Shared Illusions

If you have a hankering for Paris, go to Rennes. It’s such a great size. Walkable. Beautiful buildings, architecture, churches. It doesn’t have the museums. It has them, of course, but not the Louvre, L’Orangerie, etc. We took a map guided walking tour today. It took us the better part of the day, with time out for lunch. I had filet mignon – of pork! It was savory and tender. And a surprise.

The above is just around the corner from us. Cathedral St. Aubaun. A carousel. Copious seating for drinks.

Rennes has some 300 of these old half timbered houses. Many others burned in the great fire of 1720. Brittany is known for them. We are staying on the middle floor. It’s spacious. It’s got massive beams. The floor is really wonky – not level. And the stairs are narrow, steep, and curve around. They would not fly in the States. Otherwise,  it’s quite up to date for a home built in the 15th or 16th C.

As you can see from the photos,  we’ve been having great weather.  80 degrees today. We expected much cooler for this time of year and at this latitude. It was so cold and grey the day we flew into Paris,  August 31.

A few more notes on France: public toilets are widely available. Even along the Chemin. They usually have tp. Only once have I encountered one, in Espalion, that smelled rank.

French love dogs. They also don’t pick up after them. ‘Nuff said.

Train stations have a walkway specifically for the blind. It’s a path bordered by textured brick or tile. They also have an office staffed with people to aid the handicapped in travel.

Make of it what you will.