Saturday, April 23, 2011

Taking a Deep Breath in Brittany

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Sometimes it does a world of good to step back (about 600 kms back) and just take a deep breath, change the ideas, replace the stagnant air of cities with the sea breeze of Brittany, just wake up and smell the coffee, and say, hey, life is good after all, especially when there are lots of coffees to choose from, and they're all tasty.
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And coffee is best when served in a café where there are mermaids on the walls. Heck, if you're lucky, a mermaid might just serve you the coffee ! It doesn't get much better than that.
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The colors of Brittany : colorful cookies, colorful beer... what more does one need ? Ah, coffee and mermaids of course.
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Well, how about red headed mermaids wearing nothing but blue pasties ?
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If coffee and mermaids and cookies and beer maybe aren't enough to produce pure happiness, then how about a trip to the creperie for crêpes or even for a big dish of moules frites ??? Mussels and fries ! Yum !
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Gotta love places where octupi and mermaids adorn the walls, just can't seem to get away from all the mermaids around here. There are worse fates in life.
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After dinner a few fresh watercolors can be perused while digesting the moule frites. Lobsters, crabs, sailboats, seaside homes. All is good in this world by the waterside.
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And the mermaids, one mustn't forget the mermaids !
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Nor the pipe smoking wild-haired beer models . . .
Greetings to all from the back of beyond in Brittany.
A bientôt !
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32 comments:

mythopolis said...

Do I get a prize for being first on the scene? A free cup of coffee? My last request before being dragged under the sea by a mermaid I couldn't resist, would be, "Could I have a cup of coffee?"

Nice pix....

Owen said...

All the coffee you want, Myth, refills are on the house today !!! Yep, you are the earliest of early birds... would you like cream and sugar with that ?

all ways 11 o'clock said...

my mouth waters for choices of great coffee's and peeling pasties
underwater. was i thinking out loud? no decaf please.

great post.

~robert

the fly in the web said...

I loved the direction sign...a babord!
Only in Brittany!

Owen said...

Hey Robert, I think we'll get you a beer or two, and see if we can find a mermaid for company...

Owen said...

Hi fly, yeah, only in Brittany, 90° à babord, and I loved the different size boots too. Greetings to you, are you in sunny central America at present ? Or maybe travelling somewhere ?

Dee Newman said...

I was ten in 1954 when Kirk Douglas sang:

Got a whale of a tale to tell ya, lads
A whale of a tale or two
'Bout the flapping fish and girls I've loved
On nights like this with the moon above
A whale of a tale and it's all true,
I swear by my tattoo

There was Mermaid Minnie
Met her down in Madagascar
She would kiss me
Anytime that I would ask her
Then one evening
Her flame of love blew out
Blow me down and pick me up,
She swapped me for a trout!

Great post owen.

Lynne with an e said...

Happiness is!!!
Well done, Toad.

Anonymous said...

Feels like a different world. One that one is even able to afford. What a paradise.
Wishing you all a wonderful time and a nice Easter Sunday as well.

Clytie said...

All I can think of right now is ... blue pasties have GOT to be way more comfortable than seashells!!!

English Rider said...

I'm glad you are recharging your batteries by the sea, with mermaids no less! Love the creperie sign directions 90 degrees to starboard. Very clever.

Lena said...

Moules frites and beer... aaaaaahh ca me manque!!!
Can I have some coffee even if I'm not an early bird? I can always dress as a mermaid to compensate!! :D

Have tons of fun and get some well deserved rest, Owen!! XXX

Elisa said...

You really had enough mermaids;)) It's good for it! This Easter time, we have more witches. And Easter bunnies. You found beautiful and interesting looking place where would be nice to visit. Spring is really finally come to us already. Is it expects. That is already rapidly progressing toward nightless night.

Mary Ann said...

I've never been to Brittany, but your photos are tempting me . . .

Anonymous said...

I never was in Brittany although I love France. Mmh.. and I like good coffee. For me the French are also the best cooks - you must be spoiled, dear Owen!
I hope you have a quiet and happy Easter!
See you and thank you very much for your comment on my blog! I missed you :-)!
Have a good Sunday!
Renée

Stickup Artist said...

What a cool and mouth-watering post. Good for you getting away and enjoying some time by the sea. I've enjoyed these wonderful signs immensely and think mermaids are a wonderful theme. Looks like an enchanting place to shake of winter. Happy Trails and a Happy Easter to you and your family!

Steve said...

Coffe and mermaids? Now that's what I cal breakfast!

Pastelle said...

Profite bien de tes sirènes surtout.
Mais ne les fais pas chanter hein !
Il faut que tu nous reviennes. :)

Margaret Pangert said...

So many mermaids to entice the sailors and fishermen! My favorite is Aphrodite stepping out of the tide from a giant clamshell ... For some reason, the Irish have turned the mermaid into a seal (where's the beauty, the grace, the bikini top?) The Secret of Roan Inish, for ex. Well, now you're across the channel in Bretagne, a more libidinous area.
Did you notice everyone's name ended in ec or ac?

Oakland Daily Photo said...

Seems like a dream getaway. Even without mermaids.

Deborah said...

Seems I'm living in the wrong part of la belle France. Where I have never been able to get an 'allongé crème', my caffeine delivery method of choice. I have to order 'un grand crème' which is nettement plus chère

The Pliers said...

I love this particular series of photos, Owen. They put into high relief the regional reality of that entity known as France. Have a wonderful vacation!

Virginia said...

WEll, I LOVED our holiday in Brittany! I can't pick a favorite photo, I think they are all grand and FUN!
V

babbler said...

Mr. Slug especially liked the redheaded slug with pasties! I enjoyed a cuppa coffee while perusing the merslug pictures. I am up frightfully late this evening, but I want you to know that a midnite vacation to Brittany was just what my tired optical tentacles needed before wrapping up tight in my leaf and going to sleep. Thanks! I have numerous napkins to attend to, you shall get another serving of goo in the next few, please stay tuned for the next adventure at Slug's Rest! :) I am so glad to have stopped in to your cafe! Ahhhh! life is good.

The Poet Laura-eate said...

My favourite photo of myself is one of me hugging a mermaid but that's another story. ;-)

Love those stripy tops.

SKIZO said...

AWonderfulPictures

PeterParis said...

A good breath now and then is necessary! It obviously gave you some blogger forces!

Clytie said...

Hi again Owen ... your heart was featured on Guest Heart Thursday today!
clytie-randomhearts.blogspot.com

Owen said...

Cannot tell you all how much I enjoyed your comments here; every time you all just set me to smiling. We had a lovely little trip out to Brittany, hundreds of photos were taken, to provide material for many a post to come... if you don't mind more photos from Brittany from time to time...
:-)

Greetings to all, and thoughts are with all those in the southern US whose lives were spun around by tornados.

James said...

Sounds wonderful! I've wanted to go to Brittany for a long time. I might be going to Cape May soon but I doubt it's as nice.

I'll shoot you an email when I get a chance.

The Sagittarian said...

Beautiful place, do you go there often? I know I would!!

Karine A said...

Tu pourrais décidément te recycler en guide touristique !