on the journey and only a short detour around Morlaix for
petrol we found ourselves with plenty of time and luckily found a very pleasant Pizzeria in Locquirec for lunch. The rain gradually eased off while we were eating and we were able to watch the goings on, on the beach, for a while afterwards. Roger lost his map-reader to the arms of Morpheus (actually as I don t dream much that should be Hypnos - Jane) once we set off again but successfully navigated to Lannion via the picturesque (so I m told! - Jane) coast road. Once in Lannion it was for Jackie to take over piloting and we were soon at the B&B. Unfortunately our host was not. After two phone calls Jackie located him and he returned hot foot from his father s birthday party (which was presumably how he d forgotten us!). He soon had us ensconced in our rooms and gave us a good recommendation for a restaurant in Perros-Guirec.
Sunday 17 th June 2007 - Lannion to Erquy - Sun in the morning, rain at lunchtime, dull in the afternoon. Our B&B host is an artist and we ate surrounded by his paintings (very good) and Bois Flottés (driftwood) work (more of an acquired taste). He was still desole about not being at home when we arrived the previous day and tried to make amends by recommending a three hour walk along the Côte de Granit Rose when we mentioned visiting Tregastel Plage. Luckily we didn t take up his recommendation - we d have been soaked if we had! Instead, we travelled to Tregastel via Trebeurden, Pointe de Bihit, and Ile Grande and made the most of the good weather. On arrival in Tregastel Plage it was obvious our best laid schemes were going to gang agley as the restaurant we had planned to revisit (for two years no less!) was affected by external building works. We made the best of it and ate elsewhere. After lunch we chased the elusive sun round the coast and finally caught up with it for a while at Binic where we stopped for coffee before moving on to our last night s B&B. Our host was present this time - in fact it appeared he was also hosting a wedding party in an adjoining property!
We rested up for a while and then went down to the pretty fishing town of Erquy for dinner. Once one person decided to order the Assiette de Fruits de Mer as a starter we all had to - there s nothing worse than finishing your starter, no matter how good it might be, and having to watch someone stuffing themselves full of seafood for a further twenty minutes! A fitting end to holiday. Monday 18 th June 2007 - Erquy to Norfolk & South Yorkshire via Portsmouth - Sunny. Not much to tell. An early breakfast and quick trip to St Malo where we mixed with a crowd of people who had been over to Le Mans and joined the ferry. The trip was relaxing and very calm and we managed to top up the sun tans we d acquired in our first week.
Lunch and shopping on board and then journeys from Portsmouth home. Top Left - Portsmouth Above - Portsmouth, Victory Left - Portsmouth - Warrior Below - Portsmouth, Illustrious Big decision for next year. Will it be the Alps or the Midi-Pyrenees? As usual, watch this space.
Meals in France 2007 ************************ 30.5.07 Dinner on board M.V. BRETAGNE We decided on the self-service restaurant as the other was rather expensive. 4 x Entrecote et frites 2 x Tarte aux Pommes 1x Tarte aux Fraises 1 x Crème caramel ************************************* ******* 31.5.07 Breakfast at Café du Havre, St Malo 3 x Croque-madame 1 x Croissant Café et chocolat ************************************* Lunch at Café Licorne, St Malo 1 x Moules marinière 2 x Moules a la crème 1 x Morue de Corsair (cod) 4 x Crepes (3 chocolat, 1 beurre et sucre) Cidre ******************************* Dinner at La Grabotais - Dol de Bretagne 2 x Fruits de Mers (huitres, crevettes et langoustines - oysters, prawns & langoustines) 2 x Canard et jambon fumé et pâté fois gras. 1 x Magret et sauce de cidre 3 x Filet de bœuf béarnaise 4 x Fromage 2 x Crème brûlée 2 x Tarte citron Café ************************** 1.6.07 Breakfast at B&B Croissant, bread, jams, coffee and orange juice. ************************************* Lunch at Le Mouton Blanc, Mont St Michel 1 x Galette Breton (Salmon, egg, tomato & cream) 3 x Galette traditionnel (Bacon, mushroom, cheese & tomato) Cidre ********************************* Afternoon tea! 3 x Gaufre au banane et chocolat 1 x Gaufre au banane 1 x Thé 3 x Chocolat ****************************** Dinner at Le Point, Broladre Mis en bouche 3 x Fois gras 1 x Queue de Lotte (Monkfish tail) 3 x Noix de Veau (Veal) 1 x Morue 2 x Chocolat Brownie au cannelle 2 x Tarte chaud de Camembert et Pomme *****************************
