Monday, November 15, 2010

Brittany

This is Quai St-Vincent in the Wonder that is St Malo in Brittany in France. I loved its walled city. When I told someone that I was going to Brittany they said "Really, where's she playing?"
I told them it wasn't that sort of Brittany.
we caught a large ferry arrangement across the English Channel. It was freezing and choppy and raining cats and dogs. This is where we sat. Luckily I don't get sea sick.
we passed Elizabeth Castle on the way out of Jersey. I don't know about the rest of you, but I never get bored of looking at castles or forts.
The walled city of St Malo was bombed during the war - 80% was reduced to rubble by the Germans in 1944-but rebuilt afterwards. It really was beautiful.
we had lunch at the driest, warmest cosiest place opposite the Cathedrale St Vincent. It was called Bergamote and it was truly gorgeous and the staff were lovely
It is very very difficult to maintain a modicum of glamour in the driving rain and freezing cold and gale force wind but I gave it my very best shot.
I wore my new Danish scarf arrangement. I love this scarf. Might wear it again tomorrow.
the French women at lunch all looked thin and gorgeous and chic but I couldn't sneak any photos of them so you'll have to take my word for it. They were all eating large lunches and puddings too.
I'm a Joiner, so I did too.
this fig tart was 9 Million/10
this was some sort of scallop quiche thing. I luffed that too.
this cathedrale door was attractive.

I bought a few French products like this teeny copper pot
what am I supposed to cook in it do you think? It was prohibitely 'spensive.
this is inside the Cathedrale St Vincent. In October 1944 Lee Miller, the only journalist in the city during the bombings filed an 8 page report on the destruction of St Malo that appeared in American Vogue.


the smell of Breton baking was incredible. I wish I'd taken more photos.

35 comments:

  1. How gorgeous! I think this is the sort of place that you are meant to see in cold weather. Everything looks beautiful, including the new scarf and the teeny tiny copper pot.

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  2. How wonderful to be in Brittany. I've been enjoying reading about your trip. This post reminds me of my Mum who makes a divine Far Breton. xx

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  3. How gorgeous... I love St Malo and you looked very glamorous with your new scarf - giving those chic French girls a run for their money!! Delish foodie photos too!! x

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  4. Am truly enjoying these holiday pics FF.
    You look gorgeous given the hazardous climatic conditions. The new scarf will be versatile, think how many OPI shades it will marry with.
    The little copper pot is so sweet. Will you use it or just admire?
    Cakes and quiche look delish.
    Take care and stay warm
    xx

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  5. Oh my goodness. This will teach me not to think about what I will write as a comment for too long. I was going to say: well, the rest of us have no excuse not to look glamorous if you, your sister and niece can do so in such country surroundings. But that was two posts ago! Since then, you've shown us other lovely things.
    I think I'm enjoying your holiday as much as you are :)
    Suzanne

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  6. Like you FF, I can't get enough of castles and palaces either and I'm proud to say that following our own recent visit abroad, my 4yo has fallen in love with them too. We now have countless pictures of princes and princesses dancing in their castle ballrooms adnorning our fridge. Lucky for me she's also a big fan of the palace shop!!
    MFSxx

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  7. Wow it looks so beautiful there and that food yummmm

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  8. Just looking at your lunch pics...i am starving!! I used to get dreadfully seasick on the Manche crossing.

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  9. hi ff,

    i'm so jealous and i'm getting sick of saying that! the little copper pot is for melting butter in. you look so amazing. your complexion is beautiful and i bet the french women there were envious of you. fig tart, yummm.

    ~janet

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  10. Dear FF luffing being along with you for the holiday. I can taste the tarts et al.
    Brings back memories of our then 8 year old picking out St Malo from a lonely Planet book and demanding to go there on our trip. We hadn't planned this and changed our route to oblige. Beautiful and one of the best things we ever did.
    Happy holidays
    Paula

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  11. My GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    You look amaaaaaaaaaaazing - I cannot believe how glamourous you are when you are travelling and sightseeing.
    Now, I feel so ashamed of how I present myself when I go away.
    No WONDER the staff everywhere look after you brilliantly.
    I give you 9 million out of 10 for presentation.
    Love
    Louise
    xxxxxx

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  12. You look tres chic...your pearl earrings, scarf and that lip shade are positively gorgeous!

