Souvenir

It was fortuitous that this morning at 11am on 11 November we happened to be standing at a WW1 memorial in a small village in Normandy as the bells of its church rang out. We were the only ones there; we presume the people of the village had their ceremony yesterday as there were flowers at the base of the statue. There were about 40 names on the memorial, many with the same surname so presumably sons and brothers from within the same families. It was raining - quite fitting really.

Camaret-sur-Mer

Another day, another set of standing stones. Camaret-sur-Mer has a great motorhome parking area right next to a large group of stones and within walking distance of a most beautiful beach. The weather was wild overnight so, again, we had to wait for a sunny break this morning. Hugo absolutely loved wizzing around the beach at top speed until he was scared witless by a group of huntsmen shooting some poor animals at the top of the cliff. He recovered after a few treats and a tummy tickle.

Carnac

The stones of Carnac have drawn us back again. We’ve had a couple of visits before, mainly in the depths of winter, so it was great to go when stuff - like restaurants and boulangeries - were open.  We were delighted to buy a baguette de la menhir - so apt.

After a lunch of crepes and cider the rain fell quite massively so we waited till the following morning for a break in the weather to make our trek through the stones. They were, of course, as gorgeous as ever as you will see from the photos below.

Aaaaah, Moules et Frites

Before and after shots of the fluffy one getting stuck in to mussels and chips. I went for the galette..my favourite.

A Bit of Beach Action

Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside ... we’re back on the coast and enjoying the fresh sea air, long walks on the beach, and the occasional bowl of moules et frites. Mr Fluffy hurt his back bending over to put his socks on so we didn’t get to the seafood restaurant in Bouin on the Loire Atlantique coast but now we’re in Brittany and the gloves are off. Seafood R Us is the mantra for the next few days.

Locmariaquer near Carnac beckoned yesterday and we were lucky enough to get the last of the 22  spots in the Aire by the beach. The last time we were here was midwinter and we were the only van there but it’s obviously a fabulous place. There is a dolmen a few feet away, the sandy beach, and a fabulous walk to another set of standing stones on a tree- covered promontory a couple of kilometres away.

We’re now in Carnac recovering from a huge lunch.

Bouin 

L’histoire

Another history-filled couple of days. We dropped into the town of Sarlat after spending a couple of hours descending into the depths of the Gouffre of Padirac, the biggest underground caves in Europe. 

Three days later and my legs are still hurting from taking the stairs down into the deep caves - we took the lift back up. After a quick discussion with the lovely women at the ticket gate about the abomination that is Brexit, we entered the cave then took the boat along the underground river. What a magnificent space! There were no tacky ‘son et lumiere’ which we’ve seen in other such caves and it was very well organised considering the number of visitors they must have during the year.

Yesterday we went forward a few years to Cassinomagus. What looks from a distance like a collection of farm sheds is actually a Roman thermal baths built from the stones of a meteorite that fell in the area several thousand years ago. We had the place to ourselves before a huge school group arrived - phew. 

Today we’re back in prehistory with a visit to Bougon, a set of neolithic burial chambers. We had the sun for the visit but it’s now pouring with rain. Graham managed to glimpse a couple of ghosts on site which is rather appropriate for November 1st.

Tomorrow the coast of Pays de Loire on our way to Brittany.

Rocamadour

We visited the sanctuary at Rocamadour several years ago in the middle of winter so we returned yesterday to check things out while it was a tad more ‘ouvert’. The last time we were here it was under scaffolding but this time the Black Madonna was suitably attired in a frock and crown along with her accompanying child. She is truly beautiful and, I think, looks a lot better sans dress but perhaps she is a little warmer in her robe. The village below is full of the usual tourist shops but has a pleasant feel and isn’t too overdone.

Perhaps we’ll come back in another few years.