Well, our trip is actually all done. We are back home in Santa Cruz. But the last two weeks were spent with our family in France. First in Bretagne, and later in Caen where they live. This was a wonderful time for Nancy and I. We are able to completely relax with our family, and their house in Caen is most comfortable.
This is our family meeting us in Le Conquet, France. We were fortunate to have a small house close to the town so as we could easily walk the streets.
Le Conquet is a port town on the westernmost part of mainland France. We stayed here for about a week and explored the area. As you can see from the pictures all the buildings in the old town have been preserved as a village of times before.
nice active fishing port
Since this is a fishing village, we decided to partake in the local catch, and found out that a couple times a week the boats come in with their catch for sale on the docks. The seafood is just lifted right out of the boats onto the docks for sale in bins,
All the locals know about this too and gather around to try and get the best fish. It can be quite difficult getting in to see the catch, and then getting the attention of the seller. I got the impression that even though Laurent is French, it did not matter, the locals got first service.
But here Laurent and Nancy look a bit worried about getting what they may want.
Alas, crab was not on our menu, but all the seafood looked delicious. And we did end up with a wonderful fish that we broiled.
One day we drove south and visited Pointe Saint-Mathieu. Here, are the remains of Abbaye Saint-Mathieu. The ruins are quite extensive because at one time this was a thriving community. The abbey held many privileges from the king, starting in the 12th century through the 17th century. Now it is all abandoned except the lighthouses. At one time the abbey supposedly held the skull of the apostle Matthew, but now it is lost in the ocean off the point.
new and old light houses 
After our week stay we headed back to our family’s hometown of Caen, Normandy. Caen is a fairly large city (pop. 108,000), but still has a nice old town feel. Also, every Saturday there is a large open market that is not to be missed if you go there.
Caen Market
fresh lobsters 
here you can get fresh formage blanc 
these are sausages, but they’re not cylindrical 
veges everywhere 
even prepared foods 
this is teurgoule. a slow cooked kind of rice pudding! 
i had to try something 
you can even buy live chickens!
One Saturday we headed out for a visit to a local cider factory. Normandy is quite famous for it’s apples, and cider. Also for Calvados, the hard liquor that is distilled from the must of the pressed apples.
apples piled in holding yard 
hand picking the bad ones out 
juice after the press 
apple must 
pommmeau 
calvados
Pommeau is a mix apple cider and slightly aged Calvados. It’s about 14 to 17 percent alcohol. The calvados comes out clear after the distillation, then it is put into oak barrels where it gains the golden brown hue and smokey flavor.
Ferme de la Sapiniere
As this cider farm was very near Omaha beach, we took a jaunt on those beaches, and visited some of the war monuments. This is not a usual item that we would see, and Nancy had some strong remembrances of her father who was probably on these beaches during WW2.
Although Nancy’s dad did not perish here, he is gone, and so this was a bit somber. However, I think it was a good thing to remember some of our past, even if that can at times be difficult.
At this time we would like to thank all of you who have followed our blog, and send out our best wishes during this holiday season. Remember, in each of us is the capacity to give and forgive. With all that is happening in our world these days, we might lose sight that we are all human beings with the same hopes, desires, and needs. Let’s try to go forward into our new year with a commitment to be true to those ideals.
Travel Adventures - Gary and Nancy 