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  13. Brittany is gorge. I went there on a family holiday as a little'un... Very gorgeous. We stayed in something called a 'gite'- haven't stayed in one of those for a long time. Glad you're having a ball XX

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  14. Food and castles look amazing!

    Maybe you could use the pot to melt a little chocolate for a teeny fondue?

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  15. I am loving every little snippet.
    p.s. You look super chic and VERY well groomed, bet those French ladies thought you were one of them!

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  16. FF - you look amazing!!! modicum of glamour??? PLEASE.... ..you look like a vogue shoot! one day i might post my "travel pics"..let me tell you..there's no what'si fur thingy or hermes scarves. Loving the pics.

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  17. Great glamour stakes for travelling! Love St Malo and did not know about Lee Miller and being only journo there - how amazing xx

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  18. The pot is so cute! Maybe you could pop a pink ribbon or similar on it and make a Chrissy decoration? It would echo your wall display nicely. xx

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  19. I am very jealous of both the little copper pot and the gin and tonic jelly in the previous post. Both look very gorgeous, in different ways...

    Enjoy the rest of your trip. It must be so lovely to be with your family.

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  20. yes, Brittany! one of the few spots I visited a second time, and a third. Finisterre, Cote Armor and lots of lighthouses. Happy to read you did not get seasick.

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  21. Dear Ms FF, Only you can do glamour in the cold and wet. I usually am mistaken for sad drowned rat in such conditions. I am pleased that you are doing the lunching and shopping a la francaise. Even the most prosaic things sound more interesting in French, I find. Your tiny copper pot is lovely - I hope you use it as Janet advises to melt butter. It will make you feel special every time. Well no more five star hotels in the Middle East and lunches in Paris for me. I am back to making sandwiches for my girls and taking them to school. Only four hours until I pick them up. I am tapping my toes waiting for the time to fly...

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  22. I am loving your travel photo journal.
    Isn't it amazing that no matter how horrible the weather, France is still beautiful and the food is still fabulous.

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  23. Here's a story for you. I worked in France for 2 months when I was 18. I learned a bunch of French. I learned the word Bretagne, and I had never known the word Brittany. So you can imagine the howls of laughter and the eyebrows of Wow You Are Pretentious when I told people back in the US how I had been to Bretanyah....

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  24. FF. I hope this fabulous blogging output while you are on hols does not mean you are not sleeping very well? (oopsy - double negative, but you know what I mean).
    I hope you are getting lots of rest too.
    love
    Louise

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  25. FF - your holiday looks fabulous - love your sister's house in Jersey. Looks like you will be buying some extra suitcases to bring your purchases home. Enjoy the last part of your holiday before returning to sweaty brisbane.

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  26. My friends and clients (a couple) just returned from Normandy and Brittany. They were floored that the scale only registered one additional pound. Now, after reading your post, I am floored! (Yummy tart!)

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  27. damn it FF I'm meant to be on a sugar free diet.. hey at least i'm looking at the cakes and not eating them!

    M xx

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  28. Can you believe it? One of the kids on Junior Masterchef scored 11/10 for one of the dishes. The influence of FF from afar??

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  29. FF, I have so enjoyed reading your blog, but I have noticed of late that my comments are not being allowed. As my comments have only ever been polite, complimentary, and supportive, I am at a loss to understand why. But it's your prerogative as a blogger to allow or disallow what your readers post. I will take it as a sure sign to move along. All the best to you.

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  30. You are on quite the world tour! Thank you for sharing your gorgeous photos - keep them coming. That copper pot is too darling. And I think I had a dream last night about gin and tonic jelly. Enjoy the rest of your adventure!

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  31. Wow, you are on a grand tour! French food is usually too rich and heavy for me, I don't know how they all stay so thin.

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  32. Hi Mahala. I have always allowed your comments. I am travelling and do not have regular email access so I am not sure what has happened. Cheers, FF

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  33. Could you recommend somewhere to stay in st mall and/or Brittany area in general?? I am an avid follower of your blog and am ex- brisbane and ex- stuartholme to boot!!

    x Angela in Dublin

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