The coast at Brittany

Rennes:

Rennes is the capital of the region of Brittany, in France. The city is surrounded with beautiful sea shores and old fortified towns. This travelogue covers some of the most lovely sea shores in Brittany. This trip happened during my stay in Rennes for a project assignment.

It was on a pleasant day of Summer Mr. Jean Louis Hammon the, head of BPM factory from Capgemini Rennes has invited us (3 Indians were working in Rennes) for a drive along the seaside of Brittany with his family. We were so happy for the invitation as it's a chance for us to explore the maximum places in the Brittany with the help of a person from the same place. After checking the weather our date has been fixed on August 15th which is a special day in France also (Virgin Mary celebration).One more specialty of the day was one of the sunniest weather in the year which makes our host bright.

Morning 9.30 we started our journey from the GARE (which is near to our room) with Jean Louis and his lovely wife Veronique. He drove to our first travel destination St Braic which is around 77 km from Rennes .We took the route towards Saint Malo. The roads were fully covered with fog during the start of the journey and I felt the warmth of the sun as we were coming closer to the see side. The roads are very clear to drive in a speed of 90km or more than that. On the way we crossed the”Rance tidal power plant” which is "World's first tidal power station" situated between Dinard and Saint Malo. We arrived in St Briac at 10.30.

Saint Briac

Saint Briac is known as the Brittany’s Emerald cost and especially known for enjoying the warm climate. We parked our car near to the painter's road and we decided to take stroll around the beach. During the walk we had a look into some of the paintings which shortly describes you the ravishing seascapes, the main attraction of painters for decades. The serenity of the coastal landscapes attracted several artists, particularly the painters to Saint Braic. Also the village has managed to preserve its church and its old quarters with picturesque narrow little streets. In the seaside you can see the line of sailing boats parked and from Mr. Jean we came to know that rather than buying a boat it’s expensive to get a parking space in the sea here

This coastal village is considered as a place to spend the retired life for most of the French people during the summer. The place is an ideal venue for the games sailing, kayaking, surfing and golf. The fishing village has the specialty of having the second oldest golf club (Dinard Golf Club) in France. We took a narrow street to reach the beach side. In the street side you can see the shops for renting and buying different boats but which is quite expensive to afford

During the walk the warm feeling of seeing some medieval stone houses will take you to a fairy land. The places had one more importance to our host as it's there wedding places and we saw the Church where their marriage had happened before 25 years. The church has retained its old bell tower of the XVIII to the particularity of having fish carved around donations in memory of fishermen who had contributed to the reconstruction of the church. It took around 1 hour for us to cover the places by walking slowly and taking photos to capture the magnificent beauty of the sea and the sailing boats. After this we started our ride to St Lunaire which is about 10 min drive from St Briac.

St Lunaire

St Lunaire, another old fishing village and a resting place for rich Parisians with its attractive beaches. The road was little crowded with people and vehicles parked in the road as it's a bank holiday in France. Mrs. Jean Louis father got a summer house there and we met her father and 2 of their charming sons (Raphael and Pierre) there. Her father is a retired military officer and during his service he travelled to Silon (now Sree lanka) for a short period. The beach was just 100 m away from the house. Mrs. Jean Louis joined her father for a coffee, and we three towards the beach.

The sandy beech seems to be perfect place for the children to play and enjoy. We were ready for swimming and to start the sport activities .As usual my friend has started with his shooting to cover the seaside beauty. Mean while Mrs. Jean Lois and their sons joined for the beach volley ball . I as natural lover started watching the beauty of the see closer. The weather was sunny and clear but I was not feeling heat of the rays because of the cold breeze. Seagulls flying all over the beach, it was so relaxing and viewing such scenery. The coasts are made of sharp rocks on both side of the see with villas hanging on the rocks facing towards seaside. The coast has a very rocky and indented outline, which creates a very interesting landscape offering breathtaking views.

Our host has offered a lunch near on of the seaside restaurant. I have chosen Frites and Paulo wings (chicken wings) to fill my stomach. Our host was more interested to understand India and we had to face the same question about the movie “Slumdog millionaire” like from several French people who were closer to us asked. Once we finished our lunch we continued to walk to Mrs.: Jean Lois father house to have some coffee (it's a European custom to have tea or coffee after the lunch).During the France stay it was my wish to see a house in Rennes, so the journey helped me in that way also. With the taste of warm cup of coffee we started our travel to the third destiny.

