Saturday 29 August 2020

This is not a town: it is a street

 Well, it has got a little colder and the rain continues. IT cleared enough that we ventured out on the bikes, riding up the Rance et Iles canal a few kms. We didn't get too wet, though there was a lot of dirt splashed up from our wheels. IO also discovered my brand new rear wheel has been slightly buckled by the recent near disaster, so that'll have to be seen to. There were artworks all along the stretch of canal.







How d'ya do, m'lady?

After washing down the bikes, and to a certain extent us, we pootled off in a general northerly direction. We ended up in Dol-de-Bretagne which Victor Hugo described in the manner given in the title. (Or near enough - I can't remember the exact wording but that was the intent.) IT has some very old buildings throughout the town, and even plaques in English to describe them. J would try the French side and I could correct from the other, though she now has a MS app that translates text from a photo. Way cool!

The claim to fame of Dol-de-Bretagne, other than its one street, is the well that has one shaft outside the church and another inside, the two joined by an underground gallery. (Gasp.) Actually it was an interesting curiosity. They think the church expanded over the current interior well so the new exterior well had to be dug and they decided to join them together for some reason. No photos - it's just two holes in the ground. Well, well.


Victor Hugo's one street. For a while it was called Stuart street as the Scottish/English Stuart dynasty came from this town. Apparently Fitzalan is from Fitz-Alain and that posse came from Britagne. Rule Britagne!  

Apparently one of the oldest buildings in France. 12th C. Way before even the Maori got to NZ and still being used.

The Cathedral. Not bad, though currently a bit leaky.

Orignal painted walls, and other decorative elements.

Lovely wooden wardrobes. 

All that flanery (yes it's a word - look it up) can make one hungry...

We're working on a cunning plan. We figure the French might not take to the UK claiming Normandy and Brittany back due to some treaty signed (under duress I would suggest) several hundred years ago, so they should go for a stealth annexation. (Poorly timed given Brexit, but...) There's so much more room here, it's close enough it would be easier to get to than Wales or Scotland, and the weather's generally better. The Brit govt should just make it easier for people to move here: help buying property; pay for resettlement including any or all family (There's precedent: consider the £10 Poms!); free French lessons for all, and compulsory French in schools (maybe even some Breton to smooth the waters with the locals); sneakily extend TV range to western France. Of course it would have been so much easier if they hadn't decided to do exactly the opposite a couple years back.

1 comment:

Shirl said...

Well, well indeed. This was a big post! But interesting. Thanks! (Not sure about the annexation plans. Maybe worth a try though.)