2.6.07 Lunch at La Rom Antique at Ploermel 4 x Charcuterie (Assorted cold meats) 2 x Escalope de Dinde à la crème (Turkey) 2 x Faux filet (sirloin steak) All served with frites et salade. 3 x Crème caramel 1 x Mousse chocolat and all for 12.00 ( 8.60) each!! ********************************* 3.6.07 Lunch at Les Rochers, Carnac 1 x Saumon fumé 2 x Huitres, langoustines et bigorneaux (oysters, langoustines & winkles) 1 x Assiettes de Pecheurs (assorted fish) 2 x Cabillaud (cod) 1 x Lieu Noir (Coalfish) 1 x Filet de bœuf 3 x Crumble de pommes 1 x Poire belle Helene (with a chocolate cigar, syphilis and toasted almonds) (N.B. For syphilis please read Physalis - it s a joke, OK!? Jane) ************************************ 4.6.07 Lunch at L Escale, Port Navalon 2 x Soupe de Poissons Maison (Home made fish soup) 2 x Eventail de Langoustines mayonnaise (Fan of langoustines) 3 x Brochette de St Jacques et au Lard avec sauce fondue de poireaux 1 x Cœur de Dos de Colin (heart of back of hake!) avec coulis de poivrons rouges 2 x Crème Brûlée 1 x Tarte aux Pommes maison avec Chantilly 1 x Mousse au chocolat maison ************************************ 5.6.07 Au Bon Accueil, Quiberon 2 x Capitaine (pour deux personnes) Consisting of; 1 Crabe 4 Crevettes (prawns) 6 Huitres (oysters) 6 Langoustines 3 Palourdes (clams) 6 Buccins (whelks) A good number of Bigorneaux (winkles) For each person.!!! *********************************** Diner chez nous Magret de canard et saucisses. (Old Roger as chef) ********************************** 6.6.07 Lunch at Hotel L Escale at Locmarquier 4 x Mixed Grill (Lard fumé, saucisse et côte d agneau - smoked bacon, sausage & lamb chop) 2 x Profiteroles 1 x Brownie au chocolat et vanilla 1 x Crème glacée Banane Cidre *************************************
Dinner at Le Corsair (Hotel Albatros) at Quiberon 2 x Moules a la crème 1 x Variante de Poissons marines 1 x Salade multicolore de la mer 2 x Pavé de Bœuf et sa sauce 1 x Selle de Lotte aux pâtes fraîches (saddle of monkfish with fresh pasta) 1 x Côtes d Agneau grilles au thym 2 x Îles flotante 2 x Mousse de chocolat ************************************ 7.6.07 Lunch at Le Pelican, Rochefort en Terre Mis en bouche (Olives, cheese straws, devils on horseback) 2 x Thon fumé (smoked tuna) 2 x Pyramid de Langue de Bœuf et Foie gras 2 x Rognons de veaux (Veal kidneys) 1 x Pintade (Guinea fowl) 1 x Lieu Jeune 2 x Millefeuille 2 x Chocolat blanc et noir Petit fours (Madeleines, viennas, cocoa dusted truffles) ************************************* 8.6.07 Lunch at Le Corsair at Quiberon 3 x Assiette de fruits de mer 1 x Salade multicolore de la mer 2 x Pavé de Bœuf 1 x Côtes d Agneau grille au thym 1 x Nages de St Jacques Noilly 3 x Îles flotante 1 x Mousse de chocolat ******************************** 9.6.07 Lunch at Rest a Terre, Port Louis 2 x Moules a la Breton (Cidre et crème) 1 x Thon grille 1 x Filets de Rouget (mullet) 4 x La Nostalgie (2 boules of caramel ice cream with caramel sauce and cream) ********************************** Diner chez nous Mixed salads with smoked trout and crevettes. Pouilly fumé Lemon tartlettes ************************************ 10.6.07 Lunch at Café du Finisterre, Quimper 1 x Escalope de Veau a la crème 2 x Entrecôte de Bœuf au sauce béarnaise 1 x Omelette jambons et fromage (ham & cheese) 1 x Tarte Citron 3 x Moelleux Chocolat 2 x Lancelot (Breton beer) 1 x Leffe (French Beer) 1 x Vin rosé ************************************
