At Home in Brittany

America to Brittany - The Challenges

We have recently been asked about some of the challenges which may face a family who are considering moving from America to Brittany. So Katrina and family this ones for you!We can obviously give a broad outline of some of the issues a family may have to face but I would recommend continuing your research in depth before making any decisions.

 

Firstly it is important to emphasise that France has not escaped the recession despite the lack of news coverage worldwide. Many companies have had to close resulting in large increases in unemployment and industrial unrest which takes on a whole new meaning in France. Recently a spate of companies closing due to the recession have been held to ransom by occupations and even threats of bombing in demand of increased payouts.

 

In Praise of “Le Vélo”

A recent visit by two extremely fit, health conscious and more importantly; young members of our family suddenly made my husband and I very aware of our lack of energy. They highlighted our deficiency in the “get-up-and-go” department; our desire to swim, play tennis and leap on our bikes was still there but our bodies needed more convincing.

 

How could this happen when we are lucky enough to live in the heart of the country surrounded by sea, inviting places to walk and empty roads to cruise along on our bikes? The question had to be addressed and this was the couple more than capable of dealing with it and the answer was simple; our problem was evidently laziness! A lazy lifestyle and too may trips to the boulangerie. (By car!)

 

The first appraisal of our stamina was observed during what is usually a gentle but pleasurable cruise into our nearest village to purchase the obligatory baguette; which on that day would also serve as a way of putting into practice the French phrases of our guests. From the outset my husband and I realised we would not score high marks for our efforts; lack of road awareness, unsuitable old badly maintained bone-shaker bikes, meandering in the middle of roads to gaze at cows, far too slow and just downright dangerous riders. Whereas the language exercises of our young erudite trainers was impressive. I believe the habitual “afternoon aperitif break” at our friendly neighbours on the return journey may have reduced our score; although the homemade cider got the thumbs-up from everyone.

 

History in Stone - Barnenez

What I find so remarkable is that the history we spend so much time looking for and digging for in the UK is so readily on view here in Brittany.  Scratch the surface of any field et voila your almost guaranteed to find evidence of a bygone time in the shape of a roof tile, a piece of pottery or even Roman tesserai.  

 

My dog and my husband often while away the time studying various corners of fields, their patience is sometimes rewarded. My dog is very successful at spotting old bones (mainly deposited circa two days ago by the farmer’s dog) but more often than not it is my husband who returns with a find!

 

These bits and bobs abandoned by communities living on this soil centuries ago are a handy nudge; because we can become too immersed in the ‘here and now’ and fail to reflect on how we got here.  But for a really loud wake-up call there is a place that positively shouts at you from 5000 years BC!

 

Ten kilometres from Morlaix at the top of a headland overlooking the sea rises the  Barnenez mausoleum; the oldest ancient monument built by man on the Armorican peninsula.  This funeral complex is 87 meters long by 20 meters wide and no less than 8 meters in height.  The exterior is built of dry stone and constructed in two phases, the second being established two or three hundred years after the first.