On the way to Dinard Mr. jean Louis has showed us the campsite where we planned to stay before. The plan was dropped just before our trip as we couldn’t manage to book a place before our trip.
Dinard
Dinard is a town in Brittany which took around 20 min for us to reach there from St Lunaire. Dinard has many bars and fine restaurants. The sunny weather attracts many visitors during the summer holidays. The attractions include a casino with a restaurant facing the sea. The place seems to be crowded compared to the other 2 place we visited. The Dinard beach is famous with its blue and white Victorian striped beach huts which is a popular attraction for families, also perfectly arranged shows and games for the children. We enjoyed the strolling in Dinard's beach and the garden with the taste of a local Carmel candy selected by Mrs. Jean Lois. She also tried to explain me the name of different flowers in the garden. From here you get a magnificent view of St Malo across the water. Villas built to enjoy the sea views makes its perfect holiday stay for everybody.
It was around 5.30 in the evening when we completed the beach fully and we had a bus at 6.55 to Rennes directly. So its time for our host to leave the city. We thanked Mr. and Mrs. Jean Lois for their invitation which granted us a wonderful trip in the costal side of Brittany.
We got another 1 hour to roam around the streets and shops. All most all the shops were closed by the time. In Rennes it's very difficult to see any shops opened after 6, 00 in the evening. Here people will find time for everything rather than job. For them work is only 8 hours (not 12 hours like a Software Engineer in Bangalore ). The rest time is for their family and friends. This is the one good think I learned from here. The life is not only to work. “Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering.”
We managed to get a regional bus from Dinard to Rennes around 7.20. The bus took a way towards Dinan to reach Rennes. I was planned for a good sleep in the bus but the beauty of route won't let me to close my eyes. As we have included the Dinan visit also during our stay in Rennes, I was peacefully watching the beauty without trying for a photographing experiment.
Beware: If you have a liking for remains of the Past, or if you are simply a nature lover, Brittany will welcome you with open arms. Beware that you may even tempt you to take up residence here where the living is easy and comfortable.
“No wonder that the country has more painters and writers. The nature makes them like that.”

My passions

Life in Pub Capital of India

Feel like writting after a short break..... Not finding any good topics to tel you :)

Ok I will tel you about the city which i live it has many known name like Silicon Valley of India, Garden City, Metropolitan City, India's Most Expensive City, but i agree with the last name ;). I am living here since 2007 May. Spent my 2 different stages of life in this short span as a spinster and marrier responsible women.

Let me first expalain you the feeling before coming here. Yeah it was a good experience. Still not completly changed . But as life has to go throgh all the black and white of of a life cycle i found its on dark and white pahse of life over here.

Ofcourse i love old Banglore with Very big and old trees with its especially with the tropical climate. But the most irritating thig here is the Polution and Traffic. Something has to be do with the Envirnment here .

Thought of the Day

" There is nothing that we cannot face together! There is nothing we cannot overcome together! There is nothing we cannot accomplish together! For together we are strongest! For together we are whole! For together we are.."

" In life, I can never get back what I have lost, but I will never lose what I have so gratefully found."

A poem

Memories

by Annabelle

Within my book of memories, Are special thoughts of you. And all the many nice things You often say and do - As I turn the pages, And recall each single thought, I realize the happiness That knowing you has brought. There are memories of the times we've shared Both bright and sunny days. There are memories of your kindness And your friendly thoughtful ways. There are memories of all those notes, we would write back and forth, When we would just get together, And talk of this or that. And when I recall these memories As I go along life's way, I find they grow more precious still With every passing day.

A Good Movie...

Yeah recently i have watched a Tamil movie "Vinnai Thandi varuvaya"(Will you Cross the Skies for Me?).. The story is very simple which describes a love story between a hindu guy and Christian girl. But the way it took makes it different from other movies.. Songs are excellent with the magical touch of AR Rahman. Overall i liked the movie... Some moments we can relate and feel with our own life incidents.