11.6.07 Lunch at Le Prieuré, Locronan 1 x Coquille St Jacques a la Bretonne 1 x Salade de St Jacques flambés 2 x Salade Gourmande de l Argoat 3 x Magret au cassis et miel (Duck breast with blackcurrant & honey) 1 x Duo de Lieu et Lotte a l amoricaine (? and monkfish) 1 x Kouign amann tiède et boule de sorbet pomme (Warm Kouign Amann with apple sorbet) 3 x Crème brûlée au poire 4 x café ************************************ 12.6.07 Lunch at La Porte au Vin, Concarneau 3 x Palourdes farcies (Stuffed clams) 1 x Salade noix de St Jacques 2 x Choucroute de trois poissons (Salmon, smoked mackerel & cod with ham on a bed of sauerkraut) 2 Faux filet de maître 1 Fondant au chocolat 2 x Crêpe flambée au calvados 1 x Crêpe flambée au rhum 4 x café *********************************** 13.6.07 Lunch at Le Doris, Kerity (Jane & Roger only) 2 x Langoustine du Guilvinec 2 x Coquille à la Bretonne 2 x Faux filet au poivre vert 1 x Profiteroles au chocolat 1 x Île flottante Muscadet with the fish courses - 1 cold and 1 hot) Beaujolais 2 x café ************************************ 14.6.07 Lunch at Le Bar Breton, Audierne (Suffering a power cut, electricity was back on towards the end of the meal) 3 x Menu de Pays Assiette du poissons fumes (Assorted smoked fish) Emincé de Porc sauté miel Breton (thinly sliced pork sautéed in Breton honey) Crumble aux cidre 1 x Menu du Jour Duo de Coquillages farcis (Two stuffed shellfish) Cuisse de poulet grille a l americane (grilled chicken leg) Milles feuilles Cidre
Dinner at Auberge bon Cidre, Fousnant 4 x Assiette de Pêcheur 4 x Magret de canard roti aux pommes et canella (Duck breast roasted with apples and cinnamon) Cheese 3 x Profiteroles 1 x Coupe Iceberg (Mint choc ice-cream with Crème de Menthe) Vin Cahors ************************************ 15.6.07 Lunch at Della Spiaggia, Morgat 2 x Huitres et Langoustines 1 x Langoustine Mayonnaise 1 x Moules Marinières 2 x Cuisse de Canard confit (Confit of duck leg) 1 x Pierrade de Matelot (Assorted fish John Dory, Cod & Lieu - cooked by the diner on a hot stone) 1 x Aile du Rai (Skate wing) 2 x Crème Brûlée 2 x Mousse aux Chocolat 1 x Salade de Gesiers avec Volaille grillée (Gizzard salad with grilled poultry) 4 x Selle d Agneau (Saddle of lamb) 3 x Tarte Caramalisiere (Cooked to order) 1 x Profiteroles Café ************************************ 16.6.07 Lunch at Les Algues, Locquirec 2 x La Milanaise (Coquille St Jacques, calamar, moules, crevette, mozzarella, sauce tomate, thon et beurre persillé pizza) 2 x Savoyarde (Sauce tomate, pomme de terre, lardoons, oignon et reblochon pizza) 2 x Banana Split 1 x Crêpe Caraïbes (Glace coco, ananas, jus d oranges pressées flambé rhum coconut ice-cream, pineapple, fresh squeezed orange juice, flamed with rum) 1 x Crêpe flambé Calvados Cidre ************************************ Cidre ************************************* Dinner at Les Cerisieurs, La Forêt Fouesnant 2 x Paté de Foie Gras 1 x Assiette de Saumon fume (Smoked salmon)
Dinner at Le Levan, Perros-Guirec Mis en bouches 2 x Les queues de Langoustines rôtie, petit beurre d herbes au gingebre (Langoustine tails roasted in herb butter with ginger) 2 x L escalope de foie gras poêlée et St Jacques, beurre vanilla (Pan fried duck liver with scallops) 4 x Filet de Bœuf a la marmelade d echalote (Filet of beef with shallot marmalade) 4 x Le Brie croustillant a la rhubarbe, caramel au miel poivre 3 x La Farandice de Desserts (4 Petits desserts différent) 1 x Crumble de fruits secs, mousse pralinée ************************************ 17.6.07 Breakfast at B & B Home made chocolate cake Bread with home made apple jam and apple and banana jam Hot chocolate ******************************** Lunch at Sur Salé at Tregustel 3 x Moules a la Bretonne 1 x Jarret de porc (Pork hock) 1 x Crêpe marmelade et Grand Marnier 1 x Crêpe Calvados et Chantilly 1 x Glace Banane, chocolat et rhum raisin avec Chantilly 1 x Glace Pina Colada, banana et coco avec Chantilly et coulis de banane, ananas et framboise ************************************ Dinner at Le Relais at Erquy Les aperitifs 2 x Kir 1 x Americaine maison 1 x Plaunter 4 x Assiette de Fruits de Mer 3 x Filet de Bœuf au Roquefort 1 x Escalope de Lotte rôtie sauce au cidre Fromage 2 x Île flotante 2 x Café liegeois ************************************ 18.6.07 Lunch on board M.V. BRETAGNE 2 x Feta salad with crevettes 1 x Poulet rôti et pommes de terre dauphinoises 1 x Entrecôte et frites Chardonnay et cidre 2 x Mixed Fruit tart 1 x Raspberry tart 1 x Strawberry tart Café ************************************